Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
For those who struggle with Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD), depressive disorders, PTSD, or clinical anxiety, ketamine therapy is a rapid and robust modality having antidepressant effects. Standard treatments for these mental health disorders do not always work, and not only do they take a long time for patients to feel its effects (up to 2 months), but they also do not stay in the system if the medication is not taken regularly. Ketamine, however, is unique in that it enables and promotes connectors in the brain to foster and regrow. Through repairing the connections in the brain responsible for depression, ketamine promotes regrowth and repair of these connections. It is this reaction that is responsible for the efficacy of ketamine, not the presence of the drug in the body as other traditional forms of medications work.
Those with depressive disorders, everyday tasks can be unbearable, affecting their overall quality of life. If the disorder is not managed at a core level, the individual will suffer the anguish that emotional and often physical symptoms can have. The introduction of ketamine in conjunction with behavioral therapy can help patients manage their condition.
What is Ketamine Therapy and What is it Used to Treat
Ketamine therapy is an evidence-based modality prescribed and recommended to those with Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD), treatment and management of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and/or underlying mental disorders. Ketamine-assisted treatment has proven to be highly effective in mitigating the side effects and symptoms of depressive disorders and comorbidities, whereas other pharmacological and first-line treatment methods have failed, or the patient has not responded well to the treatment.
WhiteSands Recovery & Wellness is now offering ketamine therapy at their outpatient offices for those who qualify and meet the criteria.
Offering a full continuum of care and customized treatment options means introducing the latest therapies to patients who struggle with underlying disorders. WhiteSands’ inpatient programs provide the most comprehensive, all-inclusive treatment at every level of care. Being at the forefront of the newest and most advanced mental health and substance abuse treatment methods, WhiteSands is proud to introduce ketamine therapy to help patients heal from depressive disorders like Treatment-Resistant Depression.
How Ketamine is Offered and Administered
WhiteSands Recovery & Wellness administers Ketamine therapy in two ways:
. IV Infusion Therapy
. Nasal spray – SPRAVATO® (esketamine)
Patients considering ketamine therapy are first seen and assessed by a board-certified Psychiatrist and Registered Nurse where they will complete a blood test and urinary analysis (UA). Patients must pass all requirements of these tests before beginning ketamine therapy. A ketamine therapy plan is arranged for each patient so they are aware of where and when their next session is.
Ketamine therapy is administered seven times over four weeks. The procedure, which takes approximately 45 minutes, is completed in a comfortable and quiet room at a WhiteSands outpatient office where patients are administered their dose in a controlled environment. Once the process is complete, they are monitored for the proceeding hour by a Registered Nurse to ensure they are not experiencing any adverse reactions or side effects. Since patients cannot drive once they have completed their therapy session, we arrange a ride home for them.
Efficacy of Ketamine Therapy in Treatment of Depressive Disorders
Or
How Effective is Ketamine Therapy?
With the introduction of Ketamine for a range of depressive disorders, clinical trials and research indicate that 70-80% of patients who undergo the therapy no longer experience the negative emotions, moods, and symptoms of the depressive disorder they once did.
Ketamine therapy is becoming widely considered a treatment option for TRD for its rapid action and lasting effects. After just a single ketamine therapy session, patients reported a significant improvement in their anxiety and depressive symptoms.
Ketamine has shown to:
. Mitigate chronic pain
. Alleviate depression
. Reduce suicidal ideation
. Dramatically lessen the symptoms of depression
With the COVID-19 pandemic taking a toll on mental health and exacerbating depressive disorders, the need for effective and safe therapy is crucial now more than ever. To maximize patient success in managing depressive disorders, it’s important that patients are not provided with a ‘band-aid’ method, but with safe, non-dependency therapies. Ketamine therapy can provide that.
Pricing
Ketamine IV therapy can be funded on an out-of-pocket, self-pay basis and is not covered by health insurance. WhiteSands Recovery & Wellness offers in-house payment plans, as well as third-party financing options.
SPRAVATO® is covered by major insurance providers. We accept all major medical insurance providers. SPRAVATO® can also be paid out-of-pocket for those who do not have health insurance.
Get in touch with our admissions team to discuss your financial needs.
Location
Ketamine-assisted treatment is offered at several WhiteSands Treatment outpatient locations. The facility has 17 outpatient locations throughout Florida, having on-site licensed medical staff and registered nurses who facilitate and monitor all ketamine therapy sessions.
14150 Metropolis Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33907
1-239-237-5473| https://whitesandstreatment.com
If you or someone close to you is struggling with treatment resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD, mood disorders, or depressive disorders, get in touch with WhiteSands Treatment today at 239-237-5473, or visit https://whitesandstreatment.com
