Ketamine Treatment
Learn more about how we serve our patients.
What is ketamine and how does it work?
Ketamine is a dissociative drug first used to treat soldiers on the front lines in Vietnam. In high doses, it is effective as an anesthesia for short-term surgery and stitches. It is routinely used in the ER and by paramedics. Over the years a nice side effect was found in the area of mental health.
Ketamine Treatment works by targeting specific receptors in the brain (NMDA receptors) to allow the development of new thought patterns or to be more specific, enhance the neuroplasticity of the brain. This helps your brain learn, adapt, and break free from “stuck” patterns of mood, thought, and behavior.
What conditions can ketamine treat?
Studies show that ketamine can be effective in treating mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, addiction, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and PTSD. Some people have stated ketamine treatment also aids in psychological and spiritual exploration to assist in gaining a broader perspective on life and spirituality.
Can Ketamine Treatment Help You?
At Beecon Recovery, we believe that ketamine is best utilized with psychotherapy in a model called Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). This approach takes advantage of amphetamine’s ability to promote deeper states of self-awareness and accelerates its healing potential. In KAP treatments, patients work with a therapist to better prepare for and understand the insights that typically arise during ketamine sessions. Follow-up sessions at Beecon help you make sense of what you learn in ketamine treatment sessions and apply these insights to make positive and lasting changes in your life.
Is ketamine safe?
Yes. Ketamine is widely used as an anesthetic agent in medical practice, both in the US and around the world. It is regarded as extremely safe with minimal risks of cardiac issues or respiratory depression. Furthermore, the doses of ketamine provided during treatments at Beecon Recovery are far below the levels used safely for anesthetic purposes. Here at Beecon, we start with a very low dose (50 mg) in a troche, (sublingual tablet made by infusing ketamine with coconut oil), and 125 mg is the highest dose used. Here at Beecon Recovery we only administer Ketamine with a medical professional present on-site and with a therapist.
Contact Us To Start Your Journey
Here at Beecon Recovery, we strive to give our clients the best possible treatment outcomes. Contact us to learn more about our ketamine therapy services.
Is Ketamine Addictive?
In the dosages and frequency of administration, we utilize for treatments at
Beecon Recovery, ketamine does not pose any addiction concerns. We carefully monitor all patients for tolerance and continually assess responses to treatment to optimize the benefits of ketamine.
How quickly does ketamine work?
Ketamine’s rapid response rate is one of its most significant advantages over SSRIs and other mental health treatment approaches. People will often notice benefits in a matter of hours, as opposed to weeks or months for other pharmacological treatments. Studies show that ketamine can facilitate the acute reduction of depression, suicidality, and anxiety symptoms in patients within a day or two of treatment. Ketamine does not interfere with SSRIs and with a medical professional can minimize the use of SSRIs.
What can I expect when starting Ketamine treatment at Beecon Recovery?
Before you can begin ketamine treatment, you must first meet with one of our medical providers for an intake appointment. During this visit, you will explore the issues you are struggling with and evaluate your medical and psychological history to ensure you are a good fit for it. Ketamine is not for everyone.
If approved you and your therapist will review how ketamine works and what to expect. We have a specific protocol that is used that begins with a 50 mg dose weekly with a therapist and is increased as needed per Beecon Recovery protocol. After several weeks, or months as indicated Ketamine is then tapered off.
