Ketamine therapy can be a great supplement to many mental health treatments. However, many patients are worried about combining ketamine therapy with psychiatric drugs. Talking to your psychiatrist is the best way to make sure your entire treatment plan is safe and effective. Below, we’ll give you some tips for talking to your psychiatrist about ketamine therapy.
Do Your Research
Ketamine therapy can be very helpful for a variety of patients. But of course, it’s not for everyone. Before you talk to your psychiatrist, research ketamine therapy to determine if it’s commonly used for your specific symptoms or not. You should also research if it is safe to use with your current psychiatric drugs. After getting this preliminary information, you can then talk with your doctor about specifics.
Outline Your Goals
It’s important to ask yourself why you want to start ketamine therapy in the first place. For instance, are you looking to supplement your current medication? Do you think you need new medication? Ketamine can work great in conjunction with other treatments. However, if you feel like your mental health symptoms are out of control, then you might want to start by changing your current medication plan with your psychiatrist. Be honest about your symptoms- and your desired outcome- to help your psychiatrist create the best plan for your needs.
Don’t Make Too Many Changes at Once
Ketamine can be safe and effective alongside other mental health treatments. However, patients should try to avoid making too many changes at once. For instance, starting a new psychiatric drug and starting ketamine at the same time are not recommended. Your psychiatrist can help you determine if your medication routine is stable enough for you to add supplemental therapy.
Start With a Ketamine Consultation
A ketamine therapy consultation is a great way to get some preliminary information on this treatment. During a consultation, a ketamine specialist will go over your physical health, mental health, and overall treatment goals to determine if this treatment is a good fit for you. After getting the green light from both your psychologist and also the ketamine provider, you can then decide for yourself if you would like to try this treatment.