Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
One of the most common ailments that doctors treat annually is depression, and this time of year, triggers like stress, missing loved ones or being overwhelmed can intensify depressive episodes. Nearly 15 million people in the United States are affected by depression. Persistent Depressive Disorder or PDD is a chronic type of depression that usually last for more than a year and can be difficult to treat successfully.
Symptoms of depression vary, but these are a few common causes for concern:1
• Feeling nervous, irritable, or on edge
• Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom
• Having an increased heart rate
• Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation), sweating, and/or trembling
• Feeling weak or tired
• Difficulty concentrating
• Trouble sleeping
• Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems
• Feelings of Despondency
• Suicidal Tendencies
The typical treatment options for MDD (major depressive disorder) are antidepressant medications and counseling therapy. According to the National Institute of Mental health, Depression (major depressive disorder or clinical depression) is a common but serious mood disorder. It causes severe symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working. To be diagnosed with depression, the symptoms must be present for at least two weeks.
While the treatment options mentioned above are helpful for some people, the problem lies in two distinct categories. Firstly, depression is a ‘label’ that is placed over a very complicated, in-depth, disease with countless causes. And secondly, a vast majority of patients do not respond well to the medications prescribed. This is called treatment-resistant depression.
There is a way of treating depression that is helping numerous patients, and it’s noninvasive and controlled by an expert physician.
Ketamine IV Infusion Therapy
Over the past ten years, Ketamine has been studied in patients with severe depression and PTSD. A rapid instantaneous effect takes place immediately upon the drug being dispensed intravenously. When a well-trained clinician administers ketamine, it can help with symptoms like moodiness, decreased concentration, low self-esteem, impaired sleep, decreased sexual desire, diminished appetite and can even alleviate suicidal thoughts.
During the treatment, the initial infusions usually take place over approximately two weeks with six infusions that are administered every other day. In parts of the brain that control mood and emotions, ketamine infusion creates new connections in the brain. These new neurological connections help the brain to send positive signals and improve mood, along with multiple beneficial physical conditions to the body. The effect is notable within hours, but most patients report the results are instantaneous. These astonishing changes can be seen on brain scans and imaging, and the results can be long-lasting.
Ketamine impacts mood, anxiety and alleviates pain, which can result in positive treatment outcomes for the following disorders:
• Severe or Chronic Depression (such as GAD and MDD)
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Chronic Inflammation and Pain
• Bipolar Disorder
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Post-Partum Depression (PPD)
• Produces Rapid Onset of Neural Connections
Dr. Steven Reichbach states, “In our opinion, IV Ketamine infusions are the gold standard for patients with severe mood disorders or those suffering from chronic pain. IV ketamine provides 100% bioavailability meaning that 100% of the drug administered, gets where it needs to go (the brain). This provides easier titration and a higher likelihood for a positive response.”
Steven Reichbach, MD, Board-Certified
Anesthesiologist, specializes in pain management. For more information, please contact their office today at 941-213-4444, or visit their website at
findpainrelief.com.
Gulf Coast Ketamine Center
2415 University Parkway, Building #3,
Suite 215, Sarasota, FL 34243
941-213-4444 | www.findpainrelief.com
Reference:
1. ADAA, Anxiety Symptoms, https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/
generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad/symptoms
