Sustaining the results of ketamine

Sustaining The Results Of Ketamine

In this video, Dr Wells discusses how ketamine works on the body and recommendations for extending the benefits of treatment.

Watch the video and see the summary below.

How long do results normally last?

After an initial series of ketamine infusions (typically 6 treatments over 2 to 3 weeks), we often see results sustained for about 3 to 5 weeks before a patient will benefit by a maintenance infusion. Results can vary from person to person, with some people returning for maintenance treatments like clockwork and others coming more occasionally for a touch-up maintenance treatment and even an additional series of treatments from time to time. This can be due, in part, to the nature of your symptoms and whether they are more chronic, for instance, or more acute – and may be affected by a host of other factors.

If you’re experiencing things such as changes in medications, are going through an unstable family situation, have a job loss or a medical situation, you may get less than 3-5 weeks of benefit between maintenance treatments. However, if things are going well for you and you’re able to make a lot of positive lifestyle changes, you may get more than 3-5 weeks of benefit.

Everyday Mental Health Recommendations

These recommendations are likely to increase the effectiveness of ketamine treatments, and they may help sustain the results you see from ketamine treatments, and they are great for your health in general.

Ketamine works well on its own. Approximately 70% of patients experience a 50% reduction of depressive symptoms after several infusions without necessarily doing anything else, and the results typically increase with a full series and regular maintenance treatments.

It’s not a requirement that you do these extra things, but we find that ketamine works best when patients actively work on improving their health in multiple ways including pursuing some of these recommendations:

  • 30 minutes of gentle movement – daily
    • For patients with anxiety, we recommend 20 minutes of movement with a heart rate over 100 bpm, as allowed by your cardiologist
  • 3-5 minutes of meditation, mindfulness, or prayer
  • Yoga – which counts as both movement and meditation
  • A decrease in alcohol and marijuana consumption
  • A decrease in benzodiazepines – over time, working with your psychiatrist or other prescriber
  • An increase in healthy fruits and vegetables, and decrease in processed foods
  • An increase in social outings and other activities out of the house that interest you
  • A decrease in screen time – <2 hours per day across all screens
  • Therapy – Such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), or Internal Family Systems (IFS)
  • Vitamins – Vitamin deficiency can be tested for, but we know that many patients with anxiety or depression also have vitamin deficiencies
    • Vitamin D – 5000 IU daily
    • Magnesium glycinate – 400mg nighly
    • Zinc picolinate – 20mg daily with your biggest meal
    • Omega 3 fatty acids – EPA – 1 gram daily

Resources for many of the mental health recommendations above can be found on our Resources page.

About Us

Wells Medicine is a Houston-based practice designed to provide meaningful care for mental health. Providing targeted interventional treatments for Depression, Anxiety, OCD, PTSD and other conditions, with Ketamine Treatments, Stellate Ganglion Blocks, TMS, and Nitrous-Oxide Treatments. Focused on comprehensive care and integration with Psychiatry, Psychology, and Support Services. We are evidence-based, patient-focused and mission-driven.

The content here is for informational purposes and should not be relied upon for medical decisions. For the details of your specific medical conditions and treatments consult your doctors or other qualified healthcare professionals.

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