Ketamine has been in use as general anesthesia since the 1970s. But since the FDA approved Spravato (esketamine), administered as a nasal spray, ketamine has gone mainstream. The drug can be used to manage treatment-resistant depression, among other psychiatric disorders. However, the treatment requires supervised use due to its severe side effects (sedation and dissociation).
Acera Health treats various mental health including depression, anxiety disorders, trauma/PTSD, personality disorders, and mood disorders. Their services include psychiatric evaluation, individualized treatment programs, experiential therapy, medication management, trauma therapy, and more. If you or your loved one is struggling with treatment-resistant depression or other conditions mentioned below, Ketamine treatment can help.
At Acera Health, in the greater Los Angeles area, we offer a variety of treatment options for mental health, including ketamine therapy.
Ketamine is a short-acting drug used in various medical applications. FDA first approved it for general anesthesia and pain management in 1970. The drug was mainly used on injured patients during the Vietnam War.
However, ketamine also has antidepressant properties. The drug has long gone mainstream in managing treatment resistant depression since FDA approved Spravato in 2019.
Ketamine is dissociative, i.e., it causes the patient to feel detached from reality. After administration, patients may have hallucinations and dream-like experiences, such as a pleasant floating feeling.
The effects of ketamine are similar to those caused by other psychedelics like LSD. However, ketamine is short-acting, unlike other types of psychedelic therapy that can last up to 12 hours. With ketamine, the antidepressant effects can be over in two hours, and the drug efficacy can last up to 7 days.
Ketamine works by binding a receptor in the brain, known as N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), to block glutamate. Glutamate is a brain chemical (neurotransmitter) involved in brain functions. Ketamine-assisted therapy is used in managing treatment-resistant depression due to its rapid and persistent improvement of depressive symptoms.
There are many forms of ketamine – oral, intravenous (IV), nasal, etc. But for the treatment of depression, FDA has approved Spravato, which is administered in the form of a nasal spray. Patients who have not found relief from antidepressants or those with suicidal thoughts can benefit from the nasal spray treatment. Ketamine treatment from nasal sprays is highly effective at treating symptoms of depression.
Ketamine-assisted therapy is an intensive treatment administered over several weeks. Since it is a short-acting drug, patients who do not require full-time monitoring can make outpatient visits. Visits can be short because the hallucinogenic effect lasts for about two hours.
At the start of the depression treatment, the patient takes the therapy twice per week for the first four weeks. Then once per week from the fifth to the ninth week, or as long as the doctor recommends.
More emphasis is placed on supervised use since the immediate side effects can be extreme within two hours. Also, under or overdosing on ketamine can produce negative side effects. These side effects include impaired attention, delirium, high blood pressure, impaired motor function, and more. Prolonged use could also lead to suicidal thoughts, depression, cognitive issues, amnesia, etc.
Ideally, the effect of ketamine use depends on your use, hence the importance of getting the treatment in a supervised environment. Before commencing treatment, the doctor will take the patient through a few psychotherapy sessions to understand their medical and psychiatric history. Then once ruled out there are no potential health issues that may cause complications, the patient commences the treatment.
Ketamine therapy is used in several applications. The drug can treat emotional suffering and be used to sedate patients during surgery. Ketamine’s quick and short-acting properties benefit the mainstream medical and mental health fields in many ways.
Common applications include:
These are a few of the common applications. Continued research may find new uses across different disciplines, so the list of possible applications will likely keep growing.
Acera Health is a client-first health facility providing luxury mental health services in Los Angeles, including ketamine therapy. We operate an evidence-based behavioral health program, providing individualized treatment at various levels of care. Depending on the patient’s condition, our specialists may recommend any of these programs;
Clients are housed in one of Acera Health’s luxurious and comfortable OC homes, and residential treatment is commenced.
Ideal for clients who have left residential treatment. The patients attend therapy sessions daily, but they live in their homes.
Designed for patients who have stabilized and do not require full-time monitoring. The patients continue attending the sessions for three hours a day but can continue with their daily life between sessions.
All the programs are intensive and have been proven to provide long-term recovery. The team at Acera Health has over 100 years of combined experience. Which we leverage in managing different mental challenges facing their clients.
People struggling with a mental health condition can benefit from the various services available at Acera Health. Some of our services include an individualized treatment program, individual, group & family therapy, trauma therapy, experiential therapy, and more. Once diagnosed, the physician will recommend the appropriate program to accompany ketamine treatment for a holistic approach.
Acera Health accepts major insurance carriers, including PPO insurance plans. Upon contacting us, you can get a free insurance benefit check to determine whether your provider supports ketamine treatment.
If you or your loved one are struggling with treatment-resistant depression or another mental health issue Ketamine treatment might help. Acera Health offers premier behavioral health services that are individualized to suit your healthcare needs. Whether your condition requires residential treatment, partial hospitalization, or intensive outpatient care, Acera Health can help.
Contact us today and let us help you or your loved one regain your health.
To learn more about if Acera Health is right for you, and what to expect, contact us Today!
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