The study took place at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas. It involved a retrospective review of the medical records of child patients who came under the care of the staff of the center when suffering from migraines.

34 children were given intranasal ketamine at dose levels of between 0.1mg/kg and 0.2 mg/kg for a maximum of five doses. Children who were given therapy were also studied. Both were asked to evaluate their pain reduction on a scale of 0 to -3, or reductions greater than 50 percent on a ten-point scale.

Most Subjects Involved in the Study Experienced a Reduction in the Pain Caused by Their Migraine

Of the children evaluated, 25 out of the group of 34 said that they experienced a reduction in pain, which equates to 73.5 percent. The average level of pain reduction on a ten point scale was set at -7.2.

The children who responded to the intranasal ketamine treatment reported an 83.7 percent reduction in pain on average, compared to those who did not respond (16.6 percent – a differential of 66.1 percent). Significant differences in the reduction of pain levels of responders and non-responders were noticed even after the first ketamine dose.

It is not yet known why intranasal ketamine might be a successful treatment for migraine sufferers, for both adults and children. In a separate study, eighteen adult patients were given an intranasal ketamine spray to use when they experienced a migraine. In almost all cases patients reported a reduction in the pain caused by their migraines, although the duration of their attacks was not reduced.

Ketamine May be an Effective Treatment for Other Types of Neurological Pain

There have also been reports that ketamine has been found to be a successful treatment for chronic migraines and cluster headaches, although detailed studies have yet to be undertaken.

If you would like to learn about Ketamine Infusion Therapy and what it may be able to do for you, then please contact us here at the Ketamine Institute of Michigan. Ketamine treatment has been proven to be useful with many disorders, including depression, pain relief and alcohol dependency issues. To learn more, call (855) 538-2646, or use the online contact form available on our website.

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ECT; which is also known as electroshock therapy, is a controversial, but provably effective, treatment that provides relief for various types of mental illness. Between 70 and 120 volts are applied to the patient, causing a seizure. ECT is effective for around 50 percent of patients who undergo it, but the mechanics of this effectiveness have yet to be completely understood.

Ketamine has Already Been Shown to be an Effective Treatment for Many Forms of Depression

Ketamine is a chemical routinely used as an anesthetic since the late 1950s. In tests, ketamine has been found to have countless additional benefits, including treatment of depression, anxiety and alcohol use disorder.

The study upon which the Journal of Psychiatric Research reported was undertaken by the department of psychiatry at Charité-Universitätsmedizin in Berlin. In a controlled test involving 50 patients with MDD (major depressive disorder), 25 were treated with ECT three times a week for four weeks and 25 were treated with ketamine three times a week for two weeks. Each patient was then assessed for the severity of their symptoms at the beginning, middle, and end of their treatment programs. Cognitive performance was also tested in each patient.

Patients who underwent the ketamine treatment showed a 47.45 percent reduction in the severity of the MDD symptoms after one week on average. Patients who underwent the ECT treatment, by comparison, displayed only a 34.86 percent reduction in MDD symptoms after two weeks on average.

The Study Demonstrates that Ketamine is not only as Effective as ECT, but also Faster-Acting

By the end of their treatments, both methods proved to be equally effective. After two weeks of the ketamine trial, patients showed a 49.88 percent decrease in the severity of their symptoms, compared to a 55.7 percent decrease for those undergoing the ECT treatment.

In addition to the quicker effect of ketamine, those on the ketamine trial also showed much more cognitive improvement than those on the ECT trial. Those undergoing the ECT treatment experienced a slight decrease in their cognitive abilities.

If you would like to learn more about the potentials of ketamine infusion therapy, please contact The Ketamine Center at (855) KETAMINE or (855) 538-2626. You can also use the online contact form available here.

The post Why Ketamine May Be Better for Treating Depression compared to ECT appeared first on Ketamine Institute of Michigan.

