Post-traumatic stress disorder

What is PTSD?

PTSD stands for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. It is a debilitating mental health condition that develops after a person experiences or is involved in a traumatic event but is best known for affecting veterans and first responders. PTSD affects 3.6% of the population in the U.S.  

Recurring, intense, and distressing memories, nightmares, and flashbacks are hallmarks of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and they can be triggered by either internal or external cues that remind the sufferer of the traumatic event.

Those with PTSD frequently struggle with mood swings, destructive thoughts and actions, heightened vigilance, disturbed sleep, and an inability to focus. They often live in constant fear of the symptoms, which makes living a normal life difficult.

Left untreated, PTSD can lead to avoidance, hopelessness, and detachment from family and friends. It may also accompany severe depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts and actions.

Currently, the FDA has approved treatment for PTSD with some SSRIs. Patients are also treated for PTSD with "off-label" use of other medications such as benzodiazepines, mood stabilizers, and atypical antipsychotics. However, these medications may only give short-term relief and can become addictive. As a result, many patients with PTSD often self-medicate, which may lead to alcoholism and drug addiction.

Ketamine for PTSD

Processing therapies, exposure therapies, desensitization therapies, other psychotherapies, behavioral modifications, and medication management are some options or tools available for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Ketamine treatments are a recent addition to this toolbox and have shown great promise.

What makes ketamine infusion therapy stand out is its ability to provide long-lasting relief from PTSD symptoms after just one session.

How Does Ketamine Treat PTSD?

Ketamine blocks the N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) receptor in the brain, allowing it to modulate the production of the neurotransmitter Glutamate. Glutamate plays a prominent role in the strengthening or weakening of signaling between neurons over time to shape learning and memory.

The hypothesis is that high activity of the NMDA receptor may be a risk factor for developing PTSD. Since Ketamine is the most potent clinically available NMDA receptor blocker, researchers began using it to help patients with PTSD. Ketamine may provide deep healing in multiple ways to a patient with PTSD, including its dissociative properties.

One of the physical issues in PTSD is a change in the brain's structure. The Amygdala in the brain, which is the emotion and fear processing center, becomes larger and overactive. Also, the cerebral cortex, which is responsible for higher brain functioning, atrophies. This happens because the brain is always trying to grow the areas it uses the most and shrink away the areas it uses the least.

When a person is exposed to a highly stressful situation for an extended period of time or even to a singular, very traumatic event, the brain changes in an attempt to adapt to the stimulus it has received. Ketamine can help correct these negative changes, partly because it increases a protein in the brain known as a brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

What to Expect During Ketamine Therapy for PTSD

A trained professional administers the ketamine infusions in a medical setting through an intravenous (IV) line in the arm. Our team at Ketamine America will monitor your vitals and overall condition throughout the treatment and recovery period to ensure safety and comfort.

Ultimately, the total number of treatments and how often they are administered vary from patient to patient based on factors such as the severity of symptoms, the patient's response to treatments, and any other medications the patient may be taking. We recommend a series of infusions followed by maintenance treatments for maximum and sustained benefit.

Does Ketamine Therapy Have Any Side Effects?

Remember that ketamine should only be used under the supervision of trained medical professionals who can ensure that you receive the right effective dose.

Also, your experience during treatment will be unique to you. Many patients reported feeling a sense of calm and relaxation during the treatment. Others claimed to have experienced disassociation, altered perception, and nausea during the infusion, though these tend to pass quickly after the treatment.

Ketamine Infusion Clinic in Arizona

At Ketamine America, our main goal is to help you get better. That's why we make it a point to create a safe, calm, and nonjudgmental environment for our patients. 

If you or someone you know is battling PTSD and looking for an alternative method of coping with its symptoms, reach out to us for a consultation. Our team of caring experts in Arizona has extensive experience using ketamine therapies to alleviate PTSD symptoms. 

There is hope. Contact us to learn more about ketamine therapy and how it can help you enhance your quality of life.