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At Ketamine Haven Clinic, we proudly offer Ketamine Therapy near Thousand Oaks, CA, as a groundbreaking treatment for mental health challenges and chronic pain management. Our experienced team is dedicated to providing personalized care, using this innovative therapy to help you achieve lasting relief and improved well-being. Whether you’re dealing with depression, anxiety, PTSD, or chronic pain, Ketamine Therapy in Thousand Oaks, CA, at our clinic offers a new path to healing and a brighter future.
Ketamine is an FDA-approved anesthetic that has been safely used in medical settings for decades. More recently, it has gained recognition for its off-label use in treating mood disorders and chronic pain. Unlike conventional medications, which can take weeks to show effects, Ketamine therapy often works rapidly, offering relief within hours or days of treatment. This makes it a valuable option for individuals who have not responded to traditional therapies.
Ketamine therapy has emerged as a promising treatment for mood disorders like depression and PTSD, especially for individuals who haven’t responded well to traditional therapies. The science behind how ketamine works in treating these conditions is fascinating and revolves around its unique effects on the brain.
Ketamine primarily affects the brain by interacting with a neurotransmitter called glutamate. Glutamate is the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain and plays a key role in learning, memory, and mood regulation. Unlike most traditional antidepressants that work on serotonin or norepinephrine systems, ketamine targets the glutamate system.
Specifically, ketamine blocks a receptor known as the NMDA receptor, which is a type of glutamate receptor. By blocking this receptor, ketamine causes a surge in the release of glutamate. This increase in glutamate activates another set of receptors called AMPA receptors, leading to a cascade of events that enhances synaptic connections between neurons. This process is thought to be crucial for improving mood and cognitive function, essentially “rewiring” the brain in a way that promotes resilience against depression and PTSD.
One of the most significant effects of ketamine therapy is its ability to promote synaptogenesis, which is the formation of new synaptic connections in the brain. Depression and PTSD are often associated with a loss of synaptic connections in areas of the brain responsible for mood and emotion regulation, such as the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus.
Ketamine helps reverse this loss by promoting the growth of new synapses. This process, known as neural plasticity, allows the brain to adapt and reorganize itself. Increased neural plasticity can lead to improvements in mood, cognition, and overall mental health, as the brain becomes more capable of processing emotions and experiences in a healthier way.
One of the most remarkable aspects of ketamine therapy is how quickly it works compared to traditional antidepressants. While typical antidepressants can take weeks to show effects, ketamine often provides relief within hours to days. This rapid action is particularly beneficial for individuals experiencing severe depression or suicidal thoughts.
Moreover, the effects of a single ketamine infusion can last for several days or even weeks, providing sustained relief from symptoms. Repeated sessions can help maintain these positive effects over the long term.
Recent research suggests that inflammation in the brain may play a role in mood disorders like depression and PTSD. Ketamine has been shown to reduce inflammation by modulating immune system activity. By lowering inflammation, ketamine may further contribute to its antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects, helping to restore balance in the brain.
In addition to its neurobiological effects, ketamine can induce a dissociative state, where patients feel detached from their body or environment. While this might sound unsettling, it can actually be therapeutic. This altered state of consciousness allows individuals to view their thoughts and feelings from a different perspective, often leading to new insights and a sense of relief from the emotional weight of their condition.
For individuals with depression or PTSD, negative thought patterns and intrusive memories can be overwhelming. Ketamine therapy is believed to disrupt these patterns by temporarily “resetting” the brain’s normal processing of these thoughts, making them less distressing and easier to manage. This can help break the cycle of negative thinking and contribute to long-term recovery.
Ketamine therapy is administered in a controlled clinical setting, where patients are carefully monitored by healthcare professionals. This ensures that the treatment is safe and tailored to each individual’s needs, maximizing the therapeutic benefits while minimizing potential side effects.
Ketamine has gained recognition not only as a treatment for mood disorders but also as an effective option for managing chronic pain. Its use in pain management is based on a unique set of mechanisms that differ from traditional painkillers like opioids. Here’s a detailed but easy-to-understand explanation of how ketamine helps in pain management.
The core mechanism by which ketamine manages pain is its ability to block the NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors in the brain and spinal cord. These receptors are involved in transmitting pain signals and are known to play a key role in a process called “central sensitization.” Central sensitization occurs when the nervous system becomes overly sensitive to stimuli, leading to chronic pain conditions where even non-painful stimuli can cause pain.
