Ketamine treatment has proven effective in the management of treatment-resistant depression. Ketamine therapy in Phoenix works on the glutamatergic system through a blockade of the NMDA receptor, leading to various intracellular and extracellular events that reset the neurological pathway and reset the brain to a default mode.
With ketamine therapy being the biggest breakthrough in depression research and treatment in the last 50 years, some still wonder why this therapy may have delivered no or sub-par results in treating their depression.
The ineffectiveness of ketamine therapy can be traced to a couple of factors, including;
Medications
The knowledge of drug interaction has helped scientists to understand that certain medications can effectively lower the effectiveness or actions of others. This means that one medication may be suppressed for another to take the dominant effect.
In ketamine therapy, drug interaction is a big factor in determining whether a patient will enjoy the many benefits of the treatment therapy. In most cases, other medications taken by the patient may be affecting the effectiveness of their ketamine therapy, which then gives the impression that they aren’t improving.
An excellent way to address this problem is to speak to your doctor about your feelings and progress. You should also open up about any other medications you use during the depression treatment period, as this could make a difference.
Dosage
Dosage is an important consideration when it comes to the effectiveness of medications. Too little or too much medication can be bad for the health, but the right dosage can do an amazing job of correcting problems and restoring the body to its default/healthy mode.
If you’re not experiencing as much progress as you should during the treatment plan, chances are high that you are probably taking a little too low for your needs. You should also watch out for common side effects that you may be experiencing, as this could be a pointer to overdosing on the treatment substance.
Preparation
Ketamine therapy and treatment largely rely on preparation. Physicians aim to deliver ketamine in a state that can create a profound non-ordinary state of consciousness, thus helping the patient achieve a reset to the normal scale. However, the choices, actions, and preparedness ahead of the appointment can play a major role in how effective the treatment experience is.
For example, a person preparing for a ketamine treatment appointment isn’t expected to have stayed up all night to binge-watch horror movies. This foundation can significantly affect their treatment experience.
Treatment environment
The goal of ketamine therapy is to help more people regain control over their lives while living as normally as they would love. However, the treatment and treatment experience may largely depend on the setting wherein it is being delivered.
Patients are more likely to experience improved results when they feel comfortable and confident in the treatment therapy. They are also more likely to see positive results if they feel safe, trust the staff providing the ketamine treatment, and are in the right state of mind.
As a treatment provider, you may need to learn more about patients, the type of music they love, the staff member they are most comfortable with, and the comfort level offered in the treatment facility.
Integration
The experiences before, during, in between, and after ketamine therapy can shape the effectiveness of depression treatment therapy. It is important to understand that patients who feel the safest and most comfortable tend to deliver the most impressive results.
Treatment providers may want to consider their patient’s experiences during and between treatments. Are they comfortable discussing important progress they’ve made? What is their diet like, and has it been healthy and tailored as planned? What has their social media experience been, and are they staying away from toxic online communities that could further impact their mental health? All of these can be important issues to discuss progressively in-between treatments. They can also inform the patient’s after-treatment experience.
Number of treatment sessions
As with most treatment plans, the higher the number of treatment sessions, the faster and better the results are likely to be. Statistically, the number of treatment sessions is subjective, especially as some people have noticed improvements after 1 to 2, while others only noticed it after 5 to 6.
Patients need to understand that they are unique and, as such, will experience progress in their own unique way and not like others.
Non-response
While Ketamine therapy has been described as the best thing to happen to depression research and treatment in the last 50 years, unfortunately, it’s not a perfect treatment for everyone. Some people have shown no improvement after several treatment sessions, putting them in the class of non-responders.
Statistically, about 20 to 40% of ketamine therapy patients will experience no progress after at least six treatments. This only means they should explore other treatment solutions for their mental health needs.
