Here at Charleston Ketamine Center, we offer a new approach to treating depression, anxiety, and chronic pain. We are dedicated to providing the best possible treatments in a safe, comfortable environment, with an emphasis on individualized patient care and real results. The doctor, Dr. Bowen, treats depression in many of his patients and is well aware of the limitations of currently available medications. He is excited to offer this new therapy to those whose depression does not respond adequately to traditional treatments.
Treatment Costs
Infusion for Depression:
Each depression infusion is $400.
Infusion for Pain:
Each 4 hour infusion is $850
Financing
We offer financial assistance through Advanced Care. See website for more information.
FAQs
Ketamine is highly effective in the treatment of a wide range of psychological and phsyical conditions:
- Depression
- Bipolar Depression
- Severe Anxiety
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Fibromyalgia
- Neuropathic Pain Syndromes
- Acute Pain
- Severe Asthma
Ketamine is a “dissociative anesthetic” first synthesized in 1962, and then used in Vietnam to treat injured soldiers. In the past two decades, it has become a sedation agent of choice in kids having painful procedures performed in the emergency department due to its unique safety profile and effectiveness.
Ketamine has been shown to stimulate neuron growth in the brain in as quickly as one hour. Many scientists studying Ketamine are focusing on the neurotransmitter glutamate, which plays a key role in neural activation. Ketamine has also been found to be a strong anti-inflammatory, which is also being studied for its positive effects. Patients also report that the disassociate state experienced during treatments can bring about personal insights, emotional perspective, and a sense of calmness or “serenity.”
Each patient has a slightly different experience with ketamine and even the same patient may experience different feelings during two separate infusions. This is all very normal. There is no singular experience we are seeking in order to have a good effect. Some patients may dwell on people or events from their past, some see colors, some describe interesting feelings in their bodies like tingling or increased size of arms or legs.
Intravenous (IV) infusion is by far the most common method of administration. The ketamine travels from the IV directly into your bloodstream, making it the most effective and measured approach.
Other Methods:
- Internasal
- Sublingual
- IM
- Orally
- Rectally
The World Health Organization lists ketamine as an “essential medicine,” and among the safest and most efficacious ones known to science. Unlike all other general anesthetics ketamine will not cause a patient to stop breathing by suppressing the respiratory reflex. For sedation of both children and adults, ketamine is perhaps the most widely used agent in the world.
Patients report a shift in depressive symptoms within 1-24 hours of the treatment.
It is recommended that patients undergo 6 infusions over a two-week period in order to maximize the beneficial effects of the drug. It is not recommended to vary from this treatment protocol but we can make some adjustments to fit your personal schedule. After the initial series of infusions further “booster” treatments are determined on a case-by-case basis but are usually needed anywhere from every 2 weeks to 3 months.
The majority of medications have no interaction with Ketamine, allowing patients to receive an infusion without interfering with other on-going treatments. There are however a few drugs, both legal and illicit, that can reduce effectiveness. Make sure you inform us of all current medications so that we can account for these possible interactions.
Visit our contact page to schedule a consultation!
Visit our contact page to schedule a consultation or call our practice at (843) 480-2273!
