Ketamine Infusions

Living with frequent or daily pain changes the shape of your days and nights. Ketamine infusions may offer a path toward relief and are one of many innovative solutions available from Beata Grochowska, MD, of Regenerative MedSpa of Buckhead in Atlanta, Georgia. If you’d like to explore ketamine infusions in greater detail, call today to book a visit or schedule online in just a few clicks.

What are ketamine infusions?

Ketamine is a medication originally developed as a type of anesthetic. In the 1970s, researchers began exploring the drug’s antidepressant effects, although ketamine was classified as an illegal substance at that time. In the late 1990s, the scientific community again turned its attention to examining the effects of ketamine.

Researchers believe that ketamine relieves pain by targeting a specific type of receptor present in your central nervous system. This receptor is called N-methyl-D-aspartate, often referred to as NMDA. 

Ketamine infusions are performed intravenously, delivering a solution of ketamine directly into your bloodstream, where it can begin blocking pain signals without having to first navigate your digestive tract.  

What type of pain can ketamine infusions treat?

Numerous randomized trials on ketamine use for pain management reveal that this approach is successful in many applications. Some of the types of pain that respond well to ketamine infusions include:

• Fibromyalgia
• Spinal cord injury
• Phantom limb pain
• Central neuropathic pain
• Breakthrough pain while in cancer treatment
• Temporomandibular pain
• Acute or chronic migraine 
• Complex regional pain syndrome

Extensive research shows that most people with chronic pain do not achieve good pain relief through treatments like opioids, antidepressants, or anti-epileptics. Ketamine offers another path toward reduced pain and enhanced quality of life. 

What happens during ketamine infusions?

The process begins with intravenous (IV) placement. Your practitioner uses a small needle to place thin tubing into a vein on your hand or wrist. You might feel a brief pinching sensation as the needle enters your skin, but no significant pain. 

A small piece of surgical tape secures the tubing, and the other end connects to a flexible bag containing your ketamine solution. The solution moves through the tubing and slowly enters your bloodstream, one drip at a time. 

You should feel relaxed during your treatment session but remain awake and alert throughout. During the infusion you will listen to soothing music and rest and relax. Some report an almost immediate lift in mood during and shortly after treatment and a reduction in pain. The infusion takes an hour but you will have to stay up to an additional hour for monitoring. 

You might feel a bit sleepy after ketamine infusions, so you have to have a friend or loved one over the age of 18 drive you home. If you’re ready to learn more, call Regenerative MedSpa of Buckhead today to schedule a visit or book an appointment online.