When you have depression that impacts your daily life, it can make you consider alternative medications and other options that may be outside the normal range of medical treatments.
In the last few years, a few treatments for depression have come into the spotlight, with CBD oil and ketamine, to name a couple. These alternative options to treat ketamine have been very beneficial to many people and have helped to reduce the prevalence of the symptoms long-term.
Through this article, you will better understand why ketamine treatment may be the best option for you, as the pros of undertaking it are explored in more depth. Enjoy!
It Works Quickly
When you choose to undertake ketamine treatment with a team like Daydream MD, it will likely be administered via intravenous (IV) infusion. Many people who have been through ketamine treatment have reported that their depression symptoms begin to reduce within 10-15 minutes after the infusion has started.
Once the ketamine infusion has been removed, you will also notice that your depression symptoms will reduce gradually over the next 4-6 weeks, with many people who have had this treatment going into complete remission.
Minimal Side-Effects
If you have ever taken antidepressant medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (or SSRIs), chances are that you have had your fair share of side effects. Many of these are unpleasant and can include nausea, dry mouth, insomnia, and constipation. With ketamine, even with the IV infusion, the side effects are minimal, and while you are undertaking the treatment with a reputable team, your vitals will be monitored. You may experience some dizziness, a feeling of disassociation, and fatigue, but these tend to stop once the drip is removed from your arm.
Can Work With Other Medications
When you have been experiencing depression-like symptoms for some time, it can be tempting to try and mix medications to get the best results. This is, of course, not wise, as mixing medications without the advice or oversight of a medical professional can be very dangerous. Even if you are taking antidepressant medication(s), you can still undertake ketamine treatment, as it works on a different set of brain chemicals from traditional medications for depression.
Indeed, whereas most antidepressants work by increasing the brain chemical serotonin, ketamine works by upping the associated brain chemical glutamate. Glutamate has been found to be lower in people who have enduring depression, allowing you to use both to treat this issue successfully.
Can Be Used With Psychotherapy
Another pro of ketamine is that it can be used alongside psychotherapy. This aims to help reduce the feelings of depression and anxiety in the session to help the person undertaking the treatment to better understand their mental health issues. As ketamine induces a trance-like state, it can be useful to delve deep into the subconscious during this period rather than opting for psychotherapy separately from the infusions themselves. This is known as ketamine-assisted psychotherapy of KAP and can usually be offered in centers that offer ketamine infusions from a licensed psychotherapist.
