Ketamine for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that occurs as a result of stressful and traumatic events in one’s life. It is frequently associated with war veterans but it can also arise due to abuse or following an accident, injury, or natural disaster.
PTSD can happen to anyone, of any age, and for any number of reasons. It manifests as a heightened sense of danger, as well as feelings of stress and fear even when safe. A sufferer may experience vivid, painful flashbacks and nightmares, and symptoms can be triggered when they are reminded of traumatic events. They may have panic attacks, and their mood could be affected, potentially leading to depression and suicidal thoughts.
It is alarmingly common. Twenty percent of people who experience a traumatic event will develop post-traumatic stress disorder as a result, and 8 million people suffer from the condition in any given year.
There are numerous courses of treatment available to help relieve symptoms, but cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), antidepressants, and sleep aids are the most common. Treatment generally focuses on helping patients to reduce the severity of their symptoms and live with their conditions, but there is no magic cure. Medications and treatments may not be effective for some patients, and serious triggers may set back their recovery.
Administering ketamine for PTSD is becoming an increasingly common solution.
How does ketamine for PTSD work?
Ketamine infusion therapy is a relatively new method of treating mood disorders such as PTSD. It involves administering the drug ketamine into the patient via an intravenous needle. Over a series of short treatment sessions, the ketamine will activate and restore parts of the brain responsible for stabilizing mood. Over a short space of time, patients report dramatic improvements in their mood and relief from the negative symptoms of post-traumatic stress.
The benefits of ketamine therapy for PTSD
- It relieves the symptoms of PTSD and allows sufferers to manage their condition more effectively. Over 83% of patients who undergo ketamine infusion therapy for mood disorders experience substantial relief in their symptoms.
- Using ketamine for PTSD works significantly faster than other treatments, which can take several weeks or even months to have any effect. Since the drug is administered intravenously, it works a lot quicker than oral medications or psychotherapy treatments, and many patients notice the results within just a few hours.
- Unlike other forms of treatment, there are no long-term side effects of using ketamine infusion therapy. Although a small number of patients have noted mild nausea and hallucinations immediately following treatment, these effects have been temporary and worn off quickly.
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