Ketamine therapies are effective treatment options for people struggling with the impacts of depressive disorders, specifically, treatment-resistant depression. While these treatment approaches are successful, jumping into treatment without asking questions and gaining knowledge about the process can be dangerous. As a patient, it’s best to understand as much as you can about a treatment before it begins. This way, you are sure that it’s the best treatment for you, that your doctor is knowledgeable about this treatment, and that you can feel confident that this treatment is something that you should utilize. There are a few questions about ketamine therapy for depression that you should as a ketamine provider before sessions begin including:

Do You Recommend Ketamine Therapies for Me?

Ketamine therapies are a great option for addressing depression. However, doctors may not prescribe these therapies for people who have not already tried traditional treatments for depression. This means utilizing prescription antidepressants or behavioral therapies. Ketamine therapies are shown to be the most effective and are even FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression. Treatment-resistant depression is a type of depression that isn’t receptive to traditional treatments. So, not already being diagnosed with this type of depression may have an impact on whether or not you are a candidate for ketamine therapies.

Furthermore, some people may not be good candidates for ketamine therapies. People with various types of physical health issues shouldn’t use ketamine therapies as this can increase the risk of certain side effects. So, before beginning ketamine therapy, you should ask your provider if you are a good candidate dependent on any medical health issues you may have been diagnosed with in the past.

Can I Continue the Use of My Current Medications?

Some medications shouldn’t be combined with the use of ketamine therapies. Furthermore, some medications may reduce the effectiveness of ketamine therapies. Ask your ketamine therapy provider if you can continue the use of any medications you are prescribed to ensure that you won’t experience any unwanted side effects due to medication use. Make sure that you are upfront and honest about the medications you are prescribed and use on a daily basis so that your doctor can give you the best medical advice according to what they know to be true about ketamine therapies combined with medications.

What Should I Expect During and After Ketamine Therapy Sessions?

Knowing what to expect during and after ketamine therapies can help you better understand the entire process. This can improve your confidence in using these therapies. It can also help to manage your expectations and understand what is and what isn’t normally to be expected during and after sessions. If you have specific questions about what to expect, bring these to your specialist so that they can address your concerns and you can feel more comfortable going into your first session.

Getting Help for Depression With Ketamine Therapies

Both esketamine nasal spray and ketamine infusion therapy are good options for people who are having trouble managing the symptoms of depressive disorders. If you are looking for a way to manage depression and traditional treatments haven’t been working as you want them to, it may be time to consider ketamine therapies. Find out more about these treatment approaches to see if they’re the right fit for you.