Recently, ketamine therapy has become increasingly popular as a means to address mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A study indicates that about 8.3% of the adult population in the U.S. displays at least one depressive symptom. For many, ketamine treatment has proven to be effective in easing these symptoms and enhancing their well-being. Nonetheless, it’s crucial to note that this therapy isn’t suitable for everyone. If you’re considering this form of treatment, you might be wondering if you are an ideal candidate. Specifically, individuals with uncontrolled high blood pressure, existing heart diseases, a history of substance misuse, or those on certain medications may need to seek alternative treatments. Continue reading to gain a deeper understanding of who should potentially avoid ketamine therapy and the reasons behind it, alongside the advantages it offers. But first, let’s delve into what ketamine therapy entails and its mechanism. Keep reading!

What Is Ketamine Therapy?

Ketamine therapy uses medication-assisted techniques, involving controlled, low-dose ketamine infusions under medical supervision. This treatment method has shown prompt efficacy in addressing various mental health concerns through several sessions, each typically lasting about 40 minutes. The total number of sessions varies based on the individual’s condition and their progress. Throughout the therapy, medical professionals closely observe the patient’s psychological state to ensure their safety and promote their overall well-being. The precise dosing and immediate effect are achieved through intravenous administration of low-dose ketamine. Importantly, this therapy is tailored to the specific needs and goals of each patient, with healthcare providers considering their overall health condition, medical history, and the outcomes of previous treatments to devise an appropriate strategy.

How Does Ketamine Therapy Work?

The therapy is thought to aid in the formation of new neural pathways in the brain, which can improve mood and alleviate the symptoms of mental health disorders. Ketamine is also known for its anti-inflammatory properties, which have a positive effect on mental health. Research suggests that ketamine modifies glutamate, a critical neurotransmitter associated with antidepressant properties. By acting on the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor and managing glutamate production, ketamine affects various neural circuits responsible for processing emotions and enhancing mood. Moreover, its anti-inflammatory capabilities offer additional therapeutic benefits. Given that chronic inflammation is a contributing factor to some mental illnesses, ketamine’s ability to mitigate inflammation may lead to symptom relief and enhanced well-being. While comprehensive studies are still pending, certain research highlights ketamine therapy’s high efficacy and potential for lasting effects. The benefits of this treatment are further explored below!

Benefits Of Ketamine Therapy

Ketamine therapy has shown significant and quick progress in the treatment of depressive disorders for many people. The following are the benefits, this therapy offers to treat a variety of psychological conditions:

• Give relief from mood disorders, treatment-resistant depression, and suicidal thoughts.
• Treat Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and chronic pain.
• Help with symptoms of neuropathy like pain, tingling, and numbness.
• Reduce the symptoms of PTSD and anxiety.
• Boosts up motivation and self-esteem.
• Enhance mood and overall well-being.
• Improve emotional openness and emotional intelligence.
• Prevent fibromyalgia.
• Improve sleep patterns.
• Relieve migraine pain.

Who Is Not A Good Candidate For Ketamine Therapy?

Ketamine therapy has shown countless positive results in some people with deeply rooted mental health issues. However, this potent treatment is not suitable for everyone. It still has some limitations. Therefore, it is essential to know the contraindications for someone who is not a good candidate for ketamine therapy. The following are the individuals falling under this category:

People With High Blood pressure

Though ketamine therapy is safe and effective for many people, it can show adverse outcomes if a person has high blood pressure issues. Study says this kind of treatment can increase blood pressure and heart rate levels, which can be riskier for health. The reason is ketamine, being an active drug, can cause blood pressure level spikes while actively in action. The elevated blood pressure in people who are already struggling with uncontrollable high blood pressure can show some adverse symptoms such as sudden cardiac arrest and stroke. While the blood pressure of the people who are a good candidate for ketamine therapy is checked throughout the procedure, those who already suffer from high blood pressure levels may show some complications. Thus, they may not be considered the right fit for this therapy.

People With Heart Diseases

As explained, ketamine therapy can be unfavorable for patients who already have high blood pressure levels as it can put their health at risk. This kind of therapy can also be dangerous for individuals struggling with heart disorders such as congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, previous heart attacks, and arterial diseases. Though ketamine therapy can be a great aid in reducing the symptoms of mental health problems like depression, it can not be utilized to treat people with heart complications as they are more vulnerable to risks. This is not something that the doctors will be ready to do. So, healthcare providers suggest people with heart disorders give preference to other treatment options to manage their mental health issues.

