Anxiety, which is the leading debilitating form of disability in today's world. In this world of competition, increasing violence and lack of self - esteem, it is almost common to meet every other human suffering from anxiety or depression. It's sarcastic to say that 7 out of 10 people don't even realize themselves being victims of anxiety. Well! The case is no better for one's who are aware of their anxiety problem as no treatment until today has found a 100% cure to anxiety. Therefore, the battle against anxiety continued until Ketamine treatment for anxiety was discovered as a solution to anxiety.
What is Ketamine?
Ketamine is a medication mainly used as anaesthesia providing sedation and pain relief. This was once mainly used in battlefields for spot operations. It continues to operate as anaesthesia for minor operations and also as a postoperative pain killer.
Limitations of ketamine :
Ketamine is also famous as a club drug which is one of its setbacks. The drug if abusively used causes euphoria and dissociative hallucinations. The trans - like feeling produced by ketamine causes hallucinations of distortion in space and time and thereby results in loss of an individual's sensitivity to recognize reality. It was recently added as a date-rape drug in India by the government.
Modern problems demand modern solutions
It's been long since anxiety patients were served with traditional treatment and showed no positive outcomes. Ketamine treatment for anxiety is new to this world, but results show that it has a long way to go in future treatments.
The following are the potential effects of ketamine
While other treatments may take over several weeks to make an impact on patients body, but in comparison, ketamine takes only hours to start its effect.
Ketamine lowered feelings of suicidal vulnerability.
Ketamine is one infused leaves its impacts for a maximum of 14 weeks and hence dominating over other treatments for its long-lasting effect.
Patients stated improved ability to concentrate hereby, increasing their functionality than before.
Why is ketamine treatment for anxiety pronounced over other conventional anti-anxiety drug treatments?
Rapid reaction: A patient has to take an anti-anxiety drug weeks before since it starts to work in contrast, ketamine can be infused hours before it initiates its effects which is way faster than any other anti-anxiety drug.
Lower suicide outcomes: In cases of intense anxiety where people may have suicidal thoughts in such extreme cases ketamine has a rapid reaction in reducting exchange suicidality which in other treatments may take time to react and who knows if it is fast enough to control suicides.
Longer effects: Compared to other treatments, ketamine treatments tend to last effects for a longer period and therefore cutting needs of a patient to visit a clinic again and again.
Side effects of ketamine anxiety treatment
Though ketamine shows immense positive outcomes, yet it is likely to portray some adverse side effects too. However, it is to be taken into notice that the positive effects of ketamine weigh more than the side effects. In case of anxiety wherein, people face thoughts of committing suicide ketamine can help move away such disturbing thoughts decreasing risks of suicide, therefore completely ignoring side effects of ketamine in such cases.
Side effects include:
Dissociation, also known as out - of -body experiences.
Hallucinations are most common
Perceptual disturbances which may include blurry vision as well
High blood pressure and pulse.
Nausea and vomiting
Lower urinary tract.
Cystitis
High doses of ketamine may lead to Schizophrenia, which is only seen in long term users.
Is ketamine treatment addictive?
Ketamine is an opioid, and like any other opioids, ketamine also carries addictive properties. Getting addicted to ketamine is a major preventive measure which is to be followed in a patient undergoing ketamine treatment for anxiety. Patients having a history of alcohol or drug addiction are more vulnerable to ketamine addiction; therefore, doctors may prescribe some serious preventive measures in such cases.
Does ketamine work on every anxiety patient?
Though chances of ketamine treatment for anxiety on a patient are higher when it comes to its impact in working, yet, it might not work on some patients.
If a patient does not respond to ketamine infusionin the initial sessions, then further infusions are also to follow the same route, ending up in a failure of treatment and it is better to follow other treatments if the status is such.
In cases wherein patients show response to ketamine and show signs of relief, then the upcoming sessions will also help sustain the positive effects of ketamine treatment.
Ketamine anxiety treatment can be a major breakthrough in today's medical science if fully studied and researched upon its nature.
