Struggling with PTSD? You May Want to Consider Ketamine

There are several proven methods available to manage symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but for some people, they don’t work. When you feel like you’ve run out of treatment options for PTSD, it might be time to consider ketamine.

At Klarity Clinic, our experienced ketamine physicians successfully use ketamine infusion therapy to reduce the debilitating side effects of PTSD. We can evaluate your medical history and the severity of your symptoms to see if you’re a good candidate for treatment with ketamine.

The basics of PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition that can follow a traumatic event. You can develop PTSD after being directly involved in or witnessing the event. Some life-altering events that trigger PTSD symptoms includes:

• Violence
• Sexual abuse
• Auto accidents
• Military service
• Natural disasters
• Death of a loved one

After the event, your mind gets stuck in flight-or-fight mode, and you can experience a variety of symptoms that impact your quality of life and your ability to function.

Signs of PTSD

PTSD can affect people differently, depending how a person processes the event. You might develop symptoms soon after an incident, but it’s also common for PTSD symptoms to show up months or years later.

Some common signs of PTSD include:

• Flashbacks of the event
• Anxiousness
• Depression
• Anger issues
• Intrusive, negative thoughts

You might feel easily startled and avoid people or situations. People with untreated PTSD also have trouble sleeping and may develop suicidal thoughts over time.

A diagnosis of PTSD generally requires a combination of these symptoms that last for more than a month. Your initial treatment might involve psychotherapy (talk therapy) to help you recognize triggers of PTSD and provide you with tools to cope with them more efficiently. Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications might also be part of your treatment.

However, if these therapies aren’t working well for you after some time or if your PTSD symptoms continue to worsen, you might be a candidate for ketamine infusion therapy.

How ketamine can better manage your PTSD

Ketamine is a prescription drug that’s often used as an anesthetic in surgery. This drug has also been shown to be an effective treatment option for mental health issues like PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

In the treatment of mental health disorders, ketamine rapidly increases glutamate levels in your brain. Glutamate is your brain’s largest neurotransmitter that’s responsible for healthy brain function. Ketamine also helps to repair damaged neural connections in your brain while growing new ones to help your brain heal.

Our team at Klarity Clinic offers infusions of ketamine through an intravenous (IV) line, so you can find fast relief of PTSD symptoms. Treatment plans typically involve infusions over a two-week period to achieve the best results.

One of the biggest benefits of ketamine infusion therapy is that you can experience a noticeable reduction in your symptoms soon after you start your first treatment. Many people are able to enjoy a relief of anxiety, depression, negative thought patterns, and more within 24 hours.

To find out if you’re a candidate for ketamine infusion therapy to treat symptoms of PTSD, call the Klarity Clinic office nearest you to schedule a consultation, or book one online today.