Ketamine Infusion Therapy

At Mind + Body Medicine in Dallas, we offer ketamine infusion therapy as an option for chronic pain treatment. Research has shown that physician administered ketamine may be able to prevent your nerves from firing pain signals1,2— which can help you get back to doing the things you enjoy. Ketamine may be a treatment option for patients who are seeking a solution for neuropathic pain, but would like to avoid opioid medications. Additionally, Ketamine may also be used to treat depression.6

Reduce Your Anxiety or Depression and Gain Clarity

What Is Ketamine?

How Effective is Ketamine Infusion Treatment?

First created in 1962, ketamine is a medication that has been used for decades for pain relief and as a treatment for depression.3 Ketamine is a strong anesthetic that blocks a specific nerve cell receptor from firing, which decreases pain.1,2 For pain management, ketamine is given intravenously through an IV infusion.3 Researchers today are increasingly recommending ketamine therapy for chronic pain.2,5

Up to 60 percent of patients get pain relief from ketamine infusions.1 Most people feel the difference right after the ketamine infusion, but every person’s response is different.1 You may feel relief for several weeks, or it may least nearly a year.1 If you experience significant pain reduction, the ketamine infusion could be repeated.1

Ketamine as an Opioid Alternative

At Mind + Body Medicine in Dallas, Dr. Howard Cohen specializes in treating chronic pain. He understands that many patients would like to avoid opiates and opioid medication due to side effects and the high incidence of addiction.7 Studies show that Ketamine can be a safe and effective alternative to opioids.8
 

Ketamine Treatment for Depression and PTSD

Because depression and chronic pain can happen together in many people, experts realized that therapies such as Ketamine typically used to treat one of those conditions can be effective for the other.2 Ketamine is one such treatment. Ketamine stimulates certain brain receptors in a way that may be able to improve depression and anxiety.6 If you suffer from treatment-resistant depression or a combination of physical and mental health illnesses, Dr. Cohen can discuss with you if Ketamine may be a suitable treatment for you.
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Watch Dr. Cohen's presentation on
"Practical Guidance for Psychoactive Substances: Navigating Ketamine"

Am I a Candidate for Ketamine Infusion?

What Are The Side Effects of Ketamine Infusion?

Ketamine infusion therapy is considered safe, and most people do not experience serious side effects.4 Ketamine side effects may include nausea, hallucinations or nightmares.1 Dr. Cohen will monitor your treatment closely in order to minimize any potential side effects.
Ketamine may help if you don’t get relief from other treatments such as prescription pain relievers, nerve blocks and physical therapy.1 Ketamine is not typically recommended as a first choice in chronic pain treatment, but if Ketamine is right for you, it may provide long-term pain relief.4 At Mind + Body Medicine, Dr. Howard Cohen will discuss all of your pain management options, including whether ketamine infusion may be helpful in treating your pain.

Start Living Pain Free in Dallas

If pain or depression are interfering with your daily life, Dr. Howard Cohen at Mind + Body Medicine is happy to answer any questions about nonsurgical and minimally invasive treatments for pain management. If you are a candidate, insurance may pay for Ketamine infusion treatment of pain or depression. Contact us today for a free insurance check.
References:
1 Cleveland Clinic. When Nothing Seems to Help Your CRPS, Ketamine Pain Treatments May Bring Relief. Available at: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/when-nothing-seems-to-help-your-crps-ketamine-pain-treatments-may-bring-relief. Accessed September 26, 2019.
2 Schwenk ES, Viscusi ER, Buvanendran A, et al. Consensus Guidelines on the Use of Intravenous Ketamine Infusions for Chronic Pain From the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, the American Academy of Pain Medicine, and the American Society of Anesthesiologists. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2018;43: 521–546.
3 Gao M, Rejaei D, Liu H. Ketamine use in current clinical practice. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2016 Jul; 37(7): 865–872.
4 Niesters M, Martini C, Dahan A. Ketamine for chronic pain: risks and benefits. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2014 Feb; 77(2): 357–367.
5 American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine. New Ketamine Guidelines for Acute and Chronic Pain Published. Available at: https://www.asra.com/news/200/new-ketamine-guidelines-for-acute-and-ch. Accessed September 26, 2019.
6 Meisner, R. Ketamine for major depression: New tool, new questions. Harvard Health Publishing. Available at: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/ketamine-for-major-depression-new-tool-new-questions-2019052216673 Accessed October 29, 2019.
7 Benyamin R, Trescot AM, Datta S, Buenaventura R, Adlaka R, Sehgal N, Glaser SE, Vallejo R. Opioid complications and side effects. Pain Physician. 2008 Mar;11(2 Suppl):S105-20 Karlow N, Schlaepfer CH, Stoll CRT, Doering M, Carpenter CR, Colditz GA, Motov S, Miller J.
8 Schwarz ES. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Ketamine as an Alternative to Opioids for Acute Pain in the Emergency Department. Society For Academic Emergency Medicine. 2018 Oct;25(10):1086-1097. doi: 10.1111/acem.13502. Epub 2018 Jul 17.