If you have major depression or bipolar disorder, then you have a wide variety of treatments available to you. One of these involves the administration of a medication called ketamine through an IV. This infusion has some positive results for individuals who have experienced a treatment-resistant mental health issue. However, there are some things that may leave you ineligible for the treatment. Keep reading to learn what they are and how you can overcome these hurdles to get the treatment you want.
Substance Abuse
When a physician and ketamine IV infusion center completes their initial evaluation for eligibility, you will be asked about your past and present substance abuse use. If you are currently using drugs or alcohol, then ketamine has actually been found to be a possible treatment to reduce cravings and substance abuse behavior. However, you cannot start the infusions if you are an active user. So, you will need to first go through a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program. Once you are clean for a set period of time, which may be six or twelve months, you can then begin treatment.
If you are a recovering addict or a past user, you will need to supply a sample of your urine before each treatment. Ketamine can be extremely dangerous when administered with other drugs, especially with other sedatives or depressants.
Also, you may need to go through a more intensive psychiatric examination to find out if substance abuse has contributed to your mental illness. This may not make you ineligible for the ketamine infusion, but you may need to go through a separate treatment regimen in addition to the infusion.
Cardiovascular Disease
If you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, heart disease, or an abnormal heart rhythm, then you may not be able to receive a ketamine infusion. When it comes to ketamine, the drug has significant anesthetic properties, but it does stimulate the cardiovascular system. This causes the heart to work harder and the blood pressure to increase. And, if you already have a cardiovascular ailment, this can actually cause your heart to develop tachycardia, which is a dangerously high heartbeat.
You can receive a ketamine infusion with a cardiovascular issue, but it must be controlled before you are given the medication. So, speak with your doctor about treatment options and then have your cardiologist sign off on the infusion treatment. Also, alert the staff at the infusion center of your heart condition. Blood pressure and EKG monitoring will likely be offered to ensure cardiovascular health.
For more information about Ketamine IV infusion, contact a local infusion center.
