Ketamine, an anesthetic medication has emerged as a promising alternative treatment for treatment-resistant depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorders. Unlike conventional antidepressants that alter the levels of serotonin, ketamine directly impacts glutamine, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood, by blocking one of its receptors. It is available in oral, subcutaneous, intranasal (esketamine), intravenous, and intramuscular formulations.

Ketamine offers a high success rate of 50-70 percent. But the important consideration is how safe home-based ketamine treatment is? What are the benefits of home-based ketamine, and which formulation is safe to administer at home? Let's get straight into it.

Oral Ketamine at home Vs. IV and Intranasal Ketamine:

Oral ketamine is the least expensive and the most convenient route of administration. Tablets and troches are absorbed sublingually into the bloodstream. It is a more affordable intervention that can be used at a wider range of healthcare facilities. When it is used in a low dose, it can be safely administered at home in contrast to intravenous and intranasal routes requiring you to be in a healthcare facility.

Intranasal esketamine(Spravato) can be administered only by a licensed and certified medical provider in a clinic and requires continuous monitoring for 2 hours after administration. Blood pressure rises transiently after ketamine administration; the patient is monitored at the intervals of 40 minutes. These transient changes can also occur after oral intake of ketamine, but they return to normal within 2 hours and these effects are milder with oral ketamine. Intravenous ketamine must be administered in clinical settings only where appropriate facilities are available to deal with potential emergencies such as acute agitation, hypertension, and over sedation.  

Oral Ketamine has the potential to be the most convenient and safe medication for patients who have limited access to facilities providing such treatment.

At-Home Ketamine Treatment:

At-home ketamine therapy takes place when patients take oral ketamine at home in combination with ongoing psychotherapy sessions. It helps patients achieve their treatment goals more effectively.

Generally, it has given easier access to patients who can't visit clinics regularly. A complete course of ketamine-assisted therapy typically consists of a minimum of 6 sessions of ketamine dosing sessions and multiple psychotherapy sessions. You need more than 10 visits to the clinic, which is daunting and time-consuming, especially when you are a busy professional, have kids to take care of, or cannot travel due to medical illness. Moreover, it is easier for you to relax in a familiar environment. At home ketamine treatment maintains your privacy without any unnecessary disturbance.

Home-based ketamine therapy addresses difficulties in getting ketamine treatment such as fear of needles, time commitment, and financial burden.

Advantages Of Home Based Ketamine Treatment:

At home ketamien treatment makes it easier to access this effective treatment for depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Followings are the benefits of home-based ketamine treatment:

Psychological and Social Benefits:

• It makes you feel independent and gives you a feeling of satisfaction that you can carry out your responsibilities.
• It increases self-worth.
• Your life is less interrupted by regular visits to the doctor's clinic.
• It boosts your confidence and gives you a more "normal life."
• No off days from the office and school.
• Less medical costs.

Convenient for Patients and Families:

Home-based ketamine treatment eliminates the need to be physically in the medical facility. You don't need to leave your home, travel to the hospital, and go through therapy in an unfamiliar environment. Due to the potential lingering effect of ketamine after a ketamine session at clinics, you need someone to drive you back home. It can be inconvenient for someone who doesn't have a person to accompany them. Ketamine treatment at home resolves these problems.

Comfort In Familiar Environment:

Patients with major depressive disorder, OCD, PTSD, and anxiety disorders may feel overwhelmed visiting clinical settings. It can trigger their symptoms when they are have a negative association with the healthcare environment. By bringing ketamine treatment at home, patients feel more relaxed and comfortable. It becomes easier for therapists to build rapport and evaluate patients more closely, maximizing the benefits of ketamine therapy.

Personalized Therapy Sessions:

Combining psychotherapy with ketamine can enhance the treatment efficacy. At-home therapy makes it easier for patients to feel relaxed and more connected with their psychotherapist. According to research, this feeling of connection with a psychotherapist is the key ingredient to successful therapeutic sessions.

Isha Health Offers At Home Ketamine Treatment!

Experienced doctors and psychotherapists at Isha health provide Ketamine treatment in the comfort of your own home ensuring safety with a protocol developed by board-certified physicians. If you're looking for at-home ketamine therapy for treatment-resistant depression, OCD, anxiety disorder, and PTSD, Isha Health may be able to help you.

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