Ketamine for Depression, Anxiety, & PTSD
Serving Albany, Saratago county and beyond
How does Ketamine work?
Ketamine is unlike any other antidepressant, providing relief within hours or days after an infusion and has no long-term effects on appetite, libido, or energy levels. Nearly 70% of patients experience fast and robust relief from Ketamine Infusion Therapy.
While the use of ketamine is considered experimental by the FDA for the treatment of mood disorders including depression, our knowledge is rapidly expanding! We have nearly 20 years and several large scale trials suggesting is a powerful and unique antidepressant!
How does Ketamine work?
By giving our overworked brains a break
Ketamine acts as a reboot for your brain and helps your brain create new neurons and pathways. (Which is a really good thing.)
A series of low dose infusions of ketamine (at sub-anesthetic doses) lets your brain to rest, reset, and grow new connections, often providing significant relief.
Is Ketamine safe?
YOUR SAFETY AND COMFORT ARE OUR TOP PRIORITY
Yes. Ketamine is a safe anesthetic and is listed as an essential medication by the World Health Organization. More than 70 peer-reviewed scientific studies have found that Ketamine Infusion Therapy is a safe and effective treatment for chronic mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and addiction.
A board-certified anesthesiologist, highly qualified to administer and care for you during your infusion will monitor your vital signs before, during your treatment, and before you leave.
After the infusion, a responsible party must drive you home. The responsible party must be present before the infusion begins. Following treatment, you may feel tired for several hours.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Your safety and success are our priority. Libertas embraces a team approach to your health. Our protocols are evidence based and up to date.
You are independently evaluated by a medical and psychiatric provider. You are also paired with a Psychotherapist and/or Health coach for behavioral therapy. These are the core members of your team.
Patients must agree to have a responsible party present before the infusion starts who will drive them home.
Ketamine given at low doses induces a “dissociative” or psychedelic state where you may feel dizzy, euphoric, or intoxicated. This feeling goes away within 30 minutes of ending the infusion. Most patients receive six infusions over a period of two to three weeks. While the infusion itself may last 40 or 60 minutes, a typical visit lasts around two hours.
During the infusion, you will be seated in a comfortable chair in a private room. We will provide you with a blanket, eye mask, and noise canceling headphones. The nurse will begin your infusion and invite you to relax.
Most patients receive six infusions over a period of two to three weeks. Typically, periodic booster infusions are needed. This series provides most patients relief from symptoms of depression for 4-12 weeks.
Libertas Mind wants your treatment with ketamine to be as healing and transformative as possible. Ketamine is a powerful catalyst for change, but without careful guidance, the therapeutic effect is difficult to sustain. Behavioral therapy plus ketamine, however, not only sets the goals for long-term change, but helps you identify the obstacles preventing growth.
We believe therapy is very important to the process, integral in fact to attaining the best outcome. As a policy, every patient considering ketamine treatment with Libertas Mind must be engaged ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.
If you do not currently have a therapist, you can see one of our own. We understand there is a shortage of mental health care providers right now. We also have health coaches on our team to provide further support before, during and after treatments.
Patients who are actively abusing drugs or alcohol are excluded as candidates for ketamine infusions. A urine toxicology screening is required.
- Women who are pregnant
- Patients with uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Patients with acute cardiovascular disease
- Patients with recent concussions
- Any patient who had an unexpected adverse reaction with Ketamine in the past
- Patients with conditions that cause an increase in their intracranial pressure
- Patients with schizophrenia
No. The use of ketamine in treating mood disorders or pain is still considered to be an “off-label” despite the information in the literature and will not be reimbursed by any insurance carriers. However, the therapy does fall under the umbrella of a medical expense and we are able to accept payment from HSA or FSA account
