The Next Chapter in Mental Health Treatment
Spravato and Ketamine Therapy in Los Angeles, California
Although ketamine has been used safely as an FDA-approved anesthetic since the 1960s, the discovery of ketamine as a highly effective and rapid-acting treatment for a wide range of mood disorders and neuropathic pain has been hailed as arguably the most significant development in psychiatry during the past few decades. Neuro Wellness Spa utilizes ketamine infusion therapy to safely treat various types of mental illness and pain here in Los Angeles, California.
What is Ketamine Therapy?
A Breakthrough Medicine of the Mind
Designated as a ‘breakthrough therapy’ by the FDA, ketamine therapy can rapidly—often within an hour or two—lift the symptoms of anxiety, major depressive disorder, PTSD, OCD, and other conditions. After a short series of repeated doses, this effect typically extends out for weeks to months.
Ketamine is an FDA-approved anesthetic that is used to treat mood, anxiety and pain. There are two main types of ketamine therapy:
- Intravenous or IV Ketamine, sometimes called racemic ketamine– Given as an infusion into the bloodstream, racemic ketamine is a mixture of two mirror-image molecules: “R” and “S” ketamine. Racemic ketamine is FDA approved as an anesthetic, and used off-label to treat mood and chronic pain disorders.
- Spravato, also known as Esketamine– Given as a nasal spray, esketamine uses only the “S” molecule. Esketamine is FDA approved for treatment-resistant depression.
At Neuro Wellness Spa in Los Angeles, California, our thoughtfully designed ketamine therapy treatment centers ensure a safe, comfortable and private experience while our therapeutic processing and integration enhance ketamine’s direct effects on the brain and psyche resulting in profound emotional insights and deep inner healing.
The Neuroscience of Ketamine
In the cerebral cortex alone, the most highly developed part of the brain, there are somewhere between 14 and 16 billion neurons. Neurons communicate with each other via neurotransmitters: chemicals that act as messengers between neurons.
Different neurotransmitters affect neurons in different ways. Glutamate is the most common excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. It plays a particularly important role in neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to form new synapses and neural connections over a lifetime), learning, and forming memories.
Ketamine is an NMDA receptor antagonist that interacts with glutamate. Research shows ketamine increases the expression of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). This results in enhanced neuroplasticity, or the ability of brain cells to form new connections with one another.
In patients treated with ketamine therapy, researchers have observed increased synaptic connections. This neuronal growth and increased neuronal interconnectivity have been shown to improve mood and cognition in as little as one hour.
What Can Ketamine Therapy Treat?
Millions of people struggle with psychiatric disorders, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD, and with chronic pain. Many of these conditions may be treatment refractory, not responding to antidepressants or other therapies. Spravato and IV ketamine are a safe and effective treatment option, especially for those who have not experienced satisfactory symptom relief from medications and talk therapy, for:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Acute suicidality
- PTSD
- Chronic pain
Spravato nasal spray and IV ketamine therapy have the ability to go to work rapidly. Symptoms tend to improve within just hours after the first infusion compared to the 6–12 week onset period of conventional medications. Ketamine has been shown to help relieve symptoms of disorders including:
How Does Ketamine Affect the Brain?
Ketamine’s response rate is more than double that of traditional antidepressants and ketamine works rapidly, in hours to days, compared to antidepressants which take weeks to exert their full effects.
For most patients, ketamine also has transformative effects on an individual’s worldview. Ketamine produces a sense of disconnection from one’s ordinary reality and usual self that may induce or enhance feelings of creativity, purpose, perspective, serenity, insight, inspiration, gratitude, empathy, connection with others and the world, openness to new ideas, psychological rebirth, and traveling outside of one’s self, among others.
Following treatment, patients report beneficial shifts in awareness or perspective and identify more strongly with positive self-images and values and often describe a newfound sense of meaning or purpose. IV ketamine therapy has also been found to increase compassion, reduce fear of death, and increase joy in living.
But how?
Ketamine works in several ways at the same time. Research into the full pharmacological action of ketamine is revealing just how complex the response to this drug is. Thus far, the most research has been conducted on IV ketamine infusions.
Ketamine is an NMDA receptor antagonist that stimulates brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Additionally, ketamine activates the limbic system (associated with memory, emotion, and behavior) and strengthens the interaction between the conscious and subconscious levels of the mind.
In patients treated with ketamine, researchers have observed increased synaptic connections and the growth of neurons. This neuronal growth and increased neuronal interconnectivity improve mood and cognition and allow patients to disengage from their routine thought patterns, heal unhealthy neural pathways and achieve clarity.
