Evidence shows that intravenous (IV) infusions with ketamine have the same positive therapeutic effect as treatment with the nasal spray SPRAVATO®, which contains esketamine. The benefits are the same – symptom relief for several complex mental health disorders – but treatment sessions work differently. Since response to ketamine varies with each individual patient, we create the optimal treatment plan – including infusion dosage and schedule – and consider other factors like how a patient responds to their initial ketamine sessions.
Disorders: What IV Ketamine Helps Treat
Off-label use of IV ketamine is indicated for:
- Treatment-resistant depression (TRD)
- Major depressive disorder (MDD) with suicidal thoughts or behaviors
- Bipolar depression (BD-I & BD-II)
- Anxiety disorders (AD)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)/Trauma-related disorders
- Other mental health disorders
What does off-label use mean?
The FDA approves of the off-label use of a medication if evidence shows it’s effective and beneficial for a specific diagnosis, a medical professional believes it will help a patient with that diagnosis, and the patient agrees to the off-label use of the medication.
Patients at Relief Mental Health can have 100 percent confidence that the off-label use of medications like ketamine is effective evidence-based medical treatment.
Evidence Base for Ketamine
Over the past two and a half decades, peer-reviewed research on ketamine shows the following:
- Ketamine can reduce symptoms associated with depressive disorders quickly, in as little as 40 minutes.
- The symptom relief timeline varies for each patient; booster infusions are available and scheduled as needed depending on the patient’s response to the treatment and to ensure symptom relief is maintained.
- Research shows 70 percent of patients with depressive symptoms experience improvement with ketamine treatment.
Additional studies show similar symptom relief for the diagnoses mentioned above, including bipolar depression, anxiety, PTSD, and individuals with alcohol or substance use disorder (AUD/SUD) who have at least two weeks of sobriety before initiating treatment with IV ketamine.
How IV Ketamine Treatment Works at Relief Mental Health
When a patient chooses IV ketamine treatment, the first step is either a virtual or in-person consultation to determine whether IV ketamine is an appropriate candidate for their disorder. However, for safety reasons, we require patients who engage in suicidal ideation to meet our clinicians in person. New patients to Relief Mental Health can expect their initial consultation to last about an hour, while current Relief Mental Health patients using IV ketamine as a new treatment modality can expect their initial consultation to last about half an hour.
After an initial consultation and if the patient is deemed clinically appropriate, an appointment is scheduled for the patient to return at his or her earliest convenience. Here’s what treatment looks like:
- Patient arrives at Relief Mental Health in *Oak Brook, Ill.
*At this time, we provide ketamine therapy exclusively at our Oak Brook clinic.*
- Patient and clinician will take about 15 minutes to prepare and get settled in a private, quiet room with a comfortable chair.
- The infusion itself will last 45 minutes.
- Relief’s nurse practitioner monitors patient for 30 minutes after the infusion.
The full appointment – infusion plus observation – lasts about an hour and a half. The entire experience is designed for the comfort and safety of our patients. Our compassionate providers curate the experience to maximize the cognitive and therapeutic benefits while patients relax in a comfortable chair in a peaceful, soothing environment.
Because one potential side-effect of treatment with IV ketamine may be drowsiness, it’s important for patients to arrange transportation support to and from each IV ketamine infusion session.
IV Ketamine: Typical Treatment Schedule
A course of treatment with IV ketamine for patients follows this pattern:
- Six (6) ketamine infusions over 2-3 weeks
- Some patients may require booster sessions, determined by the strength and length of their response to their initial course of treatment
- Booster schedule varies, but may occur once per month, twice a year, or at a frequency determined by the patient and medical personnel.
Paying for IV Ketamine Infusions
Because insurance doesn’t cover ketamine treatment, patients are responsible for payment of services. If payment arrangements are needed, financing is available through various services. Our patients have had successful experiences with advancecard.com, while patient with less than perfect credit have had successful experiences with mymedicalfunding.com. We also provide various discounts for ketamine treatment including a Hero Discount for active duty and former first responders, activity duty military personnel, and veterans.
What Our Patients Can Expect
We welcome all patients who choose treatment with IV ketamine infusions at Relief Mental Health with open arms. Our empathetic, compassionate clinicians provide a safe environment that’s conducive to healing and growth.
Patients who participate in treatment with IV ketamine at Relief Mental Health experience the following benefits:
- Quick relief from the symptoms of depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar depression, and other mental health disorders.
- A return of optimism and hope that may have faded with multiple failed attempts at other treatment modalities.
Change Can Happen Today
At Relief Mental Health, we meet each person exactly where they are and work closely with each patient to assess their specific needs and identify their unique treatment goals. Once we learn everything we can about each person who asks us for help, we provide the care and support they need to help them live the life they want to live: that’s our commitment to each and every patient we meet, every day.
When You Need Relief – We’re Ready to Help
If you or someone you love experiences the symptoms of a treatment-resistant mental health condition, we may have a program that meets your needs. For questions or to book an appointment, click here to contact us. A member of our team will reach out within 24 hours.
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