Although ketamine is a great alternative treatment option, it may not be for everyone. Because of how powerful ketamine can be, certain conditions or medications may not react well with the infusion. Making it potentially harmful to some individuals. A ketamine experience should be a healing experience. That is why it is important to know if ketamine may or may not be an option for you.
Here are Six Conditions That May Stop You From Getting a Ketamine Treatment:
Just like other medications, ketamine can cause bad reactions to certain people.
Previous Bad Reaction to Ketamine
Some people have bad reactions to medications that others have no problem with. In the setting of ketamine, that could be an allergic reaction (which is very rare), or had a bad experience from its use in the past. Talk to your health care provider or get a consult with us to see whether or not ketamine may be right for you.
You may want to reconsider getting ketamine infusions if you have decreased lung function.
Decreased Lung Function
Individuals with decreased lung function (such as COPD) may want to forego receiving a ketamine infusion. Sometimes during the infusion, the individual could experience apnea (an interruption of breathing) or have decreased oxygenation which could further compromise an already impaired function of the lung. Often the ketamine provider can provide supplemental oxygen or lower the dose - therefore mitigating this response. However if they lung function is greatly impaired even before the infusion starts, then you and doctor may want to think twice before undergoing an infusion.
Due to the possibility of ketamine increasing blood pressure, those who have decreased cardiac function are recommended to not get a ketamine infusion.
Decreased Cardiac Function
Ketamine can often increased blood pressure and in other instances can even cause the blood pressure to decrease. This variation of effect on blood pressure as well as its ability to change the heart rate can cause an already impaired heart to work even more which can become problematic. If you have heart condition that is currently not controlled, you may want to wait until your are more stable to pursue getting a ketamine infusion.
Ketamine infusions may affect the baby inside a pregnant woman’s womb.
Currently Pregnant:
Ketamine infusions are typically not recommended to expecting mothers as it may negatively affect the baby. If you or someone you know is currently expecting, possibly wait until the baby is born to further consider a ketamine treatment.
Some studies found that ketamine can increase eye pressure so those with acute glaucoma should consult with their eye care provider or ketamine specialist first.
Acute Glaucoma
Ketamine infusions may not be the best option for an individual with uncontrolled glaucoma (high eye pressure) or acute glaucoma. Some studies have shown that ketamine can increase eye pressure. In the setting of prolonged or severely elevated eye pressure, you could potentially lose your vision. If you are someone with uncontrolled eye pressures, ketamine may not be the best option for you. However, in the setting having eye pressures controlled on eye medications ketamine could potentially be a safe option. We recommend talking with your eye care provider or get a consult with us to see whether or not ketamine may be right for you.
For ketamine infusions to be effective, it is recommended that the patient be clean of any bad toxins.
Currently in a State of Impairment
Whether that may be alcohol or recreational drug use, for a ketamine infusion to fully work, the individual would need to be clean of bad toxins that might affect or alter their state of mind. That way the ketamine may enter the body and fully heal and work without certain obstacles or hurdles that it may interfere with causing a negative outcome or effect.
If you are going through another treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, then ketamine may have a negative effect on you.
Currently Ongoing Chemotherapy or Radiation Therapy
For an individual that is either undergoing chemotherapy, radiation therapy or have a form of cancer such as breast cancer may not have ketamine infusions. Ketamine and a treatment that an individual may be undergoing can have a negative effect, otherwise harming the individual rather than healing them.
Please don’t get discouraged as there are plenty of treatment options that may be more beneficial. Please talk to your health care provider to learn different options that may be right for you or for the individual you may know.
Although Ketamine is a great alternative treatment option, it may not be for everyone. Because of how powerful Ketamine can be, certain conditions or medications may not react well with the infusion. Making it harmful to some individuals. A Ketamine experience should be a healing experience. That is why it is important to know If Ketamine may or may not be an option for you.
