For people who have suffered for years from depression that can’t be resolved by any other means, ketamine seems to be a miracle drug. Many people have used ketamine therapy to ease what seemed like intractable depression.
How is Ketamine Different From Other Antidepressants?
SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, have been popular for treating depression for several decades, but they work very differently from ketamine. These drugs increase the levels of serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter that allows nerve cells to send messages back and forth. Psychiatrists believe that serotonin affects mood, and people with depression have a deficit of it. Doctors who prescribe ketamine therapy believe that depression is caused when the brain is damaged from being saturated with stress hormone. Ketamine therapy is thought to repair the damage and far more quickly than SSRIs build up levels of serotonin.
Who is a Candidate?
A good candidate for ketamine therapy has been on other types of antidepressants, but the medications are not working to relieve their depression. People who also suffer from post traumatic stress disorder, such as veterans, and people with anxiety or panic disorders also seem to benefit from ketamine therapy. Anyone who wants ketamine therapy has a consultation with a member of our team and is given a medical exam.
The Treatment Session
During the session, the patient relaxes as the ketamine is delivered through an IV. During this time, the patient is monitored by the professional. After the treatment, they may be monitored for a bit longer by the staff before they can go home.
Though most patients feel better immediately, experts recommend that they have a series of ketamine sessions. These are scheduled over a period of time. Some patients have maintenance infusions of ketamine therapy as needed.
Talk to Us for More Information
If you have depression or another mood disorder that simply won’t respond to the medication you are taking, ketamine therapy may be an option. Set up a consultation with our staff at Montana Psychiatry & Brain Health Center in Billings to get started. Contact us today to book your appointment.
TMS
by Deb (age 64)
Category: generalThe hoops I jumped through in order to be evaluated were straightforward and efficient. I met with PA Kaitlin for about an hour to discuss my history and previous medications. Then Dr. Amato joined us to further discuss my history, the TMS treatment, and answer any questions. Myrna gathered all of the information and submitted it to my health insurance company to request coverage for TMS. Fortunately, insurance approved the treatment and I was able to begin the next week. I’m sure most people have anxiety about starting a treatment like TMS. No matter how many times it’s described to you, there are many unknowns. How will I feel during treatment? Is it painful? What if this doesn’t work? What if it works for a while but then stops? In all honesty, I was very uncomfortable during the first couple of weeks of treatment. The alternating two seconds of tapping sensation caused some pain during treatment, and at the end of the first week I thought about quitting. But I had sworn to myself that TMS was a last resort and I HAD TO complete the treatment and give it a chance to work. My technician, Heather, told me that some people don’t feel the tapping at all, they only hear it. Guess I wasn’t one of those people! But as the days went by, it became easier to tolerate the treatments. During this time I also saw Lauren weekly for CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy). This is highly recommended for people undergoing TMS treatment, and it was a positive complement to my total of 100 minutes each week “under the helmet”. The weekend between weeks three and four, I started to notice subtle improvements in my mood, increased belief in my self-worth, and enthusiasm for simple things like going for walks, meeting friends for lunch, and taking on volunteer work in the community. I hesitated at first to believe that TMS was helping me. I was afraid that I was convincing myself it was working because I so desperately wanted it to! But now that I am past the treatment I can say with cert
TMS
by Barbie (age 68)
Category: generalI feel so blessed to participate in the TMS protocol at MT Psychiatry. After struggling so many years with depression and not getting significant results from medication, particularly of late, I noticed positive results in the first two weeks of treatment. TMS can literally give you back the beauty & joy in living as well as the courage to make positive life changes and improvements in your daily living situation. I heartily encourage anyone to put yourself into the hands of the amazing TMS team who so gently and graciously make this journey with you out of the black hole that is depression. It is my honor and privilege to give the TMS treatment the highest recommendation.
TMS
by Shayne (age 66)
Category: generalI am grateful for the support and caring I have received from Dr. Amato (and Heidi, Heather and Myrna) in my quest for mental health and a fuller more productive life. While the TMS results have been subtle, I feel more positive about my future and I would recommend this team absolutely. Thank you!
TMS
by Carrie (age 65)
Category: generalNot realizing how fuzzy my head was, I thought I was only going through severe anxiety and depression. Through the insight of Pat, I was able to go through TMS treatments which brought down the anxiety and depression immensely and has cleared up the fuzzy, far off substantially. All the personnel treated me with kindness and I’m sure their attitudes helped in my recovery.
TMS
by Bridget (age 47)
Category: generalThe first outcome of TMS I noted happened early in my treatment, at about the beginning of week two. I felt as though my “brain fog” had been chipped away. I wish I could report that I feel my mental health issues are in “remission”, but I can’t do so yet. My hope is that I will see improvement in the weeks to come, now that my TMS cycle has ended. I can say that my brain feels – in some way – different; I can’t explain exactly how. I continue to struggle at this point in time but sill have hope for more improvement.
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