Ketamine Treatment
Serenity Psychiatric & Counseling Services proudly announces its partnership with Dr. Murray E. Joiner Jr., MD, PC, to bring ketamine assisted psychotherapy as an additional treatment option for patients in the greater Charlotte area.
Initially introduced as an anesthetic in the 1970s, ketamine in recent years has been utilized as an alternative treatment for mood disorders and chronic pain. Scientific research has shown that low dose ketamine infusions have significantly reduced the symptoms of mental health conditions such as severe anxiety, bipolar mood disorder, treatment resistance depression, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), when conservative methods have not offered relief.
Infusions at Serenity Psychiatric & Counseling Services are offered in a comfortable, relaxed, and soothing environment. While stimulating and improving brain communication pathways, individualized infusions are tailored with appropriately timed psychotherapy to address underlying mental health concerns to aide in developing new patterns of thinking while supporting behavioral changes.
By combining both ketamine and psychotherapy, the results are enhanced, and clients often obtain longer periods of relief from their mental health symptoms and chronic pain.
If you haven’t found relief with traditional treatments for your mental health or chronic pain concerns and have a referral from your primary care provider or psychiatric provider, call Serenity Psychiatric & Counseling Services at (704) 322-4020 to find out if ketamine is right for you.
FAQs
Over the last 15-20 years, many highly reputable institutions and research facilities throughout the world have confirmed dramatic benefits in patients with mood disorders and chronic pain.
Some clients will begin to feel better within hours of their first treatment. Other clients may not notice any mood improvement until the next day. Some clients will require a second or even a third treatment before noticing any benefits.
Ketamine is administered over 40-60 minutes. The amount of ketamine administered is not enough to cause a loss of consciousness, so you will remain awake. One of the main effects of ketamine is dissociation. During the treatment, some clients experience altered perceptions, like seeing bright colors or having “out of body” experiences. It has been described as a dream-like state with a floating calm sensation. Most clients tolerate the experience with no trouble, and many find the experience pleasant. The experience for each person is very different and can vary from infusion to infusion. Once the treatment is complete, the dissociative effects of the drug rapidly dissipate.
Following your first infusion, we advise you to go directly home. After a couple treatments, you’ll have a better idea of how the medication makes you feel. It’s normal to feel slightly intoxicated or even nauseous after your infusion. We offer medication to assist with nausea. Additionally, you may even feel tired. We advise you to take the remainder of the day off.
Ketamine is a controlled substance and for your safety, both physically and legally, we take this seriously. We require a waiver acknowledging that you will not drive for 12 hours following your infusion. We request that you have someone take you home following your infusion. Driving under the influence of a controlled substance is illegal and will result in treatment termination.
Ketamine itself has not been shown to have addictive properties. In fact, there is research suggesting that ketamine can be effective as a treatment for overcoming addiction.
Most medications are considered safe with ketamine. There are some medications that decrease the effectiveness of the infusion. These include lamotrigine (Lamictal) and benzodiazepines like Xanax, Valium, Klonopin or Ativan.
- Avoid taking Lamictal for 8 hours before or after your infusion.
- Avoid taking any sedative such as a benzodiazepine for 12 hours before and 6 hours after your infusion.
Because use of ketamine therapy for mood disorders and chronic pain is recent and still viewed as experimental, insurance companies do not provide reimbursement for infusion therapy. Infusion appointments will be considered self-pay, with payment due at the time of service.
