Who Is Not A Good Candidate For Ketamine Therapy?

Ketamine therapy is currently gaining huge popularity in treating mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to research, approximately 8.3% of the adult population in the United States has at least one symptom of depression. After diagnosis, most people find this treatment beneficial in relieving symptoms and improving their overall health. However, it is important to know that this type of treatment is not suitable for everyone. Those looking to experience this therapy may be wondering, “Who is not suitable for ketamine therapy?” Well, those are people who have high blood pressure, heart disease, a history of substance abuse, or use certain medications. Read this article to thoroughly understand who should not consider ketamine therapy and why. Also, learn about the benefits of this treatment. But before that, know what ketamine therapy is and how it works. read!

Also read: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Everything you need to know

What is Ketamine Therapy?

Ketamine therapy is a drug treatment that involves the use of low doses of ketamine that are injected into the body under the guidance of a doctor. This type of therapy can provide quick relief for a variety of mental health issues. It involves a series of sessions, each lasting approximately 40 minutes. The number of sessions may vary depending on the patient’s health condition and progress. During treatment, healthcare providers closely monitor patients’ psychological issues to ensure their safety and overall health. Low-dose ketamine is administered intravenously, allowing for precise dosing and immediate results. This treatment is not a versatile solution. Treatment plans are customized according to the patient’s health needs and goals. Your doctor will review your health, medical history, and previous treatment results to determine the appropriate treatment.

How does ketamine therapy work?

During treatment, ketamine helps form new neural connections in the brain, which is thought to improve mood and prevent symptoms of mental disorders. In addition, the drug also shows anti-inflammatory properties that have a positive impact on mental health.according to study, Ketamine can alter glutamate, an important neurotransmitter that has antidepressant effects. Ketamine targets N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and modulates the production of glutamate, which affects various neural circuits that help with emotional processing and mood improvement. In addition, ketamine has anti-inflammatory properties and therefore has therapeutic benefits. Chronic inflammation is also among the causes of some mental disorders. Here, ketamine can prevent inflammation by reducing associated symptoms and improving overall health. Although there is no such extensive research yet, the study demonstrated that ketamine therapy showed good results due to its high efficacy and long-term effectiveness. The following sections list its benefits.

Also read: Ketamine infusion: how does it work and what are its benefits

Benefits of Ketamine Therapy

Ketamine therapy has shown significant and rapid progress in treating depression in many people. The benefits this therapy brings to the treatment of various psychological conditions include:

• Relieve mood disorders, treatment-resistant depression, and suicidal thoughts.
• Treats complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and chronic pain.
• Relieves symptoms of neuropathy such as pain, tingling, and numbness.
• Reduces symptoms of PTSD and anxiety.
• Increases motivation and self-esteem.
• Boosts mood and overall sense of well-being.
• Improves emotional openness and emotional intelligence.
• Prevents fibromyalgia.
• Improve your sleep patterns.
• Relieve migraine pain.

Who is not a good candidate for ketamine therapy?

Ketamine therapy has shown countless positive results for some people with deep-rooted mental health issues. However, this powerful treatment is not suitable for everyone. There are still some limitations. Therefore, it is essential to know the contraindications for those who are not suitable candidates for ketamine therapy. Individuals who fall into this category include:

people with high blood pressure

Although ketamine therapy is safe and effective for many people, it can have harmful consequences for people who have high blood pressure problems. study It says this type of treatment can increase blood pressure and heart rate levels, which can increase risks to your health. The reason is that ketamine is an active drug and can cause spikes in blood pressure levels during activity. Increased blood pressure in people who already suffer from uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to harmful symptoms such as sudden cardiac arrest and stroke. The blood pressure of a suitable candidate for ketamine therapy will be checked throughout the procedure, but some complications may appear for those who already suffer from high blood pressure levels. Therefore, they may not be considered suitable for this treatment.

Also read: Symptoms of high blood pressure: Know the “silent killer”

people with heart disease

As explained, ketamine therapy may be undesirable for patients who already have high blood pressure levels, as it may put their health at risk. This type of therapy can also be dangerous for people who suffer from heart conditions such as congestive heart failure, irregular heartbeats, previous heart attacks, or artery disease. Ketamine therapy can be very helpful in reducing the symptoms of mental health problems such as depression, but it cannot be used to treat people with heart complications as they are more at risk. This is not something a doctor can do right away. Therefore, health care providers suggest that people with heart disease prioritize other treatment options to manage their mental health issues.

