What Is Ketamine Therapy and How Does It Help PTSD?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) affects millions of people worldwide, often exacerbating their painful states of anxiety, flashbacks, and emotional numbness. Traditional treatments such as talk therapies or antidepressants work for many, but not everyone. Enter ketamine therapy, which has emerged as a promising contender. Ketamine, once merely an anesthetic, is now used for its powerful mental health properties with potential for people suffering from treatment-resistant PTSD. 

What Is Ketamine Therapy? 

Ketamine is a medication that was developed in the 1960s as an anesthetic. It has been only in the last two decades that recognized researchers have been explaining the rapid-acting antidepressant effects of ketamine, establishing the drug as an alternative for treating various mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

The major components of ketamine therapy Houston include:

• Administered by licensed professionals in clinical settings.

• Using different routes such as:

• IV infusion

• Intranasal (eg. esketamine)

• Oral lozenges (rarely used; off-label, commercially available)

What distinguishes ketamine is its ability to help the brain regain its ability to “reset” emotional pathways that enable the individual to begin processing traumatic occurrences from a new and more manageable perspective. 

Understanding PTSD: Why Traditional Treatments May Fall Short

PTSD occurs following the experience of invasive and traumatic events such as war, assault, or accidents. The manifestations can be extremely debilitating in some cases, interfering with day-to-day functioning, and include:

• Intrusive flashbacks or nightmares

• Emotional numbness

• Irritability and hyper-vigilance.

• Avoidance of anything related to the trauma.

The regular forms of treatment include:

• Talk therapy (e.g., Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR)

• Prescription medication, such as SSRIs and SNRIs 

But too many patients:

• They aren’t amenable to treatment in the present.

• Get only partial relief from these therapies.

This treatment gap has led many clinicians and patients to explore alternatives like ketamine therapy.

How Does Ketamine Therapy Work in PTSD?

Ketamine works differently from standard antidepressants, which mostly interact with serotonin. Ketamine affects the brain glutamate system, acting on NMDA receptors, which leads to several good effects:

• Promotes neuroplasticity: The healing process of new pathways for healing.

• Energizes synaptic activity: Mood regulation and stabilization. 

• Decreases threat-related reactions: Confrontation with trauma without overwhelming experience.

The effects, in general, are:

• Recognition of significant reductions in PTSD symptoms.

• Low levels of anxiety and intrusive thoughts. 

• Enhanced emotional clarity and resilience.

How Does a Ketamine Therapy Session Look?

Most of the ketamine therapy sessions are planned to maintain the maximum safety and therapeutic value. These can be generally expected:

• Setting: A calm, soothing room in a clinic with comforting lighting and music.

• Monitoring: Vital signs are tracked throughout by medical staff.

• Duration: IV infusions typically last 40-60 minutes.

• Experience: While patients are aware of their surroundings, they also feel relaxed, more introspective, or slightly dissociated.

• Integration: Following a treatment session, therapists may recommend therapy to help participants process what occurred during the experience.

Most often recommended for minimum efficacy would be four to six sessions spread out over a couple of weeks.

Ketamine represents an entirely new way of treating the disorder under discussion, PTSD. With its rapid action and the ability to heal the brain from trauma, it offers many people new hope that may have languished for years without relief. 

Consult a licensed healthcare provider to determine if this treatment is right for you and take the first step toward healing.