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Treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder with Ketamine

What is PTSD?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is a psychiatric disorder that tends to occur in individuals who have been involved with a traumatic life event. PTSD is extremely common in survivors of natural disasters, accidents, sexual assault, violence, and other traumatic experiences. PTSD does not discriminate against who it impacts and can affect individuals regardless of their age, background, gender, etc.

Patients who suffer from PTSD often complain about vivid flashbacks, nightmares, and extreme panic attacks. Depending on the details of the trauma and the resources and support available during initial recovery, PTSD can have a dramatic impact on one’s ability to peacefully live their lives without the interruption of crippling anxiety.

While nearly any traumatic experience will lead to heightened anxiety and distress, the American Psychiatry Association states that the symptoms must be pervasive for more than one month and cause a significant hindrance in that individual’s ability to peacefully live their life.

Symptoms of PTSD

While each individual suffering from PTSD experiences their condition in a different way, there are many symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder which are reported by the majority of patients. With PTSD it must be noted that symptoms can vary dramatically in intensity over time. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, when left untreated, can lead to suicidal thoughts. If you or a loved one is battling depression in relation to PTSD, contact your physician and/or call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK

According to the Mayo Clinic, some of the most common symptoms of PTSD can include, but are not limited to:

  • Avoiding discussing the traumatic event
  • Avoiding triggers that remind you of the traumatic event
  • Unwanted and repeated memories or flashbacks of the traumatic event
  • Nightmares
  • Emotional Distress
  • Depression
  • Memory issues
  • Lack of interest in activities you enjoyed in the past
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Guilt/Shame
  • Irritability
  • Paranoia 
  • Avoiding discussing the traumatic event
  • Avoiding triggers that remind you of the traumatic event
  • Unwanted and repeated memories or flashbacks of the traumatic event
  • Nightmares
  • Emotional Distress
  • Depression
  • Memory issues
  • Lack of interest in activities you enjoyed in the past
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Guilt/Shame
  • Irritability
  • Paranoia 

What is Ketamine?

Ketamine, an FDA-approved drug for general anesthesia, has been shown in off-label trials to provide significant antidepressant benefits to patients utilizing Ketamine IV Therapy. This therapy uses doses lower than those used in anesthesia infused over 50 minutes to provide the potential for lasting improvement of depressive symptoms. If you believe Ketamine therapy may help you or a loved one, contact a Florida Ketamine doctor today!

How can Ketamine help Treat PTSD?

When a patient suffers from PTSD, their entire mental-health suffers and can take a tremendous toll on personal and professional relationships. Patients who are diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder often experience tremendous difficulty sleeping and the use of Ketamine IV Therapy has been reported to help improve these symptoms by regulating one’s mood and helping to reduce or even eliminate PTSD symptoms

Ketamine and PTSD: How does it work?

Ketamine treatments tend to work much quicker than other, more-traditional forms of treatment such as antidepressants. The half-life of ketamine is short and while the drug may not stay in your system long, the reported impact on one’s brain activity is dramatic and shown to work much quicker on the symptoms of PTSD than other common forms of treatment. 

Essentially, once in the body, Ketamine works to restrict NMDA-glutamate receptors in the brain that otherwise, when left unchecked, can lead to strong feelings of anxiety and depression. Ketamine works to block these receptors and, as a result, provide relief for depression, anxiety, and help return one’s mental to a healthy balance.

Side-Effects of Ketamine

According to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation, the following have been reported as side-effects associated with ketamine therapy. You should contact your doctor if you experience any of the following:

  • Feelings of joy
  • Feeling “detached” from your body
  • Hallucinations
  • Decreased sensitivity to pain
  • Nausea
  • Anxiety or panic
  • Increased heart rate
  • Increased blood pressure
  • Confusion
  • Feelings of joy
  • Feeling “detached” from your body
  • Hallucinations
  • Decreased sensitivity to pain
  • Nausea
  • Anxiety or panic
  • Increased heart rate
  • Increased blood pressure
  • Confusion

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Florida and are interested in how ketamine may be able to help you, take our qualification survey and schedule an appointment today!

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New Horizon Ketamine Infusion Clinic

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New Horizon Infusion Clinics
2633-B Mahan Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32308