Ketamine Therapy for Anxiety – A New Method of Treatment

Because of its sedative and pain relieving qualities, ketamine was used as a general anesthetic during the 1960s. While first developed in the 1950s, ketamine’s use was expanded to include treating mental health concerns such as PTSD, anxiety and depression in recent years.
Research shows that almost half of people who suffer from generalized anxiety disorder do not respond well to traditional anti-anxiety medicines. And for these people with anxiety, exploring new approaches is fascinating, especially ketamine therapy NJ.
Although prescribed kinds of ketamine have been effective in treating unresponsive depression, treating anxiety with it is not approved. But unmet needs of anxiety patients with conventional methods of treatment is making room for further exploration.
This article will discuss portions of ketamine therapy, its provided risks, and where to find licensed professionals.
How Ketamine Works
Ketamine increases activity of glutamate in the brain at a rapid pace, which is instrumental in regulating mood, memory, and learning. neuroplasticity is the process in which the brain adapts and develops new connections, and is heavily dependent on glutamate.
By increasing neuroplasticity, ketamine may assist in “re-wiring” the brain by removing negative thought patterns and enabling people to form more realistic, healthier ones. This can improve anxiety in many people.
Ketamine Compared to Treating Anxiety with Standard Medications
Standard anti-anxiety medications – which are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) – have a primary and direct focus on neurotransmitters such as serotonin, before impacting other aspects like glutamate. This often causes a latency period of 2 to 6 weeks to experience any improvements.
With ketamine, the onset of action is much quicker because it works directly on glutamate. The results can be seen in a matter of hours in some cases. Research has indicated that patients suffering from generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder can benefit from ketamine greatly.
Different Approaches to Using Ketamine Therapy
Ketamine Treatment has different approaches and its dosages are easier and less effective to control.
• Intravenous / IV Infusions: The most effective method of delivering drugs; a controlled IV drip of balanced solution delivers ketamine to the patient. This method is typically performed in medical settings and is considered one of the most effective forms.
• Intramuscular / IM Injections: This is a single dose injection into a large muscle such as the thigh or arm in a clinical environment.
• Sublingual Tablets – A tablet is placed under the tongue and allowed to dissolve slowly. This strategy is mostly utilized for maintenance at home in between IV or IM procedures but is usually the least efficacious.
• Nasal Spray – Esketamine marketed as Spravato, is a depression resistant to treatment and is marketed as a nasal spray. It has to be given in a hospital setting because it has very strong psychoactive properties. Some providers combine it with conventional anxiolytics.
Of these methods, IV infusions, IM injections, and Spravato nasal spray administration are considered the best because they are seemingly the quickest ones for absorption into the bloodstream.
How Effective is Ketamine for Anxiety?
While a lot has been written on the application of ketamine for depression, its utilization regarding anxiety is just beginning. However, early research indicates that in some aspects of anxiety, it may work well.
Generalized Anxiety and Social Anxiety
• A 2021 review concluded that ketamine is a potentially safe and effective treatment for anxiety disorder treatments.
• A 2022 review found that a single ketamine infusion significantly lowered the level of panic and irritability among individuals suffering from generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder. Higher doses appeared to have longer lasting effects. Up to two weeks in some cases.
• As much as 83% of participants with GAD and social anxiety experienced a reduction in anxiety symptoms within an hour of receiving ketamine. This was reported in a study conducted in 2017.
• Over 28 days, oral ketamine was shown to significantly improve anxiety symptoms in hospice patients suffering from depression and anxiety. This was evidenced in a study conducted in 2013.
• In another study conducted in 2017, participants with social anxiety were given ketamine infusions or a placebo. Those who received ketamine reported much more improvement than the placebo group.
Ketamine and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD is an anxiety disorder where the patient suffers from unwanted thoughts and compulsive actions.
• A group of 15 participants suffering from persistent obsessive thoughts were given ketamine infusions. Most of them reported a significant symptom reduction and many claimed that the effect lasted for more than a week.
Final Thoughts
Individuals dealing with anxiety with no success using traditional medication/leads may finally have something new to consider. Ketamine therapy directly alters glutamate levels while increasing neuroplasticity which helps offer immediate relief while also restructuring negative thought processes envolved.
Research is being done at the moment, but initial results tend to show that ketamine use for treating anxiety could prove its value. People who are considering the use of Ketamine Anxiety Treatment in New Jersey are encouraged to contact a professional who has experience in the appropriate administration of ketamine.