Ketamine Treatment for Anxiety
For the approximately 12% of Americans who experience social anxiety disorder, Ketamine treatment for anxiety may provide fast and effective treatment for lingering and problematic symptoms. In a recent clinical study using the 21 measure HAM-D index (Hamilton Rating Depression Score) Ketamine was proven to reduce anxiety and its attendant symptoms of fear, dread and uneasiness (anxiolytic effect).
Due to is dissociative effects, Ketamine has been in use for many years as an FDA-approved anesthetic. Ketamine also gained favor as a recreational drug before clinicians adapted it in controlled settings to great effect for treating people who have not responded to traditional forms of antidepressant drugs and treatments.
Ketamine and Anxiety Disorders
Standard antidepressant medications (SSRIs) are frequently prescribed to treat anxiety disorders. The challenge is that for between 30-40% of patients, these medications do not alleviate their symptoms and often bring unwelcome side effects. Compounding the problem is that many times a different medication is prescribed that also fails to achieve remission.
One key advantage for Ketamine is that it has a rapid acting effect on synaptic plasticity. (That means that synapses, the connections between nerve cells, can be changed or rerouted by the brain itself). The benefits from taking Ketamine for anxiety can be felt in a matter of hours in some cases. With proper dosing, Ketamine can “retrain” neural pathways to bring anxiety into remission for many patients who have previously been treatment-resistant.
Ketamine can be administered in intramuscular form (IM) or intravenous (IV) form. Studies for both forms of treatment have shown them to be effective in reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation with few or no side effects. In general, Ketamine treatments have few (minor) or no side effects for the majority of patients.
Seek a Qualified, Board-certified Psychiatric Practitioner for your Ketamine Treatment
Ketamine is a potent drug that must be administered by qualified practitioners in a controlled, clinical setting.
If you think that you or a loved one might benefit from Ketamine treatment for anxiety, we invite you to call our office and learn more about treatment options.