Ketamine Treatment for Drug Addiction in Tampa

What Is Ketamine?

Ketamine is a short-acting anesthetic medication that can produce hallucinogenic effects, change perceptions of sights and sounds, and produce a sense of detachment from reality. It comes in a powder or liquid form and is approved by the FDA for medical uses to treat addiction.

Doctors will usually provide one of two types of Ketamine to patients in the form of a liquid intravenous (IV) infusion or nasal spray. The two types are:

1. Racemic Ketamine – IV infusion therapies

2. Esketamine (Spravato) – nasal spray

If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, call WhiteSands Alcohol and Drug Rehab today at 877.969.1993 to learn how we can help.

What Is Ketamine Used For?

Ketamine therapy is used in many medical procedures and treatments in Tampa, Florida. Common uses for Ketamine include:

• An anesthetic that was mainly used on battlefields and in operating rooms
• A therapy that relieves symptoms of depression, major depression disorder, and suicidal ideation
• A treatment for depression that is combined with generalized anxiety disorder
• A remedy for drug addiction (cocaine addiction, opioid addiction, prescription drug addiction, etc.)
• A treatment for alcoholism and physical alcohol dependence

Ketamine can also be abused and may be used as a club drug because of its psychoactive properties, known as “special K” or “super K.”

How Does Ketamine Work?

Ketamine works by binding to NMDA receptors in the brain, activating a neurotransmitter called glutamate. This chemical is found in the brain’s frontal cortex, located in the spaces between the neurons.

The increase of glutamate allows for synaptogenesis, the process in which more synapses are created, allowing information to be transmitted throughout the brain more efficiently, and creating new pathways. This process can affect mood, thought patterns, and cognition in a person who receives doctor-provided ketamine treatments. Ketamine infusion may also help those with depression by reducing inflammation, which is sometimes linked to mood disorders.

The effects of a low dose of Ketamine on the body include:

• Increased heart rate
• Lowered blood pressure
• Visual hallucinations
• Heightened senses
• Numbness

A higher dose of IV ketamine may cause sensations and issues like:

• Short-term memory loss
• Difficulty moving the body or stiff muscles
• An “out of body” sensation
• Perceptual disturbances (time speeds up or slows down, colors and textures or noises seem particularly stimulating, etc.)
• Uncontrolled eye movements, with dilated pupils and teary eyes
• Nausea and vomiting
• Overproduction of saliva

Using Ketamine outside of a medical setting or long-term may lead to additional side effects, addiction, or overdose, which can become dangerous with slowed breathing and unconsciousness. A medical dosage is measured and monitored, making it safe for patients in Tampa, Florida, to undergo ketamine treatment without ill effects.

If you do enter rehab near Tampa, here are some tips on what to say to friends and relatives:

https://whitesandstreatment.com/2018/12/12/what-to-write-to-someone-in-rehab/

What to Write to Someone in Rehab

Is Ketamine Addictive?

Yes, although the FDA has approved its use, misusing powdered or IV ketamine has addictive properties and may lead to addiction when abused. It is essential to let your doctor know if you have suffered from substance use disorders or addiction before so you may make an informed decision about whether a ketamine treatment is proper for you.

Ketamine Treatment for Depression

Intravenous IV and nasal spray ketamine are being used in Tampa as a “faster” method of helping people with treatment-resistant depression who have not had success with the usual course of antidepressant medication and therapy. It is being used alongside or in the place of treatments like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), talk therapy, and antidepressant medication to relieve depressive symptoms.

Although this much is known about the drug, it is still widely unknown exactly how these effects help certain people with substance use issues and depression. In some cases, it is not effective at all, and for other patients, it is highly successful. The effects are likely due to the Ketamine in the body affecting multiple processes simultaneously, including treating chronic pain syndrome, regional pain syndrome, and inflammation, causing varying results depending on the individual patient.

Ketamine Treatment for Addiction

Researchers have found that when prescription doses of Ketamine are combined with both behavioral therapy and motivational therapy in treating substance abuse, it has been linked with better overall treatment outcomes. Adding this medication to an intense regimen of treatment has, in clinical trials, been shown to reduce the chance of drug abuse and relapse in many patients. The theory behind this success is that Ketamine may help make behavioral therapy more effective, changing how the brain deals with:

• Motivation
• Awareness of the body
• Cravings
• Self-control over behaviors
• Depression and chronic pain

How Long Does Ketamine Treatment Last?

When you receive a Ketamine infusion, you will likely feel the effects in just a few hours. It usually stays in the body for ten to twelve hours, depending on dosage, body weight, and other metabolic processes. The treatment effects may last for weeks or even months, and you may receive maintenance infusions depending on how the treatment works with your unique condition.

Ketamine Treatment at WhiteSands

If you are suffering from drug abuse issues, drug or alcohol addiction, or depression with or without anxiety disorder and chronic pain, and the usual course of antidepressants and therapy are not working well for you; you may want to consider a ketamine treatment regimen at WhiteSands Alcohol and Drug Rehab center. We are a luxury, holistic treatment center offering inpatient rehab and outpatient rehab programs, substance abuse treatment, medical detox, dual diagnosis treatments, therapy, counseling, and a sober community.

We provide integrated approaches to healing that combine the use of safe medical treatments with cognitive behavioral therapy, one-on-one and group therapy, medications, and holistic wellness for a whole-patient approach to healing, including ketamine infusion therapies. Speak to one of our addiction treatment specialists today to learn more about what we can offer you and how we can help you with your depression and addiction issues.

If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.