Who Is Not a Good Candidate For Ketamine Therapy?

Ketamine therapy should not be administered to those experiencing active psychosis or manic episodes, as this drug can produce hallucinations that could worsen these symptoms.

Ketamine may temporarily increase a person’s blood pressure and heart rate, potentially creating serious risks for those suffering from hypertension or cardiovascular issues.

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Ketamine therapy is an emerging treatment option for depression, PTSD, and other mental health conditions. Studies have demonstrated its efficacy in relieving symptoms for those who have failed to respond to other methods like antidepressants and psychotherapy (also referred to as talk therapy). Unfortunately, not everyone will react well; various factors relating to their history, personality traits, or personal circumstances could preclude someone from benefitting from Ketamine infusion therapy.

Although ketamine is not addictive, it may have some unwanted side effects. Ketamine can create feelings of euphoria or well-being, which some individuals might find unpleasant; additionally, it can stimulate heart function and raise blood pressure, making it unsafe for individuals with specific health conditions such as high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, its use should not be recommended in those with or with family histories of schizophrenia since it could trigger psychosis in some individuals.

Ketamine may interact with certain medications and lead to serious side effects. Therefore, this drug should not be combined with opioids, sedatives, antidepressants, anxiety treatments, or those with glaucoma or active internal bleeding.

Ketamine should not be taken during pregnancy or breastfeeding due to insufficient data about its short and long-term effects on both fetuses and babies, though it’s likely that any negative impacts would outweigh its benefits. Furthermore, this drug can create an altered sense of reality, which is particularly dangerous for young children.

Before prescribing medication to any individual, doctors will carefully examine their overall health and discuss any potential medication risks. They may suggest psychotherapy before beginning ketamine infusion therapy to help the individual understand how ketamine therapy will benefit them, address any opposing thoughts or behaviors that could impede its success, and foster trust with mental health providers.

Liver or kidney issues

Ketamine has been used since the 1960s as an anesthetic, though more recently, studies have demonstrated its benefits for those with mental health conditions. Although not suitable for everyone, here are some factors that help determine whether ketamine therapy would work:

If You Have a History of Psychosis

Ketamine can be misused for its dissociative effects and even become habit-forming; because of this risk, people with histories of psychosis or hallucinations who take ketamine infusion therapy should avoid it; rather than alleviating symptoms, the drug could intensify them.

Ketamine has long been recognized as an effective pain reliever, providing safe relief from conditions like fibromyalgia, PTSD, and chronic pain syndrome. While not intended to cure these ailments, ketamine can ease discomfort while increasing mobility for those who suffer from them.

If you suffer from thyroid disease, ketamine treatment may not be appropriate for you as it increases heart rate and blood pressure levels – both potentially dangerous side effects of taking this drug.

Ketamine should also be noted as having the potential to alter liver function tests (LFT) due to how it reduces blood flow to the liver and causes it to overwork. Before receiving infusion therapy with ketamine, ensure that neither pregnant nor breastfeeding, as no studies have been completed on how it will impact a newborn infant or fetus.

Suppose you’re considering taking part in ketamine treatment. In that case, you must locate an experienced clinic and understand precisely what the procedure entails – and whether or not it will benefit you personally. Be prepared for a lengthy time commitment, as multiple treatments will likely be needed before seeing results that meet your expectations.

Addiction to drugs or alcohol

Drug abuse is when individuals use legal or illegal drugs in ways they shouldn’t, which can result in various issues for themselves and those around them. Abuse may jeopardize their lives while creating financial, familial, and relationship difficulties and mental health disorders related to substance use disorder. Anyone experiencing addiction must seek treatment as soon as possible to restore health and prevent further issues from arising.

People with histories of drug misuse or active psychotic disorders should avoid receiving ketamine infusion therapy as this could trigger hallucinations and dissociative effects that worsen psychotic symptoms. Furthermore, pregnant women are unsafe due to a lack of research regarding its long-term impacts on unborn and newborn babies.

People addicted to opioids or heroin are not suitable candidates for this kind of therapy, as ketamine may only make their pain worse. Opioids include prescriptions such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and methadone, which are solid painkillers but can be misused psychologically and physically; overdoses and even deaths have occurred from misuse of this class of medications.

Ketamine can be used as a sedative in medical settings and party drugs on the street; it’s also often found as an ingredient in recreational drugs like methamphetamine and cocaine, meaning those with histories of abusing such substances should not receive infusions as this may lead to dependence and withdrawal symptoms.

Opiate and heroin addicts cannot benefit from ketamine infusion therapy as their bodies already rely on these substances for mental and physical relief, meaning treatment for their addiction will first need to occur before any such therapy can commence. If you struggle with opioid or heroin dependence, various rehabilitation services may help break your reliance on toxic substances like these.

Mental health issues

Ketamine infusions have proven highly successful at treating Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and Chronic Pain conditions like Fibromyalgia. But as with any medical procedure, they’re not suitable for everyone; some individuals may have histories of drug abuse, cardiovascular issues, or specific medications that preclude them from this therapy.

Psychosis or manic episodes, for example, are not suitable candidates for ketamine infusion therapy as it could exacerbate their symptoms further. Ketamine can produce hallucinations and dissociative effects, amplifying psychotic disorder symptoms; similarly, if someone has substance use disorder such as addiction to drugs or alcohol, they cannot safely receive infusions as their cravings might lead them back down this road of addiction.

At their first consultation with their doctor, any potential ketamine patient must be completely honest about their mental health history and current state. In particular, they must discuss any previous experiences with this drug or any other types of sedatives or party drugs they may have taken, whether any adverse reactions occurred from these substances previously assumed, and what kind of effects might be experienced from infusions of ketamine.

Nerve cells (neurons) in the brain associated with mood use a chemical known as glutamate to communicate among themselves, but in patients suffering from depression, their glutamate receptors become weak or deactivated, meaning traditional antidepressants no longer work since tolerance builds up over time to those medications. Ketamine infusions have been shown to reactivate these glutamate receptors and allow nerve cells to once again connect.

Ketamine infusions may retrain the brain to respond differently to glutamate neurotransmitters – making it particularly helpful for people struggling with depression, anxiety, or other conditions who have tried everything else without success. To determine whether you would qualify as a candidate for this therapy approach, contact one of Bespoke Treatment’s offices near you today and speak with one of their physicians about ketamine infusion therapy options.