Naples Substance Abuse Treatment: Ketamine Effects During Mental Health Treatment

Naples Substance Abuse Treatment: How Is Ketamine Used?

Ketamine is a dissociative drug that has been popularly abused since the 1980s. However, like many prescription drugs of abuse, ketamine has therapeutic properties. Today, ketamine may be prescribed to treat severe depression and some other mental health conditions during Naples substance abuse treatment. Because ketamine is associated with a degree of abuse, clinicians monitor the drug closely. Ketamine effects can be dangerous when the drug is abused; the effects can be similar to phencyclidine (PCP).

At our Naples substance abuse treatment center, clinicians may prescribe ketamine to treat clients with dual diagnoses, including depression, substance addiction, or other mental health conditions. Is ketamine treatment right for you? When you visit WhiteSands Alcohol and Drug Rehab, we can evaluate your condition and recommend the best treatment course to support your recovery.

If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, call WhiteSands Alcohol and Drug Rehab today at (877) 640-7820 to learn how we can help.

What Is Ketamine?

Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic drug. Though commonly used in veterinary clinics, it has also been approved for medical use to treat humans. Its primary use in treating people is for anesthetic purposes but it is prescribed off-label to treat some mental health conditions like depression. Ketamine is a short-acting anesthetic that is frequently used in cases involving fractures or wound care. It can have anti-pain effects too, which is why it may be prescribed to treat traumatic injuries. However, clinicians now use it off-label to treat mental illnesses like depression and bipolar disorder. Research suggests treating certain types of seizures that do not respond to other drug treatments may be beneficial.

Ketamine produces various effects that we’ll discuss in detail further on, but its dissociative effect is the chief reason why the drug is abused and has become increasingly popular as a club drug. When used recreationally, however, the drug can be dangerous. The drug is dangerous on its own and extremely dangerous when mixed with alcohol or other drugs.

Naples Substance Abuse Treatment: When Is Ketamine Considered for Treatment?

Today, mental healthcare providers have many options for treating mental disorders like depression. Sometimes, however, patients do not respond well to these treatments. It’s at this point that a clinician might consider ketamine. Ketamine is not a typical first-line treatment for mental health conditions. When treating depression, for instance, doctors tend first to prescribe serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs are highly effective, but not for all patients. When patients do not respond to first or even second-line medications for depression or other mental health disorders, doctors might prescribe ketamine.

Recent studies have also shown that ketamine may effectively treat substance use disorders. Currently, just a few medications are involved in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) that are safe and effective for treating substance addiction. Ketamine may be prescribed in the short term for treating alcohol use disorder, opioid use disorder, and other substance use disorders, particularly those that do not respond well to other medications or therapies. If you meet certain health criteria, ketamine might be the right treatment for you.

Ketamine Treatment: How It Works

Physicians who prescribe ketamine will monitor its use closely. The drug is not typically sent home with patients or clients. That’s not unusual as many methadone clinics require patients to visit daily to obtain their daily dose of methadone, a common MAT drug used to treat opioid addiction. One reason why clinicians might prescribe ketamine early on in the treatment process as opposed to waiting for other drugs like SSRIs to kick in is when the depression is extremely severe. SSRIs and other drugs commonly used to treat depression can take weeks to build up in the system and begin to alleviate symptoms. Ketamine, on the other hand, works quickly.

Doctors will monitor its effects on patients whether prescribed early or later in the course of ketamine treatment in Florida. While generally safe in prescribed doses, ketamine is not always safe for people with certain health conditions such as high blood pressure. Doctors will also not prescribe it for individuals with mental health conditions like schizophrenia. As a controlled substance, ketamine is not ideal for everyone. Clinicians will evaluate your condition to determine if ketamine drug treatment is the best course for you.

When ketamine begins to work in a person’s system, it interacts with certain chemicals in the brain. Ketamine will bind to various receptors in the brain and block the action of glutamine, reducing symptoms of depression or anxiety. While medical researchers know this much, they still don’t fully understand why ketamine alleviates depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder when other similar receptor agonists do not. As they accumulate more research, ketamine may eventually move from off-label status to on-label status to treat some mental health conditions.

Learn more about how to access ketamine treatment in Florida here:

Ketamine Treatment in Florida

Naples Substance Abuse Treatment: 12 Ketamine Effects

Ketamine produces many different effects. Some effects are preferred, which is why doctors prescribe the drug, but others are side effects that may involve some discomfort. Side effects may dissipate with time:

1. Drowsiness: ketamine will cause users to feel drowsy or sedated.
2. Calmness: people generally experience a sense of calm and relaxation when taking ketamine.
3. Slowed reflexes: ketamine slows a person’s reflexes and may temporarily diminish their motor skills.
4. Increased blood pressure and heart rate: although ketamine produces a sedative effect, it also causes the heart and blood pressure to speed up. For this reason, it is not prescribed for patients with high blood pressure.
5. Feeling detached: people who use ketamine may experience feelings of detachment from their bodies.
6. Disorientation/confusion: ketamine causes individuals to feel disoriented. They may not know where they are. People who abuse the drug may refer to this confusion as “falling down a k-hole.”
7. Nausea/vomiting: it’s not uncommon for people taking ketamine to experience nausea and vomiting during or after taking it.
8. Slurred speech: ketamine can cause a person’s speech to become slurred.
9. Double vision: ketamine can cause double vision and dizziness.
10. Stiffness and muscle spasms: a person may experience muscle stiffness and discomfort.
11. Depression/anxiety: some people might feel increased feelings of depression.
12. Hallucinations: some people experience hallucinations when taking ketamine. These hallucinations may last between 30-60 minutes.

Naples Substance Abuse Treatment: Find Ketamine Treatment and the Help You Need at WhiteSands

If you are struggling with a mental health problem and/or substance addiction, you can rely on WhiteSands for help. We offer a full range of addiction treatment programs, including inpatient and outpatient programming. We also offer many different evidence-based treatments and holistic and alternative therapies. One of our treatment options is medication-assisted treatment. You can find ketamine treatment at WhiteSands and other medications that help treat substance use disorders and mental health conditions.

About one-third of individuals with a substance use disorder also struggle with a mental health disorder such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Simultaneous treatment is the best way to treat a dual diagnosis. At WhiteSands, our clinicians can treat dual diagnosis. We will evaluate your condition and provide you with an individualized treatment plan. Don’t put off treatment. Visit or contact WhiteSands Alcohol and Drug Rehab and let us provide you with the treatment you need to achieve lasting recovery.

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.