Ketamine infusion therapy is a revolutionary tool that helps to reduce severe symptoms of depression in people who are living with the debilitating effects of treatment-resistant depression. This tool offers a way to receive treatment non-invasively and with minimal risk of side effects. However, unfortunately, while ketamine infusion therapy is applicable for the majority of patients diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression, not everyone is a good candidate for this type of therapy. It’s important to understand whether or not you may be a good candidate for ketamine infusion therapy sessions before you seek help using this type of therapy. This way, you can seek alternative types of treatment if you are not qualified or start preparing for your sessions if you are.
Some of the people who are not good candidates for ketamine infusion therapy may include people who:
While ketamine infusion therapy is safe for most people, it can be dangerous to people who are experiencing high blood pressure issues. This is because ketamine is an active medication that can raise blood pressure while in effect. Heightened blood pressure, especially for people who already have high blood pressure, can lead to a number of negative symptoms including stroke and cardiac arrest. While blood pressure is monitored throughout treatments for people who are utilizing ketamine therapies to ensure that patients are safe, those who already have high blood pressure may not be good candidates for this type of therapy.
As stated, ketamine therapy can put a person at risk for increased blood pressure readings. This can be harmful to people who are living with any type of heart condition like previous heart attacks, arrhythmias, artery diseases, and congestive heart failure. While ketamine therapy helps to reduce mental health symptoms like depression, putting a person at a risk for heart complications is not something that ketamine therapy providers are willing to do. So, people living with heart conditions may need to look toward other options to address symptoms of treatment-resistant depression.
Ketamine can be used as a sedative in a medical setting and it is also sold on the street in various forms in order to be used as a party substance. So, it’s not uncommon that people who look toward ketamine therapy to address symptoms of treatment-resistant depression may have had experience with ketamine in the past. However, people who have used ketamine in the past but have had an adverse reaction to this substance may not be good candidates for ketamine infusion therapy for depression. Adverse reactions may be a result of an allergy to this substance and can pose a potential threat to the health of these individuals.
Are you struggling with the symptoms of treatment-resistant depression and think you may be a good candidate for ketamine infusion therapy? We offer a number of treatment and therapy options on an outpatient basis for people who aren’t finding the relief they need from traditional depression treatments alone. Find out more about our ketamine infusion therapy options and our other available services on our website today.