Ketamine for OCD

Can Ketamine Therapy Help with Symptoms of OCD?

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a condition that affects 1% of the US population. The disorder starts in early childhood and may persist and/or peak throughout adolescence.

Patients diagnosed with OCD may experience difficulty maintaining healthy relationships with themselves and others due to symptoms of the condition.

In recent studies, ketamine for OCD has been proven to be a viable treatment option for patients looking for fast and consistent relief.

The professionals at Ketamine Wellness Infusions PA are happy to offer patients in Philadelphia, Bala Cynwyd, and Doylestown areas diagnosed with OCD ketamine therapy as a treatment option. Continue reading to learn more about obsessive-compulsive disorder and if ketamine for OCD is right for you.

What is OCD?

OCD is a chronic anxiety condition when excessive thoughts, fears, or “obsessions” lead to repetitive behaviors or “compulsions.” The disorder may cause great distress in a patient’s everyday life and in triggering situations.

Patients may experience symptoms that vary in intensity throughout their lifetime. Symptoms of OCD are categorized by the patient’s obsessions and compulsive behaviors.

The most common symptoms of obsessions are:

Repeated patterns of doubt and uncertainty
Uncontrollable or unwanted thoughts about losing control
Fear of dirt or contamination
Fixation with order
Persistent unwanted thoughts about religion, aggression, or sexual subjects

Compulsions are carried out by patients to ease anxiety about their obsessions. Common symptoms of compulsions or repetitive behaviors are:

Checking and rechecking: Rechecking to make sure things are turned off or locked (like the stove, a safe, or flatiron)
Washing and cleaning: Washing surfaces or things repetitively or ritualistically (hand-washing, washing the kitchen counter repeatedly, the bathroom, etc.)
Following a strict routine: Getting angered or anxious if things don’t match a daily or planned routine
Keeping things orderly: Arranging the closet by color and style of shirt, alphabetizing spices, making all of the labels of drinks in the fridge face a certain way.

There is no cure for patients diagnosed with OCD. If left untreated, it can lead to other chronic conditions like depression.

Traditional treatment options consist of antidepressants and cognitive behavioral therapy. Traditional treatment may help alleviate symptoms of OCD, but it could take weeks or months for patients to experience relief.

Ketamine therapy for OCD has been studied and proven to provide patients with faster relief from symptoms than traditional treatment options, leading them to a healthier life.

Does Ketamine Help with OCD?

Ketamine helps treat OCD in conjunction with current treatments. Low doses of ketamine affect the brain’s neurotransmitter, glutamate, which works to reduce symptoms of anxiety, the underlying cause of OCD.

Most patients experience positive effects from one ketamine treatment. The duration of therapeutic effects varies from 1- 6 months. Once you complete the initial series of ketamine infusions, our team at Ketamine Wellness Infusions PA will speak to your physician about your treatment and the progress you achieved. Working together with your provider will benefit your treatment outcomes, and that is our main goal.

Ketamine for OCD is a viable treatment option for patients who have not experienced relief from their symptoms through antidepressants, talk therapy, or other traditional treatment options. Patients who are uncomfortable with taking antidepressants due to fear of becoming dependent on the medication can also benefit from ketamine therapy.

Treat OCD with Ketamine Therapy at Ketamine Wellness Infusions PA

Patients in Philadelphia, Bala Cynwyd, and Doylestown, PA suffering from OCD can find relief through ketamine treatment.

Contact our team of professionals at Ketamine Wellness Infusions, PA. We’ll work with your physician to find the best treatment options to help you live a more fulfilling life. We look forward to helping you achieve better days ahead!

How Does Ketamine Work?

Ketamine is mostly known for its action on the NMDA receptor in the brain, leading to increased activity of a neurotransmitter called glutamate. Increased glutamate levels may enhance one’s mood, decrease anxiety or depression symptoms. Ketamine can decrease the inflammation of the nervous system, as well as stimulate the development of new nerve connections. Frequently reported benefits from our patients are elevated mood, decreased depression and anxiety, improved energy levels, improved coping mechanisms, and others.

Is Ketamine Therapy Right For Me?

Ketamine offers a rapid and robust alternative to traditional medical and psychiatric treatments for pain syndromes and mental health disorders. Intravenous ketamine infusions often succeed where first-line therapies have failed to relieve your symptoms.

Patients who continue to struggle with symptoms caused by anxiety, major depression, postpartum depression, treatment-resistant depression, and bipolar depression often experience improvement within hours of their first ketamine treatment.

Ketamine offers such rapid results that it’s especially beneficial for treating patients with suicidality who can’t wait weeks or months to see if a psychiatric medication might help. Ketamine also offers effective symptom relief for PTSD and OCD.

Contact Us To Learn More