Depression is one of the most debilitating mental health conditions to experience. With the ability to isolate you from your life, make you question your self-worth, and steal your joy, a depressive disorder is something that should never be overlooked. If you have been diagnosed with depression and continue to have symptoms, it is a good idea to consider ketamine IV infusion therapy. Here is a look at some of the pros and cons to consider.
Pro: Ketamine can be highly effective for the treatment of depression.
In clinical trials, ketamine has been shown to offer "significant improvement" for depression a month and a half after the last ketamine treatment. Therefore, if you have been dealing with depression and other treatment methods have not been successful, it may be a wise decision to look for ketamine IV infusion therapy in your area.
Con: Ketamine IV infusion therapy is most suitable after other standard treatments haven't worked.
One of the few downsides of ketamine therapy for depression is that it is usually only recommended if other standard treatment methods have not been effective. According to the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, IV ketamine should not be considered as the first line of treatment. For example, if you have tried individual therapy for depression and antidepressants and neither worked, it would be a good time to consider trying ketamine IV therapy.
Pro: Ketamine therapy can be quicker acting for depression symptoms.
One of the downfalls of standard antidepressant treatment is the fact that the medications can take so long to yield positive results. With ketamine IV infusion, however, you may see symptom relief relatively quickly. Many patients who undergo treatment will see some symptom improvement with the first infusion, but symptom improvement only enhances over the course of time with more treatment.
Con: Ketamine IV infusion therapy is not the right option for individuals with certain conditions.
While ketamine can be highly effective for many individuals, there are some people who may not be the best candidates for ketamine infusion. A few examples of people who may not be good candidates include:
- Those who are pregnant
- Individuals with a history of psychosis
- Those who have cardiovascular disease or high blood pressure
- Individuals who have a concurrent substance abuse problem
If you fall into any of these categories, be sure to be open about your situation with the clinic that is offering treatment. Likewise, the clinic will likely go over your medical status in-depth before you are approved for treatment.
