Depression Q & A

Major depressive disorder, commonly called depression, is a serious mental health condition that changes the way you function in daily life. Depression can cause a wide range of symptoms, including:

• Lack of energy
• Loss of interest in activities
• Feeling hopeless or guilty
• Changes in sleep and/or appetite
• Difficulty concentrating
• Physical aches and pains

At its worst, depression can lead to suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts. If you’re thinking about harming yourself, call the suicide

prevention lifeline at 988, or go to the nearest emergency room immediately. 

Conventional treatments for depression include medications, psychotherapy, or a combination of both. However, medications usually take a few weeks to start working and often don’t provide adequate relief from depression. 

If you have a clinical diagnosis of depression and continue to experience moderate to severe symptoms despite treatment, ketamine infusion therapy may help. 

Ketamine is a well-established anesthetic medication and innovative solution for treatment-resistant depression. Ketamine infusion therapy involves administering the medication intravenously while you relax in a comfortable area. Ketamine acts on the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in your brain, providing rapid relief from mental health conditions like depression. 

Please contact our clinic to learn how ketamine infusion therapy can relieve your treatment-resistant depression.

INITIALIZING TREATMENT

• We will perform a brief interview and physical assessment to make sure nothing has changed with your physical condition.
• We will ask you to use the restroom and then get comfortable in our quiet, peaceful treatment area.
• An IV line will be started to infuse the medication. You will be connected to all of our monitoring equipment before we begin.
• We will be monitoring your vital signs during the entire infusion.
• The infusion time will be approximately 40 minutes. During this time we will not disturb you. However, we will be observing you to ensure your safety. You may listen to music and relax as it feels best to you.
• When the infusion ends, we will monitor you for any adverse side effects and ensure that you are adequately recovered prior to going home.

Day of Treatment

• Please wear clothes that are comfortable and also provide full access to your arms.
• Feel free to bring some music to listen to during your infusion.
• Most patients feel it helps or enhances the treatment if they don’t speak and close their eyes during the infusion.
• You will need to have someone accompany you and stay during your treatment. They will also be required to drive you home afterward.
• You may not eat anything 6 hours prior or drink anything for 2 hours prior to your infusion or we may need to reschedule your treatment.

Optimizing Your Treatment

• Coordinating with your MHP is one of the best ways to optimize your treatment.
• Benzodiazepines can ‘compete’ with Ketamine. To get the best benefit, it is best to discontinue this class of drugs before treatment.
• Be prepared to be in a quiet and comfortable space for at least 1 ½ hours following your infusion.
• We recommend a series of six infusions to be given within 3 weeks. Our team will be with you every step of the way to ensure your treatment has the best chance of success.
• After the initial series of infusions, many patients only require an occasional top-up or ‘booster’ according to their individual needs – ranging from once a month to once a year depending on when and if your symptoms  for some conditions reoccur. 
• For migraines the schedule is much more variable depending upon your exact condition. We’ll work hand in hand together on designing a tailored plan that caters specifically towards your requirements.