Ketamine Infusion Therapy for Depression and Anxiety: How It Works, Benefits, and Side Effects

Ketamine infusion therapy (KIT) has recently become more and more popular among patients with depression and anxiety, especially those who haven’t found success in other treatments. It works quickly, resulting in rapid relief from symptoms that lasts up to one week after treatment; this makes it especially useful for treating depression, which often goes hand-in-hand with anxiety or other mood disorders. But how does it work? How can this treatment help those with depression and anxiety? Is it the right choice for you? Keep reading to learn more about ketamine infusion therapy and how it can be used to treat depression and anxiety!

My Experience with Ketamine Infusion Therapy

Before ketamine infusion therapy, I was diagnosed with severe depression. I had been taking antidepressants for months but they didn’t work. With little hope of overcoming my depression without dangerous drugs like electroshock therapy, I decided to try ketamine infusion therapy. I found a clinic online that specialized in treating depression and anxiety with ketamine infusions. The clinic sent me an intake form to fill out, then set up an appointment for me to meet with one of their doctors. After talking with him about my symptoms, he agreed that ketamine infusion therapy would be a good treatment option for me. He explained how it worked and what to expect during each step of my treatment. He also gave me advice on how to prepare myself for ketamine infusion therapy, such as not eating anything after midnight before coming in for my first session. On my first day of treatment, I arrived at the clinic early so that they could get all of my paperwork in order. They took some blood tests and other basic medical tests, just to make sure I was healthy enough for ketamine infusion therapy.

My First Experience (Day 1)

I was hesitant to get a ketamine infusion. Some friends of mine who suffer from bipolar disorder have told me they have seen relief from their symptoms after receiving treatments with ketamine. A doctor friend of mine highly recommended it as well. So why was I so nervous? The thought of an IV needle in my arm filled me with anxiety. But if you’re suffering from depression or PTSD and nothing else has worked, what do you have to lose? My first treatment left me feeling lightheaded and slightly confused—but no more depressed. During the process, I was able to stay relaxed but also maintained consciousness. I felt like there was hope for me again, which is something I hadn’t felt in years. Now, two months later, I can honestly say that my life has changed dramatically since starting treatment. Ketamine infusions are an effective way to manage symptoms of depression and anxiety. They helped me see that even though my diagnosis may never go away completely, I still have a future worth living. If you suffer from depression or PTSD, don’t wait any longer to seek help. You deserve better. There is hope!

How Much Of A Relief Is Ketamine As A Treatment For Depression?

My depression and anxiety symptoms continued to improve after my second ketamine infusion therapy. Within hours of my second infusion session, I noticed a reduction in depressive and anxious symptoms. Over the next few days, my mood improved significantly; most notably, I was able to concentrate more easily than before. In addition, I felt less irritable than usual and was less likely to feel negative emotions like guilt or regret. Most importantly, though, was that I experienced significant reductions in both physical pain and suicidal thoughts—and because of these benefits alone, it would be worth considering ketamine infusion therapy as a treatment option if you suffer from major depression or anxiety disorders. I began experiencing noticeable improvements in my mental health within just a few hours of receiving ketamine infusions.

What Came After Ketamine Infusion Therapy (KIT)?

During my second session, I had already noticed fewer depressive symptoms by early afternoon; even so, when I returned to work later that day, coworkers told me they could tell something had changed about me. Many people reported feeling as though I seemed happier and more upbeat than usual. Even my wife mentioned she could tell something was different about me during our daily phone calls over dinner time. A week after my second ketamine infusion therapy session, I felt completely transformed. My feelings of emptiness and worthlessness vanished. As someone who struggles with severe depression and anxiety on a regular basis, I can confidently say that ketamine treatments helped reduce stress levels in a way that nothing else ever has. I was entirely freed from my depression, thanks to ketamine infusion therapy.

Benefits Of Ketamine

Effect Of Ketamine On NMDA Receptors and Inhibition of Glutamate

Initially, the use of ketamine started as an anesthetic. But the mechanism of action of ketamine in the brain proves why it’s useful for things other than anesthesia. Ketamine affects the NMDA receptors in your brain, which are highly specific types of cells. To power up your neurons, these receptors interact with neurotransmitters like glutamate. All in all, this is a mostly positive phenomenon. However, if your neurons remain in an excitatory condition for an extended period of time, they will begin to die. This sets off a chain of reactions that might result in disorders like depression or anxiety. NMDA receptor dysfunction has been linked to these and other disorders. Ketamine goes straight to the brain and blocks NMDA receptor signals, which then allows the brain to create new pathways and synapses. These newly formed pathways and synapses can help to aid in the healing of an injury or illness. Ketamine also blocks a neurotransmitter namely glutamate, which acts to regulate your memory and emotions. This causes you to feel calm and forget about what’s happening before or after surgery.

Ketamine Affects Broad Spectrum Of Mental Conditions

Because ketamine is used as an anesthetic in surgeries, it has the ability to calm a person and can relieve the pain associated with some surgical procedures. Additionally, this drug is so successful at treating other conditions that it has begun to help patients in conditions other than surgery, Some other common medical conditions to look out for include depression, migraines, PTSD, chronic pain, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and bipolar disorder.

Less Dependency On Opioid Painkillers

One advantage of ketamine is a reduced need for narcotic painkillers also known as opioids. For those of you who suffer from chronic pain, ketamine may be a viable alternative to traditional treatments.

Quick Onset Of Action

An additional benefit is that ketamine acts quickly and continues to work even after it’s broken down by your body. This is especially true when it’s used for the treatment of depression symptoms. Common antidepressants take weeks to build up in your body before they are fully effective, but ketamine starts working almost immediately.

Better Safety Margin Of Ketamine

Ketamine is very safe to use in surgery, unlike other drugs that produce a sedating effect. When used properly, it also has no significant effect on your breathing rate or blood pressure.

Side Effects Of Ketamine Infusion Therapy

Most times you can see signs your antidepressant dose is too high though ketamine does offer benefits in the treatment of persistent depression, it is not perfect. For instance, there are drawbacks to ketamine, like its strong dissociative effects and its potential for abuse.
Although ketamine therapy with sub-anesthetic doses relieves depression, it can still cause temporary side effects like mild hallucinations, floating sensations, fuzzy vision, and dizziness.

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