Ketamine Infusion Therapy as a New Depression Treatment
Depression severity ranges from temporary, mild episodes of despair to severe, chronic sadness that hinders an individual’s personal and professional life. Clinical depression is often diagnosed when symptoms are ongoing and extreme enough to cause noticeable problems in relationships and day-to-day activities. This form of depression usually responds well to talk therapy and/or antidepressant medications, but there are cases where an individual does not respond to traditional treatments. In these cases, there is a new depression treatment known as ketamine infusion therapy. The Dallas, Plano and Richardson, Texas area office of Texas Ketamine Specialists is leading the way in offering this safe, effective and innovative treatment option.
An Overview of Clinical Depression
Clinical depression can affect people at any age, even young children. According to the Journal of American Medical Association, the lifetime incidence of depression in this country is more than 8-12% for men and 20-26% for women. The median age of onset is 32 years.
Clinical depression does not affect everyone the same. One person may experience a moderate sadness that allows them to control many aspects of life, while another person may experience symptoms so severe they cannot leave the house to go to work or school.
The most common depression symptoms include:
- Hopelessness, guilt, helplessness or worthlessness
- An ongoing sad mood
- Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
- Loss of energy
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Interest in activities once enjoyed
- Changes in appetite and weight
A New Depression Treatment is Available – Ketamine Infusions
It is critical individuals suffering from clinical depression receive medical treatment in a timely manner. By simply ignoring the condition, or not receiving the appropriate depression treatment, depression sufferers put themselves at an even higher risk of suicidal thoughts and drug and alcohol dependence.
It is reported that over 30% of people experiencing clinical depression symptoms do not achieve relief with traditional treatment that includes antidepressants and/or talk therapy. For too many years, these individuals continued to lose hope when treatment after treatment failed. There is now hope with ketamine infusion therapy, a new depression treatment with remarkable results.
Ketamine is an FDA-approved anesthetic that was developed in the 1950s and is still commonly used in adults, children and pets. In more recent years, medical researchers have discovered that ketamine works for depression at a rate much faster than traditional antidepressants, and even works when these medications fail patients.
Ketamine is remarkably effective in patients who have failed with traditional treatment options. Clinical trials have shown relief of symptoms in 70% of patients after just one infusion. These trials also indicate 85-90% symptom relief in patients undergoing the recommended three-week follow-up infusion regimen. Some patients will require maintenance or “booster” infusions every three to four months afterwards, depending on their unique symptoms and physiology.
If you are suffering from clinical depression in the Dallas, Plano and Richardson, Texas area, please contact Texas Ketamine Specialists to determine if ketamine infusions are the new depression treatment for you.
