Esketamine, the active ingredient in Spravato, makes up half of racemic ketamine, which is used in most other ketamine treatments. While both medications are used to treat mental health, they have different levels of effectiveness.
A tug of war requires two parties. Evaluate the resistance you give to relationships or situations in your life and see if you might benefit from just dropping the rope.
Ketamine’s potential impact on the bladder can be real, but you shouldn’t see it from clinical IV infusion use. When administered appropriately, ketamine is a safe and effective treatment for mental health with minimal side effects.
The “war on drugs” resulted in a great stigma against psychedelic medications, including ketamine, and stalled medical research and progress in treating mental health.
The way you think about treatment may influence the benefit that you see from it. The placebo effect is real, and can be strong, and affects all kinds of interventions. Positive expectations may help maximize your results.
Alcohol affects your physical and mental health. Even a drink or two can have an impact on your body and mood for days.
The amount of time we spend on screens can have a negative impact on our mood and well-being. Reducing screen time can support good mental health.
Labels or diagnoses can be very helpful for understanding yourself, but they may make it difficult not to feel broken and may make it harder to distinguish what is ‘normal’ struggle.
Drinking alcohol impacts your mental and physical health. Even in small quantities, alcohol can influence your mood for days.
Finding motivation can be difficult — sometimes it can be extraordinarily difficult. One strategy that can help is to make small tasks non-negotiable.
This mindfulness exercise helps with goal setting — with setting attainable goals and with how to avoid being overwhelmed by the steps it takes to accomplish those goals.
Ketamine treatment can rapidly and effectively treat anxiety and depression for many people. However, it works best as part of a holistic approach to improve and sustain results.
This mindfulness exercise may help particularly when we feel alone in our struggles — reinforcing our connection to a larger community.
CTK, or Combined TMS and Ketamine treatment, may increase the benefit you can see from either treatment alone.
This mindfulness exercise helps us understand our own importance and the influence that we have on those around us (and them on us), using the visualization of glow-in-the dark paint.
Questionnaires we administer in the clinic — and the ones you take between visits on your own — can be helpful in tracking your progress and planning your treatments.
What if you’re looking for an interventional mental health treatment that seems like something we might offer, but isn’t listed as one of our provided treatments? We may still be able to provide it for you.
People of all ages may benefit from interventional treatments for mental health, but there are some extra considerations for children and teenagers, and for much older people as well.
Insurance covers TMS in some cases but coverage is limited. Insurance is unlikely to cover advanced protocols, rapid treatments, complex cases, off-label indications, or other conditions and indications. A direct patient care model can offer the best available approach to TMS without insurance.
Thoughts or feelings associated with trauma don’t typically surface during a ketamine infusion, unless you choose to actively bring them up. And, overall, ketamine can be a good option for PTSD, CPTSD, and other conditions or symptoms of trauma — by themselves or with other treatments such as SGBs.
Patients often ask us about psychedelic medications beyond ketamine. Here we review two other psychedelics — ayahuasca and ibogaine.
Psilocybin is a psychedelic medication that holds promise for mental health treatment. It has some notable differences from ketamine
From primary research, through work in anesthesia – Dr Allison Wells’ background led to Wells Medicine and extends through our work toward the best available interventional mental health care for our patients.
For ketamine treatments, we ask that you refrain from driving after treatment, which means you’ll need a ride home following your appointment. For most other treatments at our office, you may drive yourself after your appointment.
Stimulants – including caffeine, nicotine, and stimulant medications – can decrease restful sleep and impact mood as a result.
There are several good reasons to avoid eating or drinking before a ketamine treatment — including what we call ‘the burrito effect.’
Each psychedelic feels different, and ketamine is generally associated with visual sensations. The feeling or vibe is highly malleable and affected by all manner of things — especially music during an infusion.
Can you bring someone with you to your appointment? Yes — and their presence during treatment is up to you.
Insurance does not generally cover stellate ganglion blocks for mental health. The procedure is well established, but generally only covered for use in pain conditions (and even then it may not be consistently covered). It remains an excellent treatment option — especially considering its effectiveness and durability.
A brief overview of DBT and resources to learn more.
A very brief overview of ACT and resources to learn more.
Therapy is an essential tool — on its own and alongside interventional mental health treatments like ketamine, TMS and stellate ganglion blocks.
We work to make IVs comfortable, including using the smallest sizes available.
Interventional treatments may be useful and appropriate options for postpartum depression and other mental health conditions during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Dr Wells discusses treatment methods — including medicine, holistic care, and supplements — that can be helpful for treating PMS and PMDD.
Stimulants have a big impact on us, and even a simple cup of coffee or an energy drink may be contributing to your feelings of anxiety.
Some medications, behaviors, and life circumstances may decrease the effectiveness of ketamine treatment.
The experience of a ketamine infusion can be profound, but it usually isn’t, and it doesn’t have to be.
Dr Wells explains why Wells Medicine does not accept insurance and discusses ways of pursuing coverage on your own.
FDA approval may influence insurance coverage for a treatment or medication, but they aren’t directly related.
Ketamine is an FDA-approved drug that may be used by physicians for anesthesia and for other uses off-label.
Dr Wells explains what to expect during accelerated TMS — including what you can do during treatment, between sessions, and after you return home.
We discuss how diet can influence mental health and provide useful guidance on food and behaviors to incorporate for general health and alongside treatments and therapies.
Dr Wells shares why we love interventional treatments for mental health.
Dr Wells shares what mission-driven medicine means to us at Wells Medicine.
Yoga is a tool for both meditation and exercise. In addition to mental health management, yoga can be particularly helpful for PTSD.
Nitrous oxide inhalation treatment may be a good alternative to ketamine treatment for anxiety and depression. These distinctions may help you decide.
