IV Ketamine for Chronic Pain

A New Pain Relief: IV Ketamine for Chronic Pain

20% of adults experience chronic pain, and 7% experience high-impact chronic pain. Patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) experience chronic pain at rates of 70% (and high-impact chronic pain up to 40%). Opioids have proven dangerous for many with chronic pain, leaving few other options for those without surgical options. Ketamine has become a groundbreaking option for thousands of patients suffering with chronic pain. Learn how Clarus Health is different than traditional ketamine clinics.

What is Ketamine Therapy?

Ketamine is an incredibly safe medication used for 50+ years in children and adults for anesthesia. Ketamine blocks a critical receptor in the brain called the NMDA receptor, thereby modulating the activity of glutamate, an important neurotransmitter in the brain. This allows glutamate to act on other receptors, such as the AMPA receptor, and to stimulate a vital protein called mTOR to catalyze neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity, or "re-wiring" allows for new insights and realizations in the root cause of our pain and suffering, using just a handful of treatments. This is fundamentally different than traditional medications that modulate serotonin and norepinephrine.

What Conditions Does IV Ketamine Help?

IV Ketamine can provide profound relief to many conditions, including:

• ‍Chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and migraines
• Depression, anxiety, and PTSD‍
• Chronic fatigue‍
• PMS and PMDD
• Postpartum depression
• Addiction (with addiction specialist collaboration)
• OCD
• Cognitive deficits associated with the above

Is IV Ketamine Therapy Safe?

Ketamine is remarkably safe, and the IV form of ketamine is the safest when working with a specialized doctor. Like all therapies, there are uncommon side effects with IV Ketamine, but they tend to be minimal because so few IV Ketamine treatments are needed given how effective the IV is compared to lozenges and nasal sprays.

How Does IV Ketamine Help Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain has several forms, all of which may be responsive to IV Ketamine therapy:

• Nociceptive pain: pain deriving from tissue injury (skin, muscles, soft tissue, etc.) - often described as sharp, throbbing, or aching
• Neuropathic pain: pain from direct nerve injury (eg diabetic neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia (nerve pain after shingles), and phantom limb pain) - often described as burning, stabbing, tingling, or numbness
• Nociplastic pain: pain resulting from a dysfunctional or exaggerated neurologic response, even in the absence of clear tissue damage or disease (eg fibromyalgia, complex regional pain syndrome, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic low-back pain, and irritable bowel syndrome) - difficult to describe, but often persistent, widespread, and difficult to pinpoint to a specific cause

Central sensitization is a complex phenomenon where the brain becomes hypersensitive to pain signals, even when there's no underlying tissue damage. IV Ketamine appears to reduce pain in several ways:

• Dampening pain amplification from dysregulation nerve transmission
• Reversal of central sensitization by blocking NMDA receptor

Personalized Protocols are Key to Chronic Pain Relief with Ketamine

Chronic pain is a complex experience that requires a deep understanding of past treatments and the quality of your pain. Dr. Kaveh has a 1-hour intake session with every patient to design a protocol specifical to your pain condition. This protocol may include:

• A Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB)
• NAD+ therapy
• IV vitamins and minerals
• IV lidocaine
• A higher or lower number of sessions and hours per session

IV Ketamine Versus Lozenges and Nasal Sprays

The doses of ketamine needed to relieve chronic pain are typically much higher than doses used for mental health conditions. Ketamine cannot safely be administered orally or intranasally in doses needed to relieve chronic pain. This is because ketamine is not well absorbed from lozenges and nasal spray.

What Does IV Ketamine Feel Like?

You can watch a video of one of our patients describing his healing experience with IV Ketamine. Unlike traditional antidepressants, ketamine produces an altered state of consciousness as part of its healing. The mind state often feels like a dream, with patients experiencing lightness, levity, memories of the past, or any other number of sensations. You may also feel slightly disconnected from your body or surroundings. These effects are all temporary resolve shortly after the infusion ends.

IV sessions for chronic pain tend to last 1-4 hours, with your doctor supervising you the entire time. The vast majority of patients prefer privacy during their session and enjoy our private rooms with personalized music, scents, and visuals. The effects of IV Ketamine take 5-10 minutes to be experienced after starting the infusion.

How is Clarus Health Different from Other IV Ketamine Clinics?

Clarus Health is unique among IV Ketamine clinics for its emphasis on holistic and lasting symptom relief:

• Dr. Kaveh is a Stanford and Harvard trained, international authority on IV Ketamine and Stellate Ganglion Blocks, with over 1 million followers across social media
• Dr. Shrestha is a Stanford trained emergency room physician with a decade of experience using IV Ketamine
• Clarus Health publishes its findings to contribute to the medical community's knowledge of ketamine and SGB therapies
• Clarus Health successfully treats enough patients to provide training opportunities for therapists
• Dr. Kaveh is a BR+ certified provider for NAD therapy
• An anesthesiologist or emergency room physician is always present for every infusion
• Patient protocols are not "one-size-fits-all" and are customized to your needs
• Clarus Health has a strong network of psychiatrists, therapists and integration specialists to provide maximal benefit from the IV Ketamine experience

How do I Start my IV Ketamine Journey?

1. Speak with a member of our team to learn if you are a candidate for IV Ketamine therapy
2. Consult with Dr. Kaveh for a 1-hour preparation session to discuss your medical history, your expectations and treatment goals, and give you the tools to make the most of your IV Ketamine experience
3. Start your IV Ketamine series (6 sessions over 4-6 weeks, on average) in our comfortable, private treatment rooms with continuous doctor supervision
4. Meet with a member of our team after your sessions to review progress and discuss next steps
5. Some patients receive a "booster" infusion after several months (3-12 months) to maintain their peak mood and health

Our IV Ketamine treatment protocol is customized to every patient's needs. the greater you can benefit from Ketamine's therapeutic effects. It's important to have a dedicated preparation session with your doctor to review your medical history and individualize your treatment plan.

Speak with Clarus Health to Start Your Healing Journey

The decision to pursue IV Ketamine therapy depends on many factors, including the holistic benefits of treating your mental health. You deserve to learn your treatment options for safe and rapid results. You should always speak with your doctors to learn about the risks and benefits of IV Ketamine therapy so you can make an informed decision. Contact Clarus Health to learn about your treatment options.

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