Approximately three million Americans currently suffer from Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Patients with anxiety disorders worry excessively about regular life events with no particular reason for this worry.
Anxiety disorder patients often feel edgy and irritable. They tend to magnify their issues which can disturb them.
Ketamine Infusion Therapy can be an effective solution for people suffering from the symptoms of anxiety or GAD. Ketamine Clinics of Los Angeles, led by the renowned Dr. Steven L. Mandel, provides ketamine infusion treatments to patients in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Orange County, California, and surrounding communities.
Researchers Support Ketamine to Treat Anxiety
Anxiety bouts can influence a patient’s routine life, relationships, work performance, and the capability to sleep. After extensive research, scientists have understood that obstructing the neurotransmitter glutamate may reduce the symptoms of anxiety disorder.
This fact has led to the recognition of Ketamine Therapy as an effective treatment for anxiety (as ketamine is a powerful glutamate blocker).
Researchers in New Zealand have identified that ketamine, which is a safe medication typically used as an anesthetic, may also mitigate the symptoms of anxiety disorders that are resistant to treatment.
Past studies have identified that ketamine generates an antidepressant effect in a patient with significant depressive disorders which are resistant to treatment.
New Research on Ketamine’s Benefits for Anxiety Patients
A new research study entitled “Ketamine’s dose-related effects on anxiety symptoms in patients with treatment-refractory anxiety disorders” offers the initial evidence that ketamine improves anxiety symptoms in patients suffering from GAD who are resistant to treatment and who are not depressed.
The author of the study, Paul Glue of the University of Otago, has been working in the area of clinical psychopharmacology from the mid-1980s. He is a psychiatrist engaged in clinical practice and reviewing research patients.
Paul suggests in his study that patients suffering from treatment-resistant anxiety may respond to ketamine in the same manner as it does for patients with treatment-refractory depression. A majority of Paul’s patients are adults with refractory negative mood conditions.
This research, which was published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, studies 12 adults with social anxiety disorder or general anxiety disorder who receive 3 ascending ketamine doses (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg) one time a week. The ketamine doses generated quick anti-anxiety effects. These effects sustained from three to seven days with higher doses.
Ketamine obstructs the NMDA (N-methyl-d-aspartate) glutamate receptor in the brain., Note this drug has dissociative and euphoric effects, however is safe and effective when used in a clinical setting.
Positive Patient Feedback
As of now, ketamine has not received the FDA’s approval for depression and anxiety treatments. Further research must be done to identify the safest and most effective dose regimen for patients.
However, what encourages experts to recommend Ketamine Infusion Therapy for treating the symptoms of GAD and depressive disorders is the positive feedback ketamine clinicians are receiving from a majority of patients across the country.
The accomplished Dr. Steven L. Mandel provides IV Ketamine Infusion Therapy for patients from Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Orange County, California, and around the world.
For more information about Ketamine Infusion Therapy treatments for depression, bipolar, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), fibromyalgia, pain syndromes and other conditions contact us at Ketamine Clinics of Los Angeles in Southern California (Orange County) by clicking here or calling 310-270-0625.
