Bipolar disorder is an increasingly common diagnosis and one that can be difficult to treat. If you’ve been diagnosed with either bipolar I or bipolar II, the most common course of treatment is usually a regimen of medication, which is often combined with counseling and sometimes the help of support groups as well. However, if these treatment options do not prove effective in managing your bipolar disorder, ketamine infusion may be another helpful option.
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes the patient to experience severe mood swings. The bipolar patient will often vacillate between extreme highs, in which they experience a surge of energy and often feel euphoric, and major lows, in which they suffer from common depression symptoms, such as feelings of despair and loss of interest in favorite activities.
There are two main classifications of bipolar disorder, known as bipolar I and bipolar II. People who suffer from bipolar I experience severe and long-lasting episodes of both depression and mania. In between, though, they may return to a “normal,” in-between mood, which is known as euthymia. In bipolar II, the patient suffers a similarly severe depression, but instead of the manic episodes experienced in bipolar I, they experience episodes of hypomania. Hypomania is a less severe form of mania, in which the symptoms are not as extreme and do not last as long.
Ketamine Treatment for Bipolar
Ketamine infusion is a safe and highly effective treatment option for all forms of depression, including bipolar. It is especially recommended for patients who have been resistant to other treatment options. Although the exact science behind ketamine is still uncertain, many experts believe that ketamine causes the release of molecules that open up communication pathways between your neurons. This leads to improved mood regulation.
Ketamine has been used since the 1990s as a treatment for depression and is widely recognized as a great way to tackle the symptoms that come from a variety of mental illnesses. Ketamine infusion, in which the drug is administered intravenously to patients in a controlled setting, has been shown to provide significant relief in about 70 percent of people suffering from depression. It is also highly effective against both bipolar I and bipolar II. In addition, ketamine works rapidly, and patients often note a diminution of symptoms within hours.
Contact Bluewater Psychiatry
If you’re suffering from bipolar depression and have questions about ketamine treatment, please do not hesitate to reach out to Bluewater Psychiatry. We offer full-service ketamine infusions for bipolar depression, and we’re here to help. Fill out the form below and get started today!