People with a history of drug abuse

People with a history of certain substance abuse or addictions, such as drug addiction or alcoholism, are not good candidates for ketamine therapy. Although ketamine is generally considered to be an addictive drug, people who have already been diagnosed with a history of addiction to any substance are at greater risk of misusing ketamine. Ketamine has been used as an addictive drug for many years, as much as a party drug or a nasal spray, often sold in UN-standard bottles. Regarding ketamine therapy, some concerns have been raised that while this type of treatment is effective for some people, it can induce euphoria and may cause a feeling of dependence in some people. It has been. It also increases the drug tolerance capacity of those people. Therefore, these people are not considered suitable for this treatment.

person with mental disorder

People suffering from manic episodes or psychosis may not be suitable for ketamine therapy. Psychosis is characterized by a mental health condition in which a person loses connection with reality. This makes it difficult for these people to understand what is real and what is fake. These mental disorders can interfere with the safety and effectiveness of this therapy and can put the health of these people at risk. Complications arise because ketamine treatment can induce dissociative effects and hallucinations, worsening symptoms of mental disorders. This can lead to impulsive behavior and agitation.

people using certain drugs

Ketamine can interact adversely with some medications.according to the studypharmacodynamic interactions between psychiatric drugs and ketamine have shown several results, including:

• Lamotrigine drugs may reduce the effects of ketamine.
• Benzodiazepines Reduces the duration of ketamine’s effects on psychotic symptoms of depression.
• Antipsychotics such as clozapine, haloperidol, and risperidone may respond to ketamine, but the quality of available evidence is low and still uncertain.
• Ketamine can cause high sedation when taken with certain sedatives, such as opioids, antiepileptic drugs, and some migraine drugs.

Therefore, if you are considering ketamine therapy, discuss your medical history and medication regimen with your doctor. This helps healthcare providers measure potential interactions with this treatment and plan alternative safe and effective treatments.

pregnant and lactating women

Due to a lack of proven evidence, ketamine therapy is not suitable during pregnancy and lactation. It is recommended that women avoid this type of treatment if they are pregnant or breastfeeding an infant. Research is ongoing to analyze the potential risks of ketamine therapy for growing fetuses and breastfeeding neonates. Therefore, if pregnant and breastfeeding women are suffering from mental health problems, doctors suggest considering other options. Health care providers generally advise against the use of inappropriate over-the-counter medications and other medications during pregnancy. Ketamine-injected drugs enter the mother’s bloodstream and can harm the health of the developing fetus and newborn.

Who is suitable for ketamine therapy?

As answered above, who is not suitable for ketamine therapy? Now you also need to know who is eligible for the same. Therefore, to determine whether you are eligible for ketamine therapy, your healthcare provider will thoroughly examine your medical history and overall health. Eligibility may be verified if:

• Receiving other treatments such as TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) or CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy).
• The symptoms of your current mental disorder are severe and are preventing a full recovery of health.
• You are already using various medications, but your symptoms have not been relieved.
• The medication I’m currently taking has suddenly stopped working.
• There are no contraindications for ketamine listed above in this article.

Side effects of ketamine therapy

With any drug, mild side effects can occur. People receiving ketamine therapy may experience potential side effects.according to the study, approximately 6% to 12% of people showed emergence symptoms after administration of ketamine. The standard relevant reactions are:

• Blurry vision.
• Upset stomach.
• Blood pressure increases.
• sleepiness.
• headache.
• Changes in perception.
• Some people find it floating and relaxing.
• Anxiety or agitation.
• confusion.

All of these side effects subside within a few hours, but in some cases they can last for a long time. Therefore, people who want to experience ketamine therapy should be well prepared.

Also Read: Is Ketamine Addictive: Symptoms, Effects, Side Effects

summary

In this article, you will learn about people who are not suitable for ketamine therapy. We also found that ketamine therapy is effective for certain mental illnesses that are resistant to other types of treatment. However, before choosing this treatment, it is essential to consider its disadvantages. People with uncontrollable medical problems, substance use disorders, use of certain drugs, mental disorders, and pregnant or breastfeeding women may experience some limitations or side effects. Therefore, if you have any of the above conditions and would like to undergo ketamine therapy, we recommend that you first consult a qualified physician to manage your medical condition. Only you can consider undergoing ketamine therapy once your doctor has reviewed your medical history and health and given approval.

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