5 Myths (Debunked) About IM Ketamine Therapy

Ketamine used to be only a street drug – but it's come a long way over the years. Now, ketamine is an option for people living with treatment-resistant depression and suicidal ideation.

However, ketamine got a bad name as a street drug, and it's easy to believe what you've heard – but we are here to weed out the myths and give you the truth about a helpful treatment.

At Pacific Phoenix Psychiatry & TMS, Dr. Elia R. Gonzalez-Rodriguez offers medication management, IM ketamine, and Spravato™ for depression. She's an experienced psychiatrist providing cutting-edge treatments for mental health disorders.

The facts on ketamine

Ketamine is a medication that anesthesia providers typically use for its sedative properties. It's a dissociative anesthetic that offers pain relief and sedation, as well as dissociative effects.

Recently, ketamine has become a successful treatment for depression that doesn't respond to medications and therapy. It works on the NMDA receptors that are responsible for glutamate regulation.

Glutamate is a neurotransmitter that controls functions like mood, cognition, and pain perception. Ketamine allows the brain to make more glutamate, which works to regulate mood and emotion.

Five myths about ketamine

There are many myths floating around about ketamine, most of which aren't true. It's essential to understand the data about ketamine before you consider this treatment. 

1. Ketamine is extremely addictive

Though ketamine can be addictive when people abuse it in high quantities, you're unlikely to become addicted while under medical supervision. We carefully monitor each injection to ensure you're having a positive response.

Ketamine also helps with depression and addictive behaviors, lowering the risk of addiction to the drug.

2. IM ketamine is dangerous

Ketamine is dangerous when people abuse it on the street; however, it isn’t harmful in a controlled setting. Just like any other medication, ketamine has risks and side effects. Still, it is safe for use in a controlled medical environment.

3. Ketamine is only a recreational drug

There are street drugs that contain ketamine, but it's much more than that. We now use smaller, controlled doses of ketamine to address treatment-resistant depression and suicidal thoughts.

Although people still use ketamine as a recreational drug, it's become a staple treatment for hard-to-treat depression and other mental health disorders.

4. There aren't any side effects to ketamine

Ketamine is safe in a medical environment, but it still has side effects like any other drug. We discuss the risks and side effects before administering IV ketamine so you know what to expect.

The main side effects of ketamine are drowsiness, restlessness, confusion, and sometimes hallucinations. However, it affects everyone differently, and you may only have mild side effects.

5. I only need one IM treatment

Ketamine is an effective treatment, but it isn’t a one-and-done treatment. It can take a few treatments to work on the brain to decrease depression symptoms and improve overall mental health.

Am I a good candidate for ketamine?

You may be a good candidate for IM ketamine if you have depression that doesn't resolve with medications and psychotherapy. If you've tried more than a few medications and therapy and still have moderate-to-severe depression, ketamine may be the next step.

Ketamine is also an option when you're dealing with suicidal ideations. It's a quick and effective way to resolve suicidal thoughts until you can get other treatments to manage the long-term depression symptoms.

We also offer IM ketamine for other conditions like PTSD and bipolar disorder. We discuss the risks and side effects, as well as different treatment options, to determine if it's a good treatment for your needs.

Contact our team today to schedule an appointment for IM ketamine or request a consultation online. Our team offers services to those in the greater Portland area, including Salmon Creek, East Vancouver, and Steilacoom-Lakewood, Washington.