Ketamine Therapy for Bipolar Disorder
We include ketamine for bipolar disorder as part of an overall program to help you minimize many of your symptoms. Our skilled therapists use their experience to guide you through the usage of this exciting way of improving your mental health.
What is Ketamine and How Does It Work?
Atlanta Integrative Psychiatry offers the use of Spravato, or esketamine, for our ketamine for bipolar therapy. Spravato is the brand name for a medication called esketamine approved by the FDA in 2019 to help treat people with treatment-resistant depression when used alongside an oral antidepressant drug. It is taken via a nasal spray at a clinic or physician’s office. While ketamine was originally developed for use as an anesthetic, it has become popular as part of an approach to treating mental health disorders, including mood disorders like bipolar disorder.
How Can Ketamine Help Bipolar Disorder?
There is a science behind how ketamine for bipolar disorder works. The esketamine used blocks the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in a person’s brain. As a result, the brain experiences an increase in the release of glutamate, which is a transmitter related to a person’s memory and learning process. Glutamate binds to another receptor that encourages the growth and differentiation of new synapses and neurons. As a result, a person feels an improvement in their mood. Esketamine can cause a person to quickly experience a reduction in their depressive symptoms. This helps people who have depressed periods as part of their bipolar disorder.
How Will I Feel After My Ketamine Treatment?
How someone feels after completing a ketamine treatment depends on a few influencing factors. This includes the dosage used, the symptoms the treatment targets, and the person’s individual chemistry. Higher dosages tend to cause more side effects. Common side effects include feeling tired, dizzy, or nauseous. Some people report feeling as if they are floating and emotionally vulnerable. As well, recipients often feel a sense of peace, calmness, and inspiration.
Patients engaging in ketamine for bipolar treatment are required to stay in the clinic for two hours after their dosage. This allows the care team to monitor them for any side effects before releasing them to go home. It is recommended the individual not engage in activities like driving or operating heavy machinery for the rest of the day.
Is Ketamine for Bipolar Disorder Effective?
While results vary per person, many people who have had difficulty achieving measurable progress with traditional treatment find that using ketamine for bipolar provides the missing puzzle piece. People with bipolar disorder swing from manic highs to depressive lows with no ability to control their moods. When common anti-depressants and mood stabilizers fail to make a real impact, ketamine can get better results.
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For many, not only does ketamine therapy help improve their depressive moods, it can do so at a much more rapid rate than traditional approaches. It can also reduce suicidal feelings in those who experience them. Ketamine therapy can be used on its own or alongside other prescription medications. It also works well when used in conjunction with talk therapy. Any usage of ketamine should be done in a clinic or doctor’s office under supervision.
How Do I Know I'm A Candidate for Ketamine Treatment?
Ketamine therapy can be the missing link for people who have treatment-resistant depression or bipolar depression and have not gotten the results they want from traditional treatment approaches. Things to consider that make a person a viable candidate for using ketamine for bipolar include:
- The individual has treatment-resistant depression or bipolar depression.
- The use of different types of antidepressants has not yielded adequate results.
- The person does not have a history of hallucinations or psychosis.
- The person does not have a history of heart conditions or hypertension.
- The individual does not have a history of substance use disorders.
A full evaluation and discussion with someone qualified to provide ketamine therapy will help determine if a person is a good candidate for this treatment.
Begin Ketamine Therapy for Bipolar Disorder in Atlanta Today
Have you heard about ketamine therapy but aren’t sure how it works or if it’s right for you? Atlanta Integrative Psychiatry stays on top of the latest developments in ways to treat mental illnesses, including bipolar disorder. Our therapists use their training in the administering of ketamine therapy to ensure our clients have a wide range of modern options. We include ketamine for bipolar on our menu of therapy modalities. An initial assessment allows us to determine if using ketamine is right for you. We provide supervision and guide you through the process to help you stay safe and enjoy positive results.
Contact us today and we can talk about how our specialized therapy can help you improve your symptoms of bipolar disorder. Our friendly staff can answer any questions you have about our program.
Find Mental Health Treatment in Atlanta Today
Atlanta Integrative Psychiatry is an Industry leader in mental health treatment. Our team of top medical experts specialize in dual diagnosis treatment and are committed to ensuring that each patient is treated as an individual.
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