Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
Years ago doctors chalked it up to “melancholy,” but nearly 15 million people in the United States are affected by depression.
Persistent Depressive Disorder or PDD is a chronic type of depression (chronic depression) that usually last for more than a year and can be difficult to treat successfully.
Traditional Medications Fail Countless Patients
The standard treatment options for PDD are antidepressant. Some of the most widely known drugs prescribed are Prozac, Lexapro, Zoloft, and Cymbalta. The classes of these medications play a role in how the neurotransmitters affect the mood by improving your mood and creating a more peaceful, cheerful spirit, by extinguishing the brain’s transmitters. The problem is these drugs are highly addictive, have adverse side effects, and also in many cases, show signs of cognitive decline in long-term use.
The other issue with standard medications is that they more often than not, become ineffective and are unable to reverse feelings of severe depression. This is called treatment resistant depression.
Side Effects of Antidepressants
• Nausea
• Anxiety
• Weight gain
• Loss of sexual desire
• Severe fatigue
• Inability to focus
• Sleep disturbances
• Dry mouth
• Vision issues
• Constipation
• Forgetfulness
• Ineffective in treating Persistent
Depressive Disorder
Over the past ten years, Ketamine has been studied in patients with severe depression. A rapid instantaneous effect takes place immediately upon the drug being dispensed intravenously. Due to the outcomes, there has been a lot of buzz in the news lately about IV Ketamine therapy for treating treatment-resistant depression as well other mental health disorders such as PTSD, OCD, and phobias. We can now add Social Anxiety Disorder to the list.
For people who suffer from social anxiety, its effects can be crippling. Everyday interactions may cause such distress in these people that it interferes with opportunities for employment, healthy positive interactions with friends and family, and for students, not being able to reach their full academic potential in the classroom. These people may exhibit physical manifestations of their anxiety in the form of sweaty palms, high blood pressure, and a racing heart. Over an extended period of time, these symptoms not only cause mental anguish but also affect one’s overall physical health.
What is Ketamine?
Since the late 1960s, Ketamine has been used as an FDA-approved anesthetic medication in anesthesiology. Since the late 1960s, Ketamine has been used as an FDA-approved anesthetic medication in anesthesiology. Its effects can be felt sometimes following the first infusion. Improved mood, decreased anxiety, more hopefulness, less helplessness are some the common positive responses. Importantly, loss of suicidal thoughts is a common finding following IV Ketamine.
A rapid instantaneous effect takes place immediately upon the drug being dispensed intravenously. When Ketamine is not abused and is administered by a well-trained physician, it can help with symptoms like moodiness, decreased concentration, low self-esteem, impaired sleep, decreased sexual desire, diminished appetite and can even alleviate suicidal thoughts.
During the treatment, the initial infusions usually take place over approximately 2 weeks with 6 infusions that are administered every other day. In parts of the brain that control mood and emotions, the ketamine infusion creates new connections in the brain. These new neurological connections help the brain to send positive signals to the psyche, along with beneficial physical conditions to the body. The effect is notable within hours, but most patients report the results are instantaneous. These astonishing changes can be seen on brain scans and imaging. And the results are long-lasting.
Anxiety, PTSD, and Chronic Pain Responds
to Medical Marijuana
There are neurotransmitters throughout the entire body that send signals to the brain, alerting you instantaneously of real or perceived danger. Anxiety is made up of both psychological and physical symptoms. The psychological part creates the nervousness, fear and worry, while the physical aspect produces sweating, rapid heart palpitations, a rise in blood pressure, nausea and shortness of breath.
Our brain and nerve cells have cannabinoid receptors, so our bodies naturally react to cannabis (medical marijuana). The structure of cannabis interacts directly with our cells. Our natural endocannabinoid system works synergistically with medical marijuana, creating a multitude of beneficial reactions in the body. The endocannabinoid cells have tiny receptors that take in chemicals and produce responses. This natural system in our bodies regulates things like mood, sleeping, immunity, pleasure, memory and much more.
Medical marijuana is made up of THC and CBD. The CBD is known to bind to receptors and is thought to regenerate cells and brain function, while THC helps to relax and alleviate the physical symptoms of apprehension, PTSD, and Painful disorders like fibromyalgia and arthritis.
If you suffer from pain and anxiety, IV Ketamine or medical marijuana may be a viable treatment to consider.
Steven Reichbach, MD, Board-Certified Anesthesiologist, specializes in pain management. For more information, please contact their office today at 941-213-4444, or visit their website at findpainrelief.com.
Gulf Coast Ketamine Center
2415 University Parkway, Building #3,
Suite 215, Sarasota, FL 34243
941-213-4444
www.findpainrelief.com
