By Dr. Robert Pollack
Drinking alcohol has become extremely common in our society, and with that acceptance and desensitization of the harmful effects, comes much more alcohol abuse than most people are aware of, or willing to acknowledge.
There are some benefits to moderate drinking, but the problem is that with the social aspect of drinking, many people are becoming more dependent on alcohol. It’s quite common to start out drinking socially and find that it quickly escalates, as your tolerance level increases.
Alcohol plays a significantly negative role in the bodies overall health. A full 24 hours after an episode of drinking, the immune system is more susceptible to disease, infection, and bouts of depression. The comorbidity of depression and alcoholism combined is prevalent and whether the depression is substance induced, or an alternative independent disorder, is often difficult for medical professionals to decipher and treat effectively.
Depression can be exacerbated and severely affected by alcohol intake, due to the negative effect that alcohol has on our brains. The neurons and neurotransmitters in the brain are responsible for a multitude of functions from memory recall, motor senses, to movement and coordination. These tiny pathways and transmitters can show both short-term and long-term damage after binging or prolonged alcohol use.
After drinking, the brain’s neurotransmitters will try to compensate and “fix” the damage that has affected its functions, but with this often comes more damage like increased withdrawal symptoms, an increased tolerance level, depressive episodes, and the need for more alcohol or dependence on the substance.
One of the severe side-effects of a person’s attempt to quit drinking is the fact that depression may weigh them down, causing them to relapse. Alcohol dependent individuals are four times more likely to have depressive disorders than non-alcoholics.
Patients that suffer from depression show different neurological patterns on brain scans and imaging than those who don’t suffer from depression. Structures in the brain that show serotonin levels, as well as synapses, which help brain neurons communicate, are lacking in patients that suffer from depression and are clearly dissimilar than those with non-depressed brains.
Alcoholism is notoriously difficult to treat, and once people return to their “normal” lives outside of a rehab facility, they very often will return to drinking due to the memories and habits that have been associated with their personal situation like having wine after work or drinking beer with friends. Promising studies are going on in the UK and the US, testing the IV therapy treatment, Ketamine. Ketamine is well known for its ability to reverse depression through stimulating the brains receptors, but now it’s showing effective outcomes in helping patients by blocking certain areas in the brain associated with the habits created by addiction.
What is Ketamine?
Since the late 1960s, Ketamine has been used as an FDA-approved anesthetic medication. But amongst the average person, Ketamine is best known as a party drug when used illegally to garner a hallucinatory effect.
When Ketamine is not abused and is administered by a well-trained physician, Ketamine can help with the symptoms of depression. During the treatment, the initial infusions usually take place over approximately 2 weeks with 6 infusions being 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 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, and in some cases, patients report the results are instantaneous.
Ketamine IV therapy impacts both mood and anxiety and can result in positive treatment outcomes for Severe or Chronic Depression, as well as its affirmative effects on changing the mindset of alcohol dependency.
Psychiatric Associates of Southwest Florida
Dr. Robert Pollack, a Board Certified Psychiatrist, has extensive experience in managing his patients that need this therapy. And he consistently sees the benefit of the Ketamine IV treatment in his patients that suffer from depression firsthand.
Ketamine Therapy coordinated by Dr. Pollack is a safe, reliable treatment tailored to your unique medical profile. They administer the therapy using state-of the-art technology and monitor and evaluate each patient’s response and progress carefully.
For more information, please visit our website, www.paswfl.com or 239-332-4700. My staff and I are standing by to be of assistance to you.
About Dr. Robert Pollack
Robert W. Pollack, M.D. CEO is a Florida-licensed Board Certified Psychiatrist. He has been in practice since 1977 and has served the public in many capacities.
The American Psychiatric Association Board of Trustees, January 1, 2015, has granted him Life Fellow status.
Psychiatric Associates of Southwest Florida (PASWFL) is a private solely owned psychiatric medical practice located in Fort Myers, Florida. Dr. Pollack is currently the CEO of Psychiatric Associates of Southwest Florida and resides in Fort Myers. His practice serves people from ages 18 and up. His current special interests focus on the use of Genomics to aid in the determination of the most efficacious way to utilize psychotropic medications as well as the use of rTMS in the treatment of refractory depressions and other psychiatric illnesses. Ketamine, Theta Burst Stimulations and new and innovative treatments for psychiatric patients.
At PASWFL, appointments are scheduled quickly, within one week of your call. For more information on Ketamine and our practice, please visit our website at www.paswfl.com.
6804 Porto Fino Cir #1, Fort Myers, FL 33912
Office: 239-332-4700 | TMS & Ketamine: 888-491-4171