You may be a candidate for ketamine infusions if you suffer from depression, certain anxiety disorders, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD.) This includes major depressive disorder, bipolar depression, and postpartum depression. Patients with recurrent thoughts of suicide, who need immediate mood stabilization, will often benefit from ketamine infusion therapy. For patients who have been diagnosed with treatment resistant depression, anxiety or PTSD and have not found relief with oral medications, ketamine may be an especially beneficial treatment. Some patients who wish to avoid side effects associated with more traditional treatments may also desire ketamine treatment. Dr. Prashad will evaluate your symptoms and treatment history to determine if you are a candidate for ketamine treatment.
You will receive your infusion in a private room with full heart and vital signs monitoring by Dr. Prashad. An IV will be placed and the appropriate dose of ketamine will be administered over a 40 min time frame. Dr.Prashad will remain in the room during your treatment to monitor both your tolerance and response to the treatment. This will help her to titrate the dose that will be most effective for you. Most patients report a relaxing and peaceful experience. You will remain awake during the infusion. Patients will also notice changes in their vision, a feeling of “lightheadedness” or “floating.” Many also report feeling somewhat disconnected and having slower thoughts. Most people can expect to be at the office for a total of 90 minutes with no side effects when discharged and none between treatments. You will need a trusted friend or family member to drive you home after your infusion. They do not need to stay with you during you entire infusion.
No, you do not need a referral for ketamine treatment. If you already have a psychiatrist, Dr. Prashad will serve as a consulting physician in your care and you will continue your ongoing treatment with your current psychiatrist.
Typically, it will take just 1 or 2 infusions to know if ketamine will help you. If you are having positive results, it is recommended to have 6 total infusions within the first 2 weeks. After that, maintenance infusions may be scheduled to maintain response, usually after 3-5 weeks after completing the initial series of 6. The total length of treatment is highly dependent on each individual. A series of 6 infusions may last anywhere from weeks to months, and often a single booster infusion when effects are wearing off can restore response. There is research to suggest that in order for the effects of ketamine to be sustained, a maintenance regimen is needed. For those who have not had long-standing chronic depression, it may last much longer than that.
Approximately 70-80% of patients respond to ketamine infusions
Insurance will not pay for ketamine infusion therapy. Your insurance may cover the cost of office visits and other care, but not the actual infusion or the ketamine medication.