Ketamine Research
Extensive research and highly-effective treatment outcomes fro clinical trials have greatly contributed to several notable publications about Spravato and IV ketamine therapy, with more being published every day:
- NPR Ketamine for Severe Depression, ‘How Do You Not Offer This Drug To People? 3 Minute Listen.
- NPR From Chaos to Calm: A Life Changed by Ketamine. 6 Minute Listen.
- BBC News Ketamine Has ‘Fast-Acting’ Benefits for Depression. Read More.
- New York Times Johns Hopkins Opens New Center for Psychedelic Research. Read More.
- New York Times Fast Acting Depression Drug, Newly Approved, Could Help Millions. Read More.
- NIMH New Hope for Treatment Resistant Depression: Guessing Right on Ketamine. Read More.
- Washington Post One Time Party Drug Hailed As Miracle for Treating Severe Depression. Read More.
- TIME New hope for depression. Read More.
- Bloomberg How ketamine opens a new era for depression treatment. Read More.
- Forbes Ketamine may reduce depression, suicidal thoughts within hours. Read More.
- Psychiatry Advisor Ketamine: a promising novel therapy for anxiety and PTSD. Read More.
- PsyPost Ketamine may ease depression by restoring the brain’s sensitivity to prediction error, study suggests. Read More.
- WSJ Ketamine treatment will revolutionize mental-health care. Watch Now.
- Refinery29 “Ketamine Treatment For My Brain Injury—Here’s What It’s Like Read More.
Contact us today to learn more about Spravato and IV ketamine or to schedule a no cost consultation. Get started today.
Our Los Angeles Ketamine Therapy Clinic:
At Neuro Wellness Spa in Los Angeles, California, our ketamine protocol supports each patient’s unique needs and journey. Our thoughtfully designed treatment centers ensure a safe, comfortable and private experience while our therapeutic processing and integration enhance ketamine’s direct effects on the brain and psyche resulting in profound emotional insights and deep inner healing. Our team is always available to discuss and answer any questions you may have.
Consultation
You may be feeling lonely, disconnected, or lost – all of which can be signs of depression or past trauma. No matter what you are going through, we believe in every person’s ability to heal.
During the consultation, one of our world-class psychiatrists will review your medical records, discuss your needs and preferences, answer any questions you may have and help you decide whether IV ketamine therapy may be an effective treatment for you.
IV Ketamine or Spravato Treatment Sessions
IV Ketamine Therapy: Each ketamine infusion lasts about 40 minutes, after which patients should have someone available to accompany them home safely. During the infusion, patients experience deep relaxation and typically wear an eye mask in a dimly lit room with aromatherapy. Ketamine is delivered at a slow and controlled dose and a registered nurse is present for the duration of the infusion. Blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen saturation are monitored. Typically, patients receive a course of 6-12 ketamine infusions over 2-4 weeks. The frequency and number of sessions are individualized. Most patients experience positive results from ketamine after their first infusion. Subsequent infusions help prolong the positive effects.
Spravato: Each Spravato treatment session lasts about 2 hours, after which patients should have someone available to accompany them home safely. During the treatment, patients administer the Spravato nasal-spray themselves under the supervision of a healthcare provider. After patients administer Spravato, there is an observation period of at least two hours during which patients can rest comfortably. Blood pressure is monitored. Typically, patients receive Spravato twice weekly for weeks 1-4 followed by once weekly for weeks 5-8. Week 9 or thereafter, Spravato may be administered once every other week for maintenance. The frequency and number of sessions are individualized.
Integration
In each integration session, you will work with a provider to derive meaning from your ketamine therapy experience, and translate that awareness into tangible everyday life practices. Integration work takes the ketamine experience and turns it into sustainable, impactful change.
Is Ketamine Therapy Covered by Insurance?
Spravato: Esketamine is FDA-approved for adults with treatment resistant depression (TRD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) with suicidal thoughts. The team at Neuro Wellness Spa can assist you in determining your specific insurance coverage for Spravato and out-of-pocket costs.
IV Ketamine: Although IV ketamine is FDA-approved as an anesthetic, it is used off-label to treat mood and chronic pain disorders. At the present time, ketamine infusions for mood and chronic pain disorders are cash pay procedures.
We recognize that there are financial considerations to take into account when starting any treatment. Our team is always available to discuss and answer any questions you may have about your payment options.
Questions? We’ve Got Answers.
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Why choose ketamine therapy?
For many years, the initial response to mental health treatment has been psychiatric medications and therapy. Although these conventional treatments can be effective, they don’t work for everyone and medications can take weeks or months to exert their full effects. If you’re experiencing symptoms, unwanted side effects, or if you want to supplement your current treatments, you might consider ketamine therapy.
