Breakthrough Ketamine Treatment for Bipolar Disorder in the Eastern Shore – Salisbury, MD.
Ketamine infusion therapy for treatment-resistant bipolar disorder (TRBD) is a breakthrough treatment modality that is changing the way in which bipolar disorder and other mental health conditions are treated. While traditional mood stabilizer and antipsychotic medications remain the primary treatment option for bipolar disorder, patients often experience high rates of treatment resistance, relapse, and adverse effects, such as, metabolic effects (weight gain), sedation, cognitive dysfunction, and renal impairment. Ketamine infusion delivers fast, effective, and safe results. Repeated doses of ketamine infusion have shown greater antidepressant effects, doubling the antidepressant response rate, and sustaining antidepressant effects for longer. Also, studies have suggested that ketamine infusion for TRBD is associated with reduction in agitation, irritability, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, helping to improve quality of life and daily functioning.
Looking for an Alternative Treatment Approach for Bipolar Disorder?
Ketamine infusion therapy has been showing proven results in alleviating the symptoms of treatment-resistant bipolar disorder in individuals who tried traditional mood stabilizer and antipsychotic medications, without much success. Intravenous ketamine is a rapid, safe, and effective treatment approach, that is delivered through a series of sessions (6), followed by maintenance sessions/infusions.
What is Ketamine and how does Ketamine Infusion for Bipolar Disorder Work?
Ketamine is an anesthetic medication that has been used for over 50 years in many hospitals and clinics during surgical procedures, and/or other procedures that require anesthesia. Ketamine is a noncompetitive glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, with lower affinity for serotonin, dopamine, opioid, and other receptors. In the last few years, it was noted that when ketamine was administered in sub-anesthetic doses (doses lower than the traditional ones used in operating rooms), patients reported improvement of their symptoms, which led researchers to study its effectiveness in treating mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. It is believed that the long-term antidepressant effects of ketamine are due to the activation of the BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) cascade in the prefrontal cortex and in the hippocampus. BDNF is also one of the neurotrophins involved in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder, and by targeting it, ketamine aids in the improvement of the symptoms of bipolar disorder, as evidence suggests that BDNF regulates the release of serotonin, glutamate, and gamma-aminobutyric acid. Studies have shown that repeated ketamine infusion significantly improved the severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms, provided a decrease in suicidal ideation, and led to improvements in psychosocial functional impairments in patients with treatment-resistant bipolar disorder.
What to Expect During the Infusions/Sessions?
During the infusions/sessions, you will be placed in a safe, quiet, and comfortable room. We will administer ketamine via intravenous infusion, which is one of the most effective ways of medication administration. Throughout the infusion, you are being monitored by our highly trained medical professionals, to ensure your safety and comfort. The series of infusions are provided over a period of 2-3 weeks/weekends, with each session lasting approximately a total of 60 minutes, which includes the infusion time (40 min) and recovery time (20 min). These six initial sessions are followed by maintenance infusions over the next weeks/months, and throughout the year.
Is Ketamine Infusion Covered by Insurance?
Since ketamine infusion for the treatment of mental health conditions is considered “off-label”, it is currently not completely covered by insurance providers. However, there are ways that we can help you to get the most of what your insurance can offer.