1. Prioritize ahead of time: Try to sit down and decide which holiday activities give you the most joy and offer a positive impact on you and your family. Focus on those activities and decline other commitments during the season so that you do not feel overcommitted. Also, decide ahead of time who you need to buy gifts for and how much you want to spend. Sticking to a budget will help you feel better about the spending.
2. Set a schedule: If you set a schedule for what you have to do on the days before the holidays, you can see whether it is reasonable and feasible or if it is simply too much to tackle. When you develop this schedule, remember to factor in time for exercise and other healthy habits.
3. Take shortcuts when you can: You may want to make cookies from scratch, make your own holiday cards, and buy a personal gift for everyone on your list, but it is better to manage your expectations and realize that simplifying tasks can save time, energy and reduce stress.

Successful Breakthrough Treatment for Depression and other Conditions

For some, these strategies work wonders and reduce stress levels during the holiday season so that it can be enjoyed. But for others, despite these attempts, the holidays continue to be painful and difficult. If you struggle with the holidays and think that you might benefit from professional support during the holidays and during other stressful times of the year, you should seek help.  The Ketamine Institute of Michigan is focused on helping patients who struggle with depression, bi-polar disorder, chronic pain and fibromyalgia. Dr. Julia Aharonov has worked to develop a unique form of therapy called IV Ketamine Therapy that is safe and highly effective.

Ketamine is believed to block NMDA receptors in the central nervous system which interact with amino acid glutamate. The benefits of Ketamine remain in your body long after the drug is eliminated, and scientific studies have shown it to be a successful treatment of severe depression, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, PTSD and other conditions that are difficult to treat. Our IV Ketamine Infusions are completed by Dr. Aharonov at the Ketamine Institute of Michigan in a private medical treatment center. These treatments are not addictive and can begin quickly so that you can find the relief you are looking for, and that you deserve.

Ketamine Infusion Therapy at the Ketamine Institute of Michigan

The holidays can highlight the sense of sadness, loneliness and sometimes despair. You do not have to suffer any longer. For more information about IV Ketamine Infusion Therapy, call the Ketamine Institute of Michigan at 855-KETAMINE to see if this treatment might help you.

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The most exciting aspect when it comes to ketamine and depression is that ketamine has been shown to be effective where other, traditional treatments have failed. ‘Treatment-resistant’ depression is one of the worst forms of depression there is, as sufferers fail to respond to treatments that have proven to be successful at treating other people’s depressive symptoms.

Ketamine Seems to be a ‘Feel Better, Faster’ Way of Treating Depression

In addition, people with depression that have undergone ketamine infusion treatments have reported that the feelings associated with depression – such as low mood, heavy feelings in the chest and a loss of appetite – have abated within hours of the treatment. This compares very favorably to the days or even weeks taken for patients to respond to traditional treatment methods.

In a study conducted in Australia, a team gave ketamine infusion treatments to people over the age of sixty who were suffering from depression. The results of the study were encouraging – 43 percent of the patients stated that their symptoms had lifted, and when they reported back six months after their treatment, most reported that their symptoms of depression had not returned.

Another study – the largest of its kind – was conducted in 2013. A study group of 73 participants were given ketamine infusion therapy under controlled circumstances, and amazingly, after only twenty-four hours 64 percent of those people in the study said that their symptoms had abated, diminished or disappeared altogether. Most of those taking part in the study had already proven resistant to traditional treatments, with some having tried three of more treatment programs with no alleviation of their symptoms.

Scientists Are Still Studying How Ketamine Works to Ease the Symptoms of Depression

It is still unclear exactly how ketamine works to combat depression, but it is thought that ketamine stimulates the brain to release extra neurotransmitters and to build new pathways. It’s the brain’s inability to build pathways that affects cognition and mood, triggering the feelings associated with depression.