Ketamine’s response rate is more than double that of traditional antidepressants and ketamine works rapidly, in hours to days, compared to antidepressants which take weeks to exert their full effects.For most patients, ketamine also has transformative effects on an individual’s worldview. Ketamine produces a sense of disconnection from one’s ordinary reality and usual self that may induce or enhance feelings of creativity, purpose, perspective, serenity, insight, inspiration, gratitude, empathy, connection with others and the world, openness to new ideas, psychological rebirth, and traveling outside of one’s self, among others.
Following treatment, patients report beneficial shifts in awareness or perspective and identify more strongly with positive self-images and values and often describe a newfound sense of meaning or purpose. IV ketamine therapy has also been found to increase compassion, reduce fear of death, and increase joy in living.
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How does ketamine therapy work?
Ketamine is an NMDA receptor antagonist that works by stimulating brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), activating the limbic system, and strengthening the interaction between the conscious and subconscious levels of the mind. In patients treated with ketamine therapy, researchers have observed increased neuronal growth and connectivity in as little as one hour after treatment that improves mood, cognition and the ability to disengage from routine thought patterns, heal unhealthy neural pathways and achieve clarity.
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What do the experts say about ketamine?
Extensive research and highly-effective treatment outcomes have greatly contributed to several notable publications about Spravato and IV ketamine therapy, with more being published every day:
- NPR Ketamine for Severe Depression, ‘How Do You Not Offer This Drug To People? 3 Minute Listen.
- NPR From Chaos to Calm: A Life Changed by Ketamine. 6 Minute Listen.
- BBC News Ketamine Has ‘Fast-Acting’ Benefits for Depression. Read More.
- New York Times Johns Hopkins Opens New Center for Psychedelic Research. Read More.
- New York Times Fast Acting Depression Drug, Newly Approved, Could Help Millions. Read More.
- NIMH New Hope for Treatment Resistant Depression: Guessing Right on Ketamine. Read More.
- Washington Post One Time Party Drug Hailed As Miracle for Treating Severe Depression. Read More.
- TIME New hope for depression. Read More.
- Bloomberg How ketamine opens a new era for depression treatment. Read More.
- Forbes Ketamine may reduce depression, suicidal thoughts within hours. Read More.
- Psychiatry Advisor Ketamine: a promising novel therapy for anxiety and PTSD. Read More.
- PsyPost Ketamine may ease depression by restoring the brain’s sensitivity to prediction error, study suggests. Read More.
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What to expect during ketamine treatment?
IV Ketamine Therapy: Each ketamine infusion lasts about 40 minutes, after which patients should have someone available to accompany them home safely. During the infusion, patients experience deep relaxation and typically wear an eye mask in a dimly lit room with aromatherapy.
Ketamine is delivered at a slow and controlled dose and a registered nurse is present for the duration of the infusion. Blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen saturation are monitored. Typically, patients receive a course of 6-12 ketamine infusions over 2-4 weeks. The frequency and number of sessions are individualized. Most patients experience positive results from ketamine after their first infusion. Subsequent infusions help prolong the positive effects.
Spravato: Each Spravato treatment session lasts about 2 hours, after which patients should have someone available to accompany them home safely. During the treatment, patients administer the Spravato nasal-spray themselves under the supervision of a healthcare provider.
After patients administer Spravato, there is an observation period of at least two hours during which patients can rest comfortably. Blood pressure is monitored. Typically, patients receive Spravato twice weekly for weeks 1-4 followed by once weekly for weeks 5-8. Week 9 or thereafter, Spravato may be administered once every other week for maintenance. The frequency and number of sessions are individualized.
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What about insurance?
IV ketamine infusions for mood and chronic pain disorders are currently cash pay procedures.
For Spravato, most insurances cover the medication cost and administration.
Our phenomenal clinical team is always available to help prospective patients understand their coverage options as well as any out-of-pocket costs. We know how important it is that those seeking help are able to get the treatment they need. Not to mention, at Neuro Wellness Spa, we handle all the paperwork. To learn more about ketamine therapy, or to schedule a consultation, contact us with our online form or give us a call at (877) 847-3984.
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Let’s fix that. Give our expert clinical team a call or schedule a consultation.
Begin Ketamine Therapy in Los Angeles Today
For more information about the services we offer or whether ketamine treatment is covered by your insurance provider, contact us today. Our team of professionals at Neuro Wellness in Los Angeles will walk you through the ketamine treatment process to help you decide whether or not ketamine therapy is right for you.
