Ketamine was first used as an anesthetic decades ago and mainly serves the same purpose today. The most significant difference is that it is now used to treat severe depression. Physicians who advise patients to undergo ketamine infusion therapy usually have mood disorders — like treatment-resistant depression.
Where other treatments have failed, ketamine has been known to provide relief. It can be combined with other medications, such as antidepressants and antipsychotic medications to treat mood psychotic disorders. We’ll explain what medications can be used alongside ketamine treatment — including bipolar disorder medications.
Medications that can be used alongside ketamine treatment
You may wonder whether you can take ketamine while on antidepressants. Or whether combining ketamine with other medications is safe. There are usually no adverse effects of combining ketamine and other drugs used to treat mental health conditions. However, it’s vital that you understand how ketamine can impact your medication — including bipolar disorder medications.
SSRIs
Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are used to manage depression and anxiety disorders. They work by increasing the level of serotonin in the brain — influencing mood, sleep, and emotion. SSRIs and ketamine can be used in conjunction to treat major depression and anxiety effectively.
SNRIs
Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are medications used to treat mood disorders and mental health disorders like major depression, anxiety, ADHD, and obsessive-compulsive (OCD). Combining SNRIs and ketamine can effectively treat ADHD, OCD, major depression, and other health conditions. However, SNRIs can increase blood pressure in some patients, and when used in combination with ketamine treatments, it can increase further. If a patient has high blood pressure, a doctor won’t administer ketamine therapy.
MAOIs
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are antidepressants that are used to treat depression, panic order, and social phobias. They are prescribed less frequently than other medications because of the various side effects — which usually require patients to be monitored and placed on a special diet. It can be combined with ketamine but should be done with caution under the supervision of a psychiatrist.
Mood stabilizers and antipsychotics
Two other types of medication that are frequently paired with ketamine are mood stabilizers and antipsychotics.
Doctors usually prescribe mood stabilizers to treat mood swings and regulate emotions in people with mood disorders — including depression and bipolar disorder. These medications can be paired with ketamine therapy to help provide long-term relief to patients. Consult with your doctor if you need additional treatment, and be sure to continue taking mood stabilizers unless your doctor tells you to stop.
Antipsychotics are another type of bipolar disorder medication that can help treat psychotic symptoms. While some may believe ketamine can increase the symptoms of psychosis, research has shown that it does not worsen psychotic symptoms and can be effective at treating psychosis. It’s always important to consult your doctor and have them monitor your health and symptoms while undergoing ketamine treatment and taking antipsychotic medication.
Contact Long Island Ketamine Infusions
At Long Island Ketamine Infusions, our team is proud to be at the forefront of an exciting breakthrough in the conventional approach to mental healthcare. As it currently stands in the United States, ketamine has a certain stigma attached, which has prevented further research from being done. This, however, is slowly changing, which means that patients will likely have greater access to ketamine as a treatment option for bipolar disorder in the coming years.
Have you been struggling to find an effective treatment for your diagnosis? Contact us today to find out if ketamine infusions are right for you.