People With Substance Abuse History

People with a medical history of particular substance abuse or dependence, for instance, drug addiction or alcohol dependence, can not be the right candidate for ketamine therapy. Though ketamine is generally believed as an addictive drug, a person who is already diagnosed with an addiction history of some substance is at more risk of misusing it. Ketamine, for many years, has been used as many addictive drugs as a party drug and nasal spray, often offered for sale in UN-rated bottles. Some concerns are noticed with ketamine therapy that although this kind of treatment benefits some individuals, it can induce a feeling of euphoria that can likely develop a sense of addiction in some people. It also boosts the drug tolerance ability of those people. Therefore, these individuals are not considered a right fit for this therapy.

People With Psychiatric Disorders

People struggling with manic episodes or psychosis can not be a right fit for ketamine therapy. Psychosis is marked by a mental health condition in which a person loses a connection with reality. This challenges those people to understand what’s genuine and what’s not. These psychic disorders may hinder the safety and effectiveness of this therapy and can put the health of those people at risk. The complications occur as the ketamine treatment can induce dissociative effects and hallucinations, making the symptoms of psychotic disorders worse. As a result, it can lead to high impulsive behavior and agitation.

People Using Specific Medications

Ketamine can have a negative interaction with some medications. According to research, the pharmacodynamic interactions between psychiatric drugs and ketamine show some results which are:

• Lamotrigine medications may reduce the effects of ketamine.
• Benzodiazepines lower the duration of ketamine’s effect on psychological symptoms of depression.
• Antipsychotic medicines like clozapine, haloperidol, and risperidone might react to ketamine, but the available evidence has low quality which is still uncertain.
• Ketamine can lead to a high state of sedation if taken with certain sedatives like opioids, antiseizure drugs, and some migraine pills.

So, if you are considering ketamine therapy, discuss your medical history and medication regimen with your doctor. This will help the healthcare providers measure potential interactions with this therapy to plan another safe and effective treatment.

Pregnant And Breastfeeding Women

Due to the shortage of proven evidence, ketamine therapy is not suitable during pregnancy and breastfeeding phase. It is advised to avoid this kind of therapy when a woman is pregnant or breastfeeding a baby. Studies are still going on to analyze the possible risks of ketamine therapy on the growing fetus or nursing newborn. So, doctors suggest exploring other alternative options if pregnant and breastfeeding women are struggling with some mental health issues. Healthcare providers generally advise to avoid using over-the-counter medications or other medicines that are inappropriate during pregnancy. Ketamine-infused drugs can enter the bloodstream of the mother, which can adversely impact the health of a developing fetus or newborn.

Who Is Eligible For Ketamine Therapy?

As we have answered above, who is not a good candidate for ketamine therapy? now we also must know who is eligible for the same. So to determine whether you are eligible for ketamine therapy, the healthcare providers will thoroughly examine your medical history and overall health condition. The eligibility may be confirmed if:

• You have undergone other therapies like TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) or CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy).
• Your current symptoms of psychological disorders are severe and prevent the full recovery of your health.
• You have already used various medications and found no relief from your symptoms.
• The current medications you are taking have suddenly stopped showing any effects.
• You do not have any of the ketamine contraindications that are listed above in this article.

Ketamine Therapy Side Effects

With every drug, some mild side effects can occur. People who undergo ketamine therapy might experience some potential side effects. According to research, around 6%-12% of people have shown an emergence phenomenon after the administration of ketamine. The standard associated reactions are:

• Blurred vision.
• Upset stomach.
• It increases blood pressure.
• Drowsiness.
• Headache.
• Change in perception.
• A feeling of floating, which some find relaxing.
• Anxiety or agitation.
• Confusion.

All these side effects subsided within hours but sometimes can be long-lasting. So, people who want to experience ketamine therapy have to prepare themselves adequately.

Summing Up

We learn in this article who is not a good candidate for ketamine therapy. We also learned Ketamine therapy benefits certain mental health disorders that are resistant to other kinds of treatments. But before choosing this therapy, it is essential to consider its drawbacks. People with uncontrollable medical issues, substance use disorders, use of certain medications, psychological disorders, and pregnancy or breastfeeding women may experience some limitations and side effects. So, if you have some of the disorders mentioned above and want to undergo ketamine therapy, in that case, managing your medical conditions first by consulting a licensed doctor is recommended. Once the physician examines your medical history and health condition and gives approval, then only you can consider going for ketamine therapy.

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