Ketamine Infusion Therapy Specialist
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Ketamine Treatment Center of East Tennessee
Richard Jackson, MD
Integrative Medicine & Ketamine Therapy Clinic located in Johnson City, TN
Research shows that ketamine infusion therapy has powerful and fast-acting effects on psychiatric disorders like depression and anxiety. Board-certified psychiatrist and ketamine expert Richard Jackson, MD, provides ketamine infusion therapy for adolescents and adults at the Ketamine Treatment Center in Johnson City, Tennessee. To find out if ketamine infusion therapy is right for you, call the office or book an appointment online today.
Ketamine Infusion Therapy Q & A
What is ketamine?
Ketamine was FDA-approved as an anesthetic medicine in 1970 and has an excellent safety record after millions of applications worldwide.
More recently, ketamine research has focused on its effectiveness at treating psychiatric conditions like severe depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Some studies show that ketamine provides temporary relief from chronic pain.
Ketamine infusion therapy is not yet FDA-approved for the treatment of psychiatric or chronic pain disorders, but that doesn’t mean it’s illegal or experimental. Many studies have shown ketamine to be safe and effective for mental health conditions. Spravato® is an FDA-approved nasal spray derived from ketamine.
How does ketamine infusion therapy work?
As an anesthetic, ketamine gets injected into your body to induce and maintain sleep during surgery.
For psychiatric and chronic pain management purposes, you receive a lower dose of the drug through a process called ketamine infusion therapy.
What should I expect from ketamine infusion therapy?
Ketamine infusion therapy occurs in the office at the Ketamine Treatment Center. You relax in a comfortable recliner chair while Dr. Jackson or a member of his staff places a small needle in a vein, usually in your forearm.
The ketamine slowly flows through the IV over about 40 minutes. During this time, Dr. Jackson and his staff monitor you for safety. You remain awake throughout the treatment and may sit quietly, talk, or listen to music.
If conditions allow, you may choose to have a friend or family member present. You will need someone to drive you home after the treatment and must avoid driving, operating heavy machinery, and making legal decisions for the rest of the day.
How effective is ketamine infusion therapy?
What you experience from ketamine infusion therapy depends on individual factors, like the type and severity of your symptoms.
Generally, the most profound effects occur in people who have severe depression that don't respond to traditional treatments. Ketamine also rapidly reduces suicidal thinking.
Some people experience relief right away, but most people find the maximum benefit from a series of four to six treatments.
Ketamine leaves your body quickly, so side effects are typically mild and short-lived. During ketamine infusion therapy, you may feel dizzy, clumsy, and slightly intoxicated. Nausea and vomiting are rare.
For more information about ketamine infusion therapy, call theKetamine Treatment Center of East Tennessee, or book an appointment online today.