Contact The Ketamine Institute of Michigan to Learn More About Ketamine Infusion Therapy

If you would like to learn a little bit more about ketamine and how it can be used for depression or chronic pain, then please contact The Ketamine Institute of Michigan. You can contact us at (855) KETAMINE (855-538-2646) or by using our online contact form.

The post Why Ketamine May be a Secret Weapon Against Depression appeared first on Ketamine Institute of Michigan.

Research from the Florida State University (FSU) is helping medical professionals gain a better understanding of ketamine and the chemical’s benefit potential beyond its traditional use as an anesthetic.

A team from FSU has undertaken a study, the results of which could indicate that ketamine may be useful as a treatment for people suffering from alcohol use disorder (AUD). AUD is also known as alcoholism and is divided into two types, namely alcohol abuse (unhealthy alcohol drinking behaviour) and alcohol dependence (physical or psychological dependence upon alcohol).

Could Ketamine Infusion Therapy Become an Effective Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder?

This is exciting news, as current treatments for AUD are largely ineffective. Most people undergoing standard AUD treatments relapse less than a year after their treatment has been completed.

In this FSU study, a group of male rats were given alcohol until they became dependent upon it. Half of the rats were then given a series of ketamine infusion treatments, and then the other half were given a saline solution. The researchers then monitored the rats for their on-going requirement for alcohol.

The results showed that the rats that underwent the ketamine treatment voluntarily reduced their alcohol intake, while the alcohol intake of those rats that received the saline solution remained unchanged.

What’s more, these findings remained the same for a period of at least three weeks after the treatments had concluded. This suggests that ketamine could become a successful long-term solution for the problems associated with AUD.

The Study of Ketamine Infusion Therapy and AUD Yielded Some Unexpected Results

One thing of note though – the results were only positive with male rats. The ketamine had no effect on female rats, and indeed with female rats that drank low levels of alcohol the ketamine infusion treatments actually increased the amount of alcohol the female rats voluntarily drank.

While it seems that ketamine could potentially become a breakthrough treatment for males suffering from AUD, studies using human volunteers will be required. FSU is likely to conduct such studies in the near future using both male and female volunteers.

If you would like to learn more about Ketamine Infusion Therapy and how it may be able to help you, please contact us here at the Ketamine Institute of Michigan. You can contact us at (855) KETAMINE (855-538-2646) or use our online contact form available on our website.

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Ketamine – more commonly used as an anesthetic – has shown a great deal of promise in recent clinical trials as a potential treatment for depression. Results from trials have shown areas in which Ketamine succeeds where more traditional treatments have failed – Ketamine is successful at treating people for whom other treatments have been ineffective, and Ketamine works rapidly.

Why is there so much excitement about ketamine as a treatment for depression?

Clinical trials have indicated that the majority of people suffering from depression, and in particular from treatment-resistant depression, react positively to ketamine therapy. Many have reported that they think less about suicide following their treatment, and also those who are suffering from depression coupled with anxiety have reported an uplifting of both their depressive and anxiety symptoms. Virtually all report that their symptoms lifted within days of their initial ketamine treatment, as opposed to the days or even weeks associated with ‘traditional’ treatments such as antidepressants, trans-cranial magnetic stimulation and electroconvulsive therapy.

How does ketamine help people who are suffering from depression?

At the moment, it has not been established how exactly ketamine works when it comes to the treatment of depression. It seems likely that ketamine works upon the NMDA receptors within the brain. Ketamine appears to stimulate the release of a neurotransmitter called glutamate. This activates both NMDA and AMPA receptors that allow neurons to create new pathways within the brain. The process has a positive effect upon thought patterns, moods and cognition.

There may be other ways in which ketamine helps to improve mood and improve pathways to communication within the brain. More research is required though to establish exactly how ketamine works when it comes to the treatment of depression.

To learn more about ketamine treatment for depression, contact the Ketamine Institute of Michigan

If you wish to explore the possibility of undergoing ketamine-infusion therapy as a treatment for depression, then please contact us here at the Ketamine Institute of Michigan. We can be reached at (855) 538-2626 (855-KETAMINE), or you can use the online contact form we have provided for you on our website.

