Ketamine Therapy
Rapid alleviation of depression symptoms
Ketamine Therapy in Flagstaff
If traditional treatments for depression such as medication and talk therapy haven’t been effective for you, Flagstaff Ketamine and TMS offers a cutting-edge alternative: ketamine therapy.
We specialize in this innovative treatment, which includes:
- IV ketamine infusions
- Sublingual ketamine troches (small, lozenge-like tablets that dissolve in the mouth)
- Spravato (esketamine), an FDA-approved nasal spray
Ketamine has been used worldwide as an anesthetic drug since the 1960s. In the last few years, numerous medical journals have shown efficacy in using ketamine to treat depression, chronic pain, PTSD, anxiety, trauma, addiction and other mental health conditions.
Understanding Ketamine Therapy
Ketamine works differently than traditional antidepressants. Most antidepressants regulate serotonin, a brain chemical responsible for regulating mood.
Ketamine targets glutamate, an abundant neurotransmitter that helps nerve cells communicate across the brain. During treatment, ketamine creates a surge of glutamate transmission which promotes the growth of new neural connections.
These new connections allow the signaling pathways in your brain to change by repairing damaged connections and creating new structures for your neurons to communicate. In essence, ketamine treatment helps the brain re-wire itself with new, healthy connections in real-time.
Creating a structural change in the brain, or improving its neuroplasticity, is what enables rapid relief from the symptoms of depression and anxiety. A brain that can change and re-organize its pathways directly improves emotional regulation, cognitive flexibility, and overall mental health resilience.
What Are the Treatments Like?
IV ketamine is administered in a 45–60-minute continuous infusion in our office. We offer a calm, supportive setting to help keep you at ease, and you will remain under close medical supervision to ensure you are safe and comfortable throughout the infusion. After the session, we’ll work with you to help you integrate the results and make the most of your experience.
IV Ketamine treatment typically consists of a course of multiple infusion sessions to make the most of its benefits. We’ll work with you to develop a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs and goals.
After ketamine treatment, you will need to be driven home by a loved one or a trusted friend.
How Quickly Will I Feel Relief?
Like any mental health treatment, results are different for different people. Not everyone who receives ketamine treatment experiences relief, but studies have shown improvement in 60-80% of people who receive treatment.
The relief in symptoms is different for each person. Some people feel relief from a single infusion that lasts anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks. Others feel relief closer to the end or after the completion of all courses of treatment.
How long the relief lasts depends on individual factors such as your lifestyle, emotional history, follow-up care, and on-going treatment plan. Research on ketamine’s anti-depressant effect and long-term efficacy is still on-going.
Does Ketamine Therapy Have Side Effects?
Ketamine does have the potential to cause side effects such as dissociation and an altered mental state or elevated blood pressure, which is why it is administered under close supervision in our office.
We are here to assist you through each step of the process.
Is Ketamine Therapy Covered by Insurance?
IV and sublingual ketamine treatment for mental health conditions are considered off-label uses and are therefore not typically covered by traditional insurance policies.
Esketamine (Spravato) is a ketamine configuration that is administered as a nasal spray and has FDA approval to treat treatment resistant depression. Treatment is covered by insurance in some cases, however, each insurer and policy has specific criteria for approval. Our office can help you determine if Spravato can be covered by your policy.
Questions People Ask
Will ketamine work if antidepressants haven’t?
Every individual responds to treatments differently and nothing can be promised. However, ketamine acts on an entirely different chemical system than the serotonin system that most anti-depressants target, and that is why it offers relief for many people who have treatment resistant depression.
What does a ketamine infusion feel like?
Most people feel detached or dreamlike while it is running. It can be strange. It wears off before you leave, and someone is with you throughout.
It is common to feel emotional during or afterwards. Staff are there throughout, and there is time afterwards to sit until you feel steady enough to leave.
How many ketamine infusions will I need?
A set of sessions over a few weeks, then a plan for follow-up. The exact number depends on you.
Can I drive myself home afterwards?
No. You will need someone to drive you home.
Is ketamine FDA approved for depression?
Ketamine is FDA approved for depression in a specific nasal form, esketamine, sold as Spravato. Other forms of ketamine are prescribed off-label.
Does ketamine help with PTSD?
The research is still building but we have seen relief in PTSD symptoms for many patients after receiving ketamine treatment.
Is everyone a candidate for ketamine?
There are some health conditions and history that may make ketamine treatment unsuitable for certain individuals. We perform an initial evaluation with each client to ensure your treatment is the best path for you.
What does ketamine therapy cost?
See our rates here.