Can you combine ketamine treatments with other medications?
Ketamine was first used as an anesthetic and is still used primarily for that purpose today. As well as treating severe depression, it is also used for treating anxiety. Ketamine infusion therapy is effective in treating mood disorders, especially treatment-resistant depression when used as prescribed by a physician. In cases where other treatments have failed, ketamine may be able to help. Ketamine can safely be combined with other medications, such as antidepressants and antipsychotic medications, to treat various mood psychotic disorders. Discover which medications can inhibit ketamine's effects and what medications doctors commonly prescribe alongside it.
Adjacent and Complementary Medications:
Ketamine and antidepressants: can they coexist? People often wonder if ketamine is safe to take with other medications. Ketamine and other drugs used for mental health conditions can be combined without adverse effects in most cases. It is important, however, to understand how ketamine affects each medication differently so you and your doctor can make an informed decision before starting ketamine therapy.
Mood Stabilizers and Antipsychotics:
In addition to ketamine, two other medications frequently used in tandem are mood stabilizers and antipsychotics. Mood stabilizers are typically prescribed by doctors to manage mood swings and stabilize emotions in individuals with mood disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, and schizoaffective disorder. These conditions often lead to erratic mood changes, like the manic episodes seen in bipolar disorder. By taking mood stabilizers, patients can achieve a more balanced emotional state. For some, long-term use of mood stabilizers is necessary to find relief. When combined with ketamine, these medications can effectively treat bipolar disorder and depression, enhancing overall symptom management. Always consult your doctor before making any changes to your medication regimen, as abruptly stopping mood stabilizers can lead to severe withdrawal symptoms. Conversely, antipsychotics are used to treat individuals experiencing psychotic symptoms, which may include delusions or episodes of psychosis. These symptoms are often linked to mental health conditions like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or personality disorders, though they can occur independently. Psychosis is frequently driven by elevated dopamine levels, and antipsychotics work by blocking dopamine's effects in the brain. While some worry that ketamine might exacerbate psychotic symptoms, research indicates that short-term ketamine treatment does not worsen these symptoms and can be beneficial in treating psychosis. Nonetheless, it is crucial for your doctor to closely monitor your health and symptoms during ketamine treatment to assess its efficacy and identify any new symptoms.
Medications That Interfere With Ketamine
Although numerous medications can be paired with ketamine to address a range of mental health issues, some drugs hinder ketamine's effectiveness in offering relief to patients.
Among the medications that disrupt ketamine's benefits are:
Benzodiazepines: These medications are often used to treat anxiety disorders, but high doses of benzodiazepines can interfere with the antidepressant effects of ketamine. When the two are combined, a person may experience little to no improvement in their depression symptoms.
Lamotrigine: This is an anticonvulsant medication commonly used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder. It can impair ketamine’s antidepressant effects.
Memantine: This drug is an NMDA blocker, which means it blocks the effects of ketamine directly. If a person uses memantine, ketamine will have little to no effect.
Any other NMDA blockers: Like memantine, other medications block NMDA, meaning that ketamine won’t have the desired effect on a patient’s mental health.
When consulting with our team please bring a list of all the medications you’re currently using so we can administer the correct treatment. Note that your doctor may recommend switching medications or a different approach if the treatment you’re currently on has been somewhat successful at treating your condition.
Since high levels of dopamine often cause psychosis antipsychotics block the effects of dopamine in the brain
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If you are struggling with a mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety, Sacred Journeys is here to assist you in finding lasting relief.