The post Treatment Resistant Depression – is Ketamine the Ideal Solution? appeared first on Ketamine Institute of Michigan.

Ketamine has long been used as an anesthetic, but more recently researchers have been interested in how the drug can be utilized in other areas, such as a treatment for combating depression, coping with chronic pain, alcohol dependency and narcotic addiction. In March 2019, the FDA approved a nasal-spray form of ketamine, which has been branded as esketamine. Esketamine can only be administered under controlled medical supervision.

Study Was Performed Using a Group of People Seeking Help with Their Cocaine Dependency

In this study, which was conducted by researchers at the Columbia University Department of Psychology, 55 individuals who were seeking help with cocaine dependency were randomly split into two groups. One group was administered an intravenous ketamine infusion, while the other (control) group was administered the sedative midazolam. Individuals were not told into which group they had been placed. In addition, both groups were asked to complete five weeks of mindfulness-based therapy aimed at preventing relapse.

As a result of the study, it was found that the individuals who received the ketamine infusion tended to experience lower levels of cocaine cravings. Around fifty percent of the participants who received ketamine maintained abstinence over the final two weeks of the program, compared to one in ten who received midazolam.

People Who Received Ketamine Found it Easier to Abstain from Cocaine Than Those Who Didn’t

After six months, it was found that 44 percent of those who received ketamine had maintained their abstinence from cocaine, while none of those who received midazolam had managed to do so.

The researchers wrote: “Ketamine was effective at providing individuals already engaged in mindfulness-based behavioral modification with significantly greater odds of maintaining abstinence, substantial protection from relapse and craving, and lower likelihood of cocaine use. These sustained benefits, in some cases lasting several months, suggest the potential of ketamine for effecting long-term behavioral changes.”

If you want to learn more about ketamine infusion therapy, and how it can help in areas such as depression and chronic pain, then please contact us here at the Ketamine Institute of Michigan. We can be contacted by phone at (855) 538-2646, or you can use the online contact form that’s available on our website.

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Is it any wonder that teen anxiety, depression and suicide is on the rise in the United States? As many as seven out of ten teenagers in the country report that they are having issues with their mental health, and teen suicides – especially among girls – are rising at an alarming rate.Traditional Treatments for Depression are not Always Effective for Everyone

Treatments for teen depression usually include counseling and ‘traditional’ anti-depressants, but a new treatment involving ketamine is showing some very promising results. Research has shown that ketamine, which has been used as an anesthetic since the late 1960s, has even helped people who have been shown to be resistant to normal anti-depressant medications.

The FDA has even gone as far as approving Spravato as a treatment for depression. Spravato is a derivative of ketamine that is administered as a nasal spray. It can, though, only be used as a part of a medical supervision program. Both teenagers and adults have responded favorably to this new treatment.

“This is a game-changer,” Dr John Krystal, a chief psychiatrist at Yale Medicine and a pioneering ketamine researcher, said. “With most medications, like valium, the anti-anxiety effect you get only lasts when it is in your system. When the valium goes away, you can get rebound anxiety. When you take ketamine, it triggers reactions in your cortex that enable brain connections to regrow.”

The Success of Ketamine Trials so far has Given Renewed Optimism for the Fight Against Teen Depression

This success has brought new optimism that the current surge in teen depression can be abated. In one trial, conducted by Yale, teenagers who reported that they had reached the point where they were ready to end their own lives became ‘bright’ and ‘hopeful’ after attending supervised ketamine infusion sessions. Dramatic improvements were seen in as little as 24 hours.

If you would like to learn more about ketamine and its possible usage to treat depression and chronic pain, then please contact us at the Ketamine Institute of Michigan. We can be reached by phone at (855) 538-2646 (855-KETAMINE), or you can contact us using the online contact form that’s available on our website.

