Are Ketamine Infusions Safe?

With every discovery in medicine comes a long line of curious minds eager to uncover its secrets, but whether or not a new treatment is safe is one of the most important questions to ask and one of the most important truths to uncover.

Despite being FDA-approved as an alternative for general anesthetic since 1970, research into ketamine’s effects on depression has only taken off within the last few decades.

While there is still much to be learned about how exactly ketamine provides relief, results thus far have been largely positive. In one study from Yale Medicine, 70 percent of patients with treatment-resistant depression who were started on an oral antidepressant plus intranasal esketamine improved, compared to just over half in the group that did not receive the medication (the placebo group).

John Krystal, MD, chief psychiatrist at Yale Medicine and one of the pioneers of ketamine research in the country, even went so far as to call the drug “a game changer,” stating that, “It’s the reaction to ketamine, not the presence of ketamine in the body, that constitutes its effects,” which is different than most other medications.

Possible Side Effects of Ketamine Infusions

Like all other medical treatments, ketamine is not a miracle drug. Even when given in small doses over time and taken properly, there are still potential side effects users may experience and patients need to be mindful of these possible side effects.

Here are the most common side effects of ketamine according to Harvard Health:

• high blood pressure
• nausea and vomiting
• perceptual disturbances (time appearing to speed up or slow down; colors, textures, and noises that seem especially stimulating; blurry vision)
• dissociation (sometimes called out-of-body experiences) – rarely, a person may feel as if they are looking down on their body, for example.

While ketamine is not physically addictive and has no withdrawal, it can still be psychologically addictive in rare circumstances. If you have a history of substance abuse, it’s important to speak with your doctor honestly before starting ketamine IV therapy in order to determine whether it is a good option for you.

Ketamine IV Infusions at New Pathways

Although research for ketamine as an anti-depressant has only taken off in the past 15 years, nearly every study of ketamine IV therapy and nasal spray treatments (Spravato) studies have shown positive results. As a successful treatment for depression, anxiety, PTSD and more conditions, ketamine treatments have a bright future ahead.

If you are experiencing treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, or PTSD, please talk to your doctor about whether Ketamine Infusions are right for you. Contact us by filling out the free consultation form found here or use our easy Contact form and we’ll get back to you right away. Our Ketamine Research Portal has much helpful information you can access for free learning as well. Thanks for reading!