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“Trauma Comes Back As A Reaction, Not A Memory.”-Bessel Van Der Kolk
Ketamine has been used for many decades as a safe anesthetic in most Emergency Rooms and battlefields, as it has no effects on decreasing your heart rate or respiration. There is new scientific evidence that has found ketamine to be an effective therapy for many mental health and pain disorders. The doses that are used for mood and pain disorders are minimally sedating. While you do not need a referral from your mental health provider, it is recommended that ketamine therapy is paired with talk therapy. The neuro-physical benefit of ketamine coupled with spiritual, emotional, and cognitive therapy will make the benefits that much greater.
Dr. Bramwell became interested in this use of ketamine to treat her own battles with depression. She has a personal connection to this therapy and special empathy for anyone who has experienced this medical problem.
Oral Ketamine consults are done via telehealth. The medication is taken in the comfort of your home.
IV Ketamine is done in our office in Montville, NJ.
Safety
Recently a celebrity, Matthew Perry, was found dead in his hot tub. He fought a decades old battle with alcohol and drug addiction. He was found to have ketamine along with numerous psychiatric medications in his bloodstream at the time of his autopsy. Ketamine was erroneously called as the cause of death when in actuality it was drowning that was the cause of death. It is also possible that his was an intentional suicide. Oral ketamine and polypharmacy is never meant to be taken in a risky setting such as a hot tub where there would be a risk of drowning if the medicine was abused and taken in overdose quantities. One of the wonderful things about ketamine is that it does NOT suppress vital signs. Ketamine does not lower heart rate, blood pressure, or respirations in doses for mental health use. Ketamine, used in appropriate settings, in appropriate doses, has helped millions of people overcome mental illness and drug/alcohol addiction. The tragic case of Matthew Perry is a reminder that all medications, when abused, can cause harm or death. However, when used appropriately, as medicine, ketamine has the power to give glimpses into the spiritual realm, which has tremendous healing potential. The benefits greatly outweigh the risks.
Your blood pressure, heart rate, and pulse oximeter reading is measured during the duration of your IV ketamine session. If you are prescribed oral ketamine, you are required to have a "sitter" for the duration or a therapist in your presence.
“The Body Remembers What The Mind Forgets”.
Past traumas can manifest as mood and physical disorders. We must deal with the effects of these past traumas in order to heal. I especially love the book, The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk MD.
Ketamine has found a new use as a treatment option for many treatment-resistant conditions. Conditions that may benefit from ketamine therapy include the following:
Depression
Bipolar Disorder
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Chronic Pain Syndrome
Complex Regional Pain Disorder (CRPD)
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Fibromyalgia
Neuropathic Pain
Radiculopathy
Headaches, Migraine
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
How Soon Will I See A Difference?
Infusion protocols are 40 minutes per session. Induction therapy consists of six treatments done over a 3 or 4-week time span. Many people feel improvement from just one or two treatment sessions. Most people feel significant improvement after the third treatment. The wonderful news about ketamine is that you feel the benefits immediately after you leave our office. People describe a lifting of their depression, a lessening of physical pain, a slight euphoria, and overall optimism.
Depression, anxiety, PTSD, and pain are all due to past traumas. Ketamine alters the brain chemistry such that negative feelings and sensations are diminished. However, ketamine therapy works best when used in conjunction with the mainstream therapies of talk, spiritual, and cognitive therapy. You must deal with your past traumas in order to heal your mental and physical health. Ketamine facilitates this healing but it is only one of the pieces of the overall puzzle.
The protocol consists of six one-hour treatments given over a 3 week time span and then as needed for maintenance.
Cost is $400 per treatment for IV ketamine. The one-time physician consult is $200.
Oral ketamine pricing is $200 for the initial consult with physician follow-up appointments every 2, 4, and 6 weeks, $150 each, plus the cost of oral medication $75-200 per 6 doses.
We will perform a baseline evaluation of your pain and/or mood scale. We use specialized software to monitor your progress so we have objective data to guide the treatments.
You will need a ride home from our office after the IV ketamine infusion. We do not allow anyone to drive themselves home.
Cost Of Therapy
IV Ketamine therapy is not covered by insurance. We charge $400 per 40 minute infusion. In-office time is up to two hours inclusive of this cost. Health insurance does not cover ketamine therapy.
The fee for the initial consultation with the medical director is $200. Follow up appointments for medication management are $150 for clients electing to continue with oral medication. Prices are subject to change. Oral ketamine medication is paid directly to the pharmacy and ranges $75-200 for 6 doses.
The cost of ketamine therapy is an investment, but it is actually a cost-benefit when you consider the time and money it takes to use conventional medicine which takes months to work, if it works at all. You will know in one to three sessions if ketamine works for you. Booster protocols are weekly or monthly, and some protocols are as needed.
At home oral Ketamine therapy is available in Arizona and New Jersey. We also recommend ketamine assisted psychotherapy with Leland Newman LCSW, Beth Haessig Psy. D., Sandra Sinicropi LCSW, Rachel Sicherman LCSW, Nick Fonarev LCSW, or Lara Donahue LCSW.
Potential Side Effects
Ketamine is generally safe and well-tolerated. We use standard doses that result in mild sedation. Most unpleasant sensations can be mitigated by slowing the infusion rate and lowering the dose. All sessions are closely monitored with a continuous pulse oximeter device and blood pressure cuff. Dr. Bramwell supervises the duration of IV therapy. Bloodwork is generally not required but may be requested. Possible adverse reactions to Ketamine include:
Increase in blood pressure and/or heart rate/ head ache and/ or dizziness (We can administer anti-hypertensive medicine to troubleshoot this)
Sense of disassociation which means feeling disconnected from yourself, disconnected from feelings, thoughts, space, or time (this is a “good” side effect. This is one of the goals of therapy)
Unpleasant emotional reaction (Ketamine may bring out past trauma and this occurrence is a step towards your recovery because past traumas need to be purged and dealt with. The word depression means “pushing down” your emotions. Your emotions need to come to the surface in order for you to heal.)
Sleepiness and Sedation
Head pain and/or dizziness
Nausea and Vomiting (We can give you an anti-nausea medicine to prevent this)
Fatigue
Diarrhea or constipation, indigestion
Arm discomfort, bruising, infiltration
Recommended Mental Health Practitioners
Sandra Sinicropi L.C.S.W
Rachel Sicherman L.C.S.W. (973)221-8806
Leland Newman L.C.S.W. (551)579-3656
Beth Haessig, Psy. D (973)800-9833
http://bethhaessig.com/
Light Street Psychotherapy
https://www.lightstreetpsychotherapy.com/
Live a Real Fit Life Beyond Dieting with Dana Lee
https://www.realfit.tv/
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