The post Can Ketamine Be Used to Treat Teen Depression? appeared first on Ketamine Institute of Michigan.

The approved medication is known as Spravato, which is a brand name of esketamine, which itself is a molecular variation of ketamine. The VA has announced that doctors within the department have now been given the authority to prescribe Spravato to former service personnel who are struggling with depression and thoughts of suicide, and who are failing to respond to other, more traditional forms of treatment.

The VA is Always Looking for New Forms of Veteran Care, Says Secretary

“[This shows our] commitment to seek new ways to provide the best health care available for our nations’ veterans,” said Robert Wilkie, secretary of the US Department of Veterans Affairs. “We’re pleased to be able to expand options for veterans with depression who have not responded to other treatments.”

This new treatment will only be made available to veterans who have undergone a detailed assessment by a VA-approved physician. Veterans will only be put forward for the assessment and potential treatment if they have attempted to combat their depression by using at least two different forms of antidepressants without success.

Many people have applauded this move, as ketamine has – through extensive clinical trials – been shown to be a highly effective treatment for depression and has the ability to relieve sensations of depression including suicidal thoughts in a matter of hours or days, and not the weeks it takes to recover when using traditional treatments for depression.

Ketamine Can Only Be Administered Under Strict Medical Supervision

Spravato is administered using a nasal spray. A veteran who has been prescribed the treatment would inhale the spray at an approved medical facility, all done under the strict supervision of a medical provider. The veteran would also then be monitored for a minimum period of two hours.

The treatment period would involve two doses per week for the first month of the ketamine program, followed by a single dose each week or every two weeks on a case-by-case basis. Legally, Spravato cannot be prescribed for self-administration.

If you’d like to learn more about ketamine, and how this medication can be used to treat depression or chronic pain, then please reach out to us here at the Ketamine Institute of Michigan. We can be reached via phone at (855) 538-2646 or you can email us through our online contact form.

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Ketamine has been shown to be highly effective for people with treatment-resistant depression. The question is, why does ketamine succeed where other treatments fail? In addition to its success, ketamine seems to work incredibly fast, with some people reporting that after months or even years of depression, they began to feel positive effects within hours.

Why Does Ketamine Work so Effectively? There are Currently Two Theories…

There are currently two theories as to why ketamine is so effective when used to combat depression.

The first is that ketamine blocks a neurotransmitter called glutamate. The chemical glutamate is used by the brain to send signals from cell to cell, but too much glutamate can cause brain cells to become damaged. If someone suffering from depression is producing too much glutamate, then ketamine can be used to control the amount of the chemical the brain is producing.

The second – more controversial – theory, suggests that ketamine encourages the brain to release natural opioids. Studies have been done in which some patients received ketamine, and others received ketamine and an opioid blocker. More patients who were given the blocker claimed that they did not feel the positive effects of ketamine, as opposed to those in the study who were given ketamine without a blocker.

Ketamine Therapy is Currently Only Given to Those Who Have Proven Resistant to Traditional Treatments for Depression

Currently, only patients with treatment resistant depression who have failed a minimum of two anti-depressant treatments are eligible for ketamine infusion therapy for the treatment of depression. Typically, an infusion lasts between 30 minutes and an hour, and the patient is monitored throughout the treatment and for several hours after the infusion has been discontinued.

“I think that the FDA approval of ketamine is a huge landmark in the history of treating neuropsychiatric diseases,” said David Olson, an assistant professor at the University of California. “Ketamine really represents a leap forward in terms of new ideas for attacking depression and related neuropsychiatric diseases.”

If you would like to learn more about Ketamine treatment for depression or chronic pain, then please feel free to contact us at here at the Ketamine Center by phone at (855) 538-2646 or using our online contact form.

The post What Makes Using Ketamine for Depression So Different Compared to Other Options? appeared first on Ketamine Institute of Michigan.