Postpartum
Depression

Ketamine Wellness Infusions

Ketamine Treatment for Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression causes severe mood swings, a sense of hopelessness, and exhaustion. Unlike the “baby blues,” its symptoms affect patients for a longer period.

Postpartum depression is typically treated with antidepressants and psychotherapy. In recent years, ketamine therapy has also helped alleviate symptoms within 1 to 2 treatments.

Ketamine Wellness Infusions PA offers ketamine treatment for those in Philadelphia and surrounding areas suffering from postpartum depression and other major depressive disorders. Continue reading to learn more about postpartum depression and how ketamine therapy alleviates symptoms.

What is Postpartum Depression 

Postpartum depression is a long-lasting, severe form of depression that continues for a year or more after childbirth. It affects around 10-20% of new mothers. 10% of new fathers also experience depression in the postpartum period.

Patients sometimes mistake initial indicators of postpartum depression for “baby blues”, but prolonged symptoms and the inability to care for themselves and their babies are key factors that indicate a more depressive episode.

Symptoms 

Symptoms and their onset vary in patients diagnosed with postpartum depression. Some may experience symptoms during pregnancy, others may notice them a few weeks or up to a year after giving birth.

If you’ve been diagnosed, chances are you’re familiar with the following indicators:

  • Excessive sadness and crying.
  • The inability to sleep, or sleeping too much.
  • Exhaustion.
  • Eating too much, or not at all.
  • Aches, pains, and unexplainable illnesses.
  • Irritability, anxiousness, and anger.
  • Mood swings.
  • Loss of control.
  • Trouble remembering things.
  • Inability to concentrate or make small decisions.
  • Loss of interest in things you once enjoyed.
  • Feeling disconnected from your baby and lacking the joy you thought would come with childbirth.
  • Feelings of hopelessness or being overwhelmed.
  • Feeling worthless and guilty about your feelings.
  • Fear of being a bad mother or someone taking your baby.
  • Longing for escape.
  • Intrusive thoughts about hurting your baby or yourself.

How is it Treated? 

Psychotherapy, antidepressants, and ketamine therapy are ways patients cope with postpartum depression. Doctors may prescribe one, two, or a mix of treatments to help alleviate symptoms.

Both interpersonal and cognitive-behavioral therapy have helped patients with this type of depressive disorder. These forms of psychotherapy allow patients to find ways to deal with their feelings and improve interpersonal relationships. Psychotherapy helps patients respond positively to triggering situations and set realistic goals to navigate depressive episodes.

Antidepressants work by affecting neurotransmitters in the brain. They take weeks and sometimes months to be fully effective and alleviate symptoms of depression.

Ketamine therapy also works by affecting neurotransmitters in the brain. However, unlike antidepressants and psychotherapy, patients will experience results more quickly. Some may feel their symptoms lift within 1 to 2 treatments.

Benefits of Ketamine Therapy for Postpartum Depression

Ketamine has been safely used as an anesthetic during surgical procedures. In small doses, it has been used to treat forms of depression. Ketamine can quickly reduce the effects of postpartum depression because it balances a brain chemical called glutamate. It also helps a patient’s regenerative nerve connections.

Ketamine therapy for postpartum depression is an ideal alternative to conventional treatments.

The benefits of ketamine therapy are rapid symptom relief, high success rates, and minimal to no risk of effects on the baby.

Therapeutic effects of ketamine vary from 1- 6 months. Once you complete the initial series of infusions our team at Ketamine Wellness Infusions PA will speak to your physician about your treatment and the progress. Collaborating with your provider will benefit your treatment outcomes, which is our main goal!

Schedule Your Consultation Today

Ketamine Wellness Infusions PA offers postpartum depression treatment in Philadelphia and surrounding areas. We are a team of caring professionals providing comprehensive and personalized care for major depressive disorders.

Contact us to learn how ketamine therapy can help provide relief to postpartum depression. Our number one goal is to improve your quality of life.

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

Schedule a Consultation