KETAMINE INFUSION THERAPY
How Ketamine Works
Recent evidence points to ketamine’s inhibitory effects on the NMDA receptor in the lateral habenula. The lateral habenula is a brain region primarily responsible for encoding negative rewards or anti-reward cause-and-effect relationships. Those with depression and anxiety show an overactivity of burst firing in the lateral habenula. As a non-competitive NMDA antagonist, ketamine prevents glutamate from activating the NMDA receptor.
The inhibition of the NMDA receptor may cause a build-up of free glutamate, which then activates the AMPA receptors. When surplus glutamate activates the AMPA receptor, it releases a brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) chemical. BDNF, in interaction with the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), promotes new neural growth. This new growth may reroute the brain from hyperactive areas associated with negative reward signals, providing long-term relief from mental health and chronic pain conditions. Ketamine infusions for pain may be the answer you’ve been looking for in Helena, MT.
Healing and repairing neurons
The neuron to the right shows new dendritic formations, or new neural growth, within just 2 hours of receiving ketamine. Ketamine’s effect on the human brain – how it interacts with the Medial prefrontal cortex and Hippocampus regarding chronic pain, for instance – is open to debate. We know that ketamine, its derivative Esketamine, and ketamine-like drugs have been shown to reduce some symptoms associated with mental disorders like anxiety and depression and the aforementioned chronic pain.
Innovative treatment for depression
After ketamine treatments, the depressed brain is almost identical to the non-depressed picture as new neural activity has awakened the depressed areas. The amygdala, the part of the brain which handles fear and emotion and is more active in people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), may benefit from ketamine infusion therapy. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has approved the drug to treat military veterans suffering from symptoms of PTSD. That part of the brain is also vital in dealing with anxiety and depression, two mental health disorders whose symptoms have received much attention due to ketamine-related studies.
Ketamine for Mental Health
"Ketamine might be the most important breakthrough in antidepressant treatment in decades."
4 MILLION
Americans with Treatment Resistant Depression
60 YEARS
of Study and Safety of Ketamine
83%
Average Positive Response
4 DAYS
Average Time for Results
"Ketamine therapy for depression is rapidly changing the face of mental health care in the US."
Boris Heifets, MD, PhD, Stanford University
School of Medicine
Ketamine for Chronic Pain
"Welcome to an awakening, to a jewel of opportunity for spacious mind, clarity and relief from pain and suffering."
50 MILLION
Americans with Chronic Pain
NON OPIOID
2 Million Americans Abuse Opioids
76%
Positive Response
3-6 MONTHS
Average Symptom Relief
Ketamine was so safe that it became known as a “buddy drug” during the Vietnam War since non-medical personnel could administer it on the battlefield.
Depression Scores Dramatically Dropped in Ketamine Patients
Unlike traditional antidepressants, ketamine therapy provides fast relief from mental health conditions, including depression. Most people describe the treatment as condensing years of therapy into one session. We invite you to look at some of the depression scores (PHQ-9) of our anonymous patients and the success they’ve had with ketamine infusions.
*Each vertical line on the graphs below represents a ketamine infusion*
43 year-old female
Diagnosis: Major depression disorder and PTSD
25+ years of treatment resistant prior to Ketamine Infusion Therapy
Outcome: Quick response, long lasting relief
51 year-old male
Diagnosis: Major depression disorder and PTSD
30+ years of treatment-resistant prior to Ketamine Infusion Therapy
Outcome: Quick initial response but complete relief achieved after a booster
23 year-old female
Diagnosis: Major depression disorder and General Anxiety
15+ years of treatment resistant prior to Ketamine Infusion Therapy
Outcome: Slow initial response, but lasting relief achieved
