Can I Do Just One Ketamine Infusion Treatment?
Here at Reset Ketamine, one of the questions that we get asked frequently is, "Can I do just one ketamine treatment? In general, “No” unless it's a booster. Let’s explore why more in this blog.
Why just One Ketamine Infusions Won’t Cut It
Just One Ketamine Infusions Won’t Cut It
The reason behind this is because of the initial studies that were done on ketamine treatments. What they found was that if you do one or two it doesn't have as long lasting effects as if one does six treatments in a period of two to three weeks. So these were studies that were from the earliest ketamine studies, where they took patients and gave them a series of ketamine infusions. So we typically recommend an initial six treatments. Once a patient has completed this, then we do a booster as needed.
Check out our blog Should I Get One Or Multiple Ketamine infusions, where we dive into this question even deeper.
It Takes More than One Psychedelic Experience To Have A Profound Change
It Takes More Than One Psychedelic Experience to Have Profound Change
In addition to the science behind it, it's important to help reset the brain. If someone has a chronic way of thinking or being or a certain belief system it's gonna take more than one transformational experience for that to get really downloaded into the central nervous system and create new connections within the synapses. So when someone is able to do six consecutive treatments that will really support the patient in a longer lasting more beneficial more effective response than just one treatment.
Learn more about how ketamine can affect your chronic way of thinking and the default mode network at our blog How Ketamine Affects The Default Mode Network
Lasting Transformation Requires Lifestyle Changes After Ketamine Infusions
Lasting Transformation Requires Lifestyle Changes
Having a psychedelic ketamine infusion experience can be very transformative in themselves. The insights gained or the potential spiritual healing a patient may experience can do so much. BUT, the real power in these transformative experiences with ketamine treatments is how it catalyzes change in your everyday life. Like deciding to let go of habits and relationships which no longer serve you, or choosing to consume healthier food and less caustic social media. What we have observed in our patients is that those who have personally gained insight and motivation to do this from within, are able to make these changes naturally and without forcing it. And that is where the real magic happen.
Learn more about why a psychedelic ketamine experience is paramount to transformation at our blog The Importance of Psychedelic Experiences During Ketamine Infusions.
RELATED KETAMINE INFUSION QUESTIONS
OF THE SIX INFUSIONS, DO YOU NEED TO DO IT IN A 2 OR 3 WEEK TIME FRAME?
According to Dr. Singh & colleagues, they found that receiving ketamine infusions in a twice a week protocol over 4 weeks, was equally as effective as a three times a week protocol over 4 weeks for depression. What is exciting about this study is that is shows flexibility in treatment without necessarily sacrificing effect.
Want to learn more? Check out our blog post, “Ketamine Infusion Protocol: Twice A Week Or Three Times A Week?”
HOW DO YOU KNOW IT’S TIME FOR A BOOSTER?
Most ketamine infusion clinics will have you complete depression tests / scores or have some other way to measure your symptoms before and after infusions. Seeing how your scores are returning in relation to your pre-infusion levels is one way of knowing it’s time for a booster. We contact our patients to see how they are doing and check-in if they may need a booster infusion. Also, you can reflect on how you are doing and feeling. Some people can feel when negative thoughts or habits that no longer serve them return or if they are feeling less active, they know it’s time for a booster.
WHAT DOES A KETAMINE INFUSION FEEL LIKE?
Depending on the dose of ketamine and for how long you receive the infusion, you may experience anything from being more aware of how your body feels, quieting of the mind, feelings of love and gratitude, all the way to feeling connecting to the Universe/God, death of your ego, and reliving past experiences from a different perspective.
Learn more about what a ketamine infusion experiences is like at our blog, What Does A Ketamine Infusion Feel Like?
WHO SHOULDN’T GET KETAMINE INFUSIONS?
Individuals with uncontrolled hypertension, cardiac disease, uncontrolled thyroid disease, active substance abuse, active manic phase of bipolar disorder, active delusions and hallucinations symptoms such as schizophrenia, and those who have had a bad experience with ketamine in the past.
Check out more details on this topic on our blog post, 10 Reasons To Not Try Ketamine Infusions and “The 7 Types Of People Who Should Not Get Ketamine.”