Ketamine Therapy Q&A

What is ketamine therapy?

Ketamine is a sedative that’s often used as a surgical anesthetic. In lesser doses, ketamine can also effectively relieve chronic pain that’s not treatable with other therapies.

Additionally, Dr. Ferrer can use ketamine therapy to treat pain and other symptoms of physical conditions and mental health issues like:

• Anxiety
• Migraines
• Depression
• Neuropathic pain
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)

If you’re not finding relief of your symptoms with medications and other therapies, Dr. Ferrer can determine if you’re a candidate for ketamine infusions. He assesses your current health, medical history, and the severity of your symptoms to create a treatment plan just for you.

What can I expect during ketamine therapy?

To deliver ketamine into your body, Dr. Ferrer introduces an intravenous (IV) line into your arm. Specific doses of ketamine slowly infuse into your bloodstream over the course of several hours.

Ketamine binds to receptors in your brain to stop pain signals. When treating mental health issues, ketamine also helps build new neural connections that improve your thoughts and emotions.

During your treatment, you might experience side effects like dizziness, nausea, and hallucinations. Many people also note feeling detached from their bodies. These side effects typically resolve on their own shortly after your therapy is complete.

To get the most benefit from your ketamine therapy, Dr. Ferrer customizes a treatment plan that typically involves a series of infusions over the course of several days. Throughout your infusion, he carefully monitors your breathing and heart rate for your safety.

Is ketamine therapy right for me?

Not everyone is a candidate for ketamine therapy. However, Dr. Ferrer might recommend ketamine therapy if medications and other therapies aren’t relieving your pain and other symptoms.

You should schedule a diagnostic evaluation for chronic pain or other conditions that aren’t getting better or continue to worsen, even with therapy.

When ketamine therapy is successful, your results can last for several months before you need additional infusions. Many people experience a noticeable difference in their symptoms after the first couple of infusions.

In the event you do not experience significant symptom relief after your first few treatments, Dr. Ferrer might stop your treatment and determine what other treatments are a better fit for you.

To schedule a ketamine therapy consultation, book an appointment by calling Lighthouse Wellness Center.