What Is Ketamine Therapy?

Ketamine was started in Belgium in the 1960s and used as an anesthetic. The FDA approved it for use in 1970, and thus began treating injured soldiers on the battlefield of the Vietnam War. Ketamine can cause what physicians have called “a dissociative experience”; however, others may call it a “trip”. The drug was introduced for use because it had the potential to be a great treatment for individuals suffering from depression, as well as an antidote to suicidal thoughts, which is why it’s caused so much buzz in the medical field. With continued studies and controlled administration, clinical settings like our medical facility help individuals suffering from treatment-resistant depression, OCD, PTSD, anxiety, and so much more with ketamine therapy.
 
Ketamine therapy provides many benefits by providing medically supervised ketamine treatments for individuals suffering from mental health conditions and other medically diagnosed disorders; the benefits are adding up.

Dealing with a mental illness can be quite challenging when trying to find a treatment plan or a provider that is willing to help with treatment options, and managing the illness while ensuring you are receiving the many benefits that should come with treatment.
 
Ketamine therapy provides a higher-than-average success rate by itself, averaging a 50-70 percent success rate in patients with reducing or even eliminating symptoms of mental illness; however, at times some doctors may combine it with other treatments at their center to improve the benefits, but the main focus would be on helping the patient with ketamine infusion therapy. The main aspect of ketamine therapy that needs to be understood is the fact that ketamine therapy is a one-and-done type of treatment option. It will not cure your disorder in a single therapy session, as ketamine therapy works to stimulate brain changes to lead the patient to see lasting symptom relief over the course of the ketamine therapy at our clinic.
 
Each case is dependent on the patient’s symptoms and medical diagnosis. Commonly, ketamine infusion therapy provides six sessions spaced two to three weeks apart, which are then followed up by a long-term maintenance phase and include an occasional booster ketamine therapy, if our physicians deem it necessary.
 
Many will see short-term success with ketamine therapy; however, if you do not continue to check in with the clinic and continue your maintenance therapy sessions to ensure your relief is set in stone, and you continue down your healthy and successful path, you can revert back to your previous ways.

At Bay Area Ketamine Center, ketamine therapy is generally intended for patients who are 18 years of age or older. Age is only one part of determining whether someone is an appropriate candidate. Before treatment, the clinical team reviews the patient’s medical history, current symptoms, previous treatments, medications, and other health factors to determine whether IV ketamine therapy can be provided safely and appropriately.

Ketamine therapy is typically not recommended for individuals under 18 because its effects on the developing brain and its safety and effectiveness in younger patients have not been as thoroughly established. Exceptional cases may require individualized medical consideration, but treatment decisions are made carefully and with appropriate safeguards. Adults interested in IV ketamine therapy can schedule a consultation at Bay Area Ketamine Center to determine whether treatment is suitable for their specific needs.

The appropriate IV ketamine dose is determined individually rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach. The clinical team may consider factors such as the patient’s body weight, medical history, current medications, treatment goals, previous response to ketamine, and the condition being addressed. Vital signs and overall health are also reviewed before treatment to help determine whether therapy can be administered safely.

During the infusion, the patient is monitored closely so the treatment can be adjusted when clinically appropriate. Response, comfort level, side effects, and changes experienced during previous sessions may all help guide future dosing decisions. At Bay Area Ketamine Center, IV ketamine therapy is personalized to each patient, with ongoing evaluation throughout the treatment process.

Between IV ketamine therapy sessions, patients may find it helpful to track changes in mood, anxiety, sleep, energy, motivation, concentration, and overall daily functioning. Patients receiving treatment for other concerns may also monitor changes in symptoms that are relevant to their treatment goals. Keeping brief notes about improvements, setbacks, or new symptoms can provide useful information for follow-up discussions with the clinical team.

Patients should also note any side effects, changes in medications, significant health changes, or concerns that occur between infusions. This information can help the clinical team evaluate treatment response and determine whether adjustments to the care plan may be appropriate. At Bay Area Ketamine Center, ongoing communication helps support a personalized approach to IV ketamine therapy.

Patients from Los Altos and nearby Bay Area communities may choose Dr. Paul Wender, MD, for IV ketamine therapy because of his extensive background in anesthesiology, pain management, and ketamine infusion care. His clinical experience allows him to evaluate each patient carefully and develop an individualized treatment approach based on medical history, symptoms, previous treatments, and personal goals. IV ketamine therapy is administered in a monitored clinical setting with attention to patient comfort and safety throughout each infusion.

At Bay Area Ketamine Center, Dr. Wender provides care for patients traveling from Los Altos, Palo Alto, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Santa Clara, Stanford, Atherton, Loyola, and other surrounding Bay Area communities. The clinic focuses on physician-guided IV ketamine therapy with personalized treatment planning and ongoing evaluation, helping patients better understand what to expect before, during, and after treatment. Contact us today for more information or schedule an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 746 Altos Oaks Drive Suite B, Los Altos, CA 94024. We serve patients from Los Altos CA, Sunnyvale CA, Palo Alto CA, Atherton CA, Cupertino CA, Santa Clara CA, Mountain View CA, the Bay Area, and surrounding areas.