Ketamine Emerges as a Game-Changer for the Treatment of Mood Disorders

Patients grappling with long-term depression deserve alternatives to benzodiazepine drugs which often only temporarily address their symptoms. Innovative Ketamine was among the first clinics in Chicago to offer ketamine infusions, a treatment that is so effective, many believe it has the potential to help curb the suicide rate in our country. Ketamine is an anesthetic that has been used in emergency and surgical settings since the 1960s. It is the first breakthrough in the treatment of depression in decades, and has helped hundreds of patients get out from under the dark cloud of depression. 

How does it work? 

While additional research is needed to determine exactly how the age-old anesthetic works as a depression treatment, a growing body of research suggests that ketamine restores the ability to make connections between brain cells. Unlike pharmaceuticals, which must build in the system for weeks to months before they become fully effective, ketamine works almost instantly. The standard ketamine protocol for mood disorders involves a series of six infusions over a two week time period, followed by maintenance infusions, generally administered every four weeks. Each appointment lasts approximately 90 minutes, during which patients are comfortably seated in a recliner where they can relax as the medication is administered. An estimated 75-80 percent of patients who try ketamine are able to achieve improvement of their quality of life. 

Who may benefit from ketamine? 

Ketamine infusions are most commonly used for mood disorders and moderate to severe depression, however there is also a pain protocol that has shown great promise. Patients who have not been able to successfully manage their chronic pain through other treatment methods, or those with chronic pain who are planning to undergo surgery, are good candidates. These patients may suffer from fibromyalgia, cancer, sickle cell disease, spinal cord injury, neuropathic pain or other similar conditions. At Innovative Ketamine, we’ve treated more than 1000 patients, some of whom were once suicidal and are now thriving in their daily lives. 

Patient demand for ketamine is on the rise

Soon after Innovative Express Care started offering ketamine infusions, it was clear that we’d need more space so we could accommodate a higher patient volume. Innovative Ketamine opened in early 2019 at 3221 N. Sheffield in Chicago and sees upward of 30 patients per week. We are proud to offer an alternative to traditional pharmaceutical therapies for depression and pain.

To bring awareness to mental health issues and educate more patients and caregivers about the power of ketamine, Innovative Ketamine is a proud sponsor of the Out of the Darkness Chicagoland Walk on September 21, 2019.

We invite you to join us at Montrose Harbor for this event! 

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