By blocking NMDA receptors, ketamine interrupts the transmission of pain signals and helps reduce central sensitization. This means that ketamine can decrease the intensity of pain and make the nervous system less reactive to pain stimuli, providing relief to patients suffering from chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), and neuropathic pain.
Hyperalgesia is a condition where a person experiences heightened sensitivity to pain. This often happens due to prolonged use of opioids, which can paradoxically make the pain worse over time. Ketamine has the ability to “reset” this heightened pain sensitivity by modulating the neural circuits involved in pain perception. This resetting effect helps patients regain a more normal pain threshold, reducing the intensity of pain without the need for escalating doses of opioids.
Chronic pain is often associated with inflammation, which can exacerbate pain symptoms. Ketamine has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, helping to reduce inflammation in the nervous system. By lowering inflammation, ketamine contributes to pain relief, particularly in conditions where inflammation plays a significant role, such as arthritis or certain types of neuropathic pain.
The “wind-up” phenomenon refers to the progressive increase in pain intensity with repeated stimulation of peripheral nerves. This is another aspect of central sensitization, where the nervous system becomes more and more reactive to pain stimuli over time. Ketamine can reduce or even prevent the wind-up phenomenon by dampening the activity of the NMDA receptors. This effect is crucial for managing chronic pain, as it helps prevent the nervous system from becoming over-sensitized and amplifying pain signals.
Just as in mood disorders, ketamine’s ability to enhance neuroplasticity— the brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections—also plays a role in pain management. Chronic pain often involves maladaptive changes in the brain’s pain pathways, where the brain “learns” to feel pain even in the absence of physical damage. Ketamine therapy helps promote positive neuroplastic changes, effectively “unlearning” these pain pathways and reducing the experience of pain.
One of the most significant advantages of ketamine in pain management is its ability to reduce the need for opioids. Opioids are commonly used to treat chronic pain, but they come with serious risks, including addiction, tolerance, and overdose. Ketamine provides an alternative pathway to pain relief that can reduce or eliminate the need for opioids. This not only helps manage pain more effectively but also lowers the risks associated with long-term opioid use.
The sympathetic nervous system, which controls the body’s “fight or flight” response, is often hyperactive in chronic pain conditions. This hyperactivity can contribute to pain by increasing tension in muscles and making the body more sensitive to pain signals. Ketamine can modulate the activity of the sympathetic nervous system, helping to reduce pain by calming this overactive response.
Chronic pain is not only a physical experience but also a psychological one. The distress and anxiety that often accompany chronic pain can amplify the perception of pain, creating a vicious cycle. Ketamine, through its dissociative effects, can alter the way the brain perceives pain, making it feel less intense and more manageable. This psychological shift can be crucial in helping patients break the cycle of chronic pain.
Ketamine is particularly valuable for patients with refractory pain conditions—cases where conventional pain treatments have failed. Its unique mechanisms of action make it effective in situations where other pain medications are ineffective, offering new hope for patients who have exhausted other options.
Ketamine therapy is gaining recognition as a potent treatment option for various mental health disorders, presenting a new avenue of hope for those who have not achieved relief through conventional methods. However, determining the suitability of ketamine therapy is essential, as it may not be appropriate for everyone. Understanding the criteria for eligibility is key to assessing its potential effectiveness.
Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD):
Individuals who have undergone multiple treatments with antidepressants or other therapies without achieving significant improvement may find ketamine therapy beneficial. For these patients, ketamine often represents a significant advancement in managing their depressive symptoms.
Anxiety Disorders:
Those suffering from severe anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder, or panic disorder, may be candidates for ketamine therapy. This treatment can offer rapid alleviation of intense anxiety symptoms.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):
Individuals, including veterans and trauma survivors, who suffer from PTSD and have not responded to traditional treatments, may experience a reduction in symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety through ketamine therapy.
Chronic Pain:
Patients with chronic pain conditions, like fibromyalgia or complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), may also be considered for ketamine therapy. Its analgesic effects can provide relief from persistent pain when other treatments have been ineffective.
Bipolar Disorder:
Ketamine therapy may benefit certain patients with bipolar disorder, particularly those experiencing depressive episodes. Each case should be evaluated individually to balance the potential benefits with the associated risks.
Suicidal Ideation:
Ketamine has demonstrated rapid anti-suicidal effects in individuals experiencing severe suicidal thoughts. For those at high risk of suicide who have not responded to other interventions, ketamine therapy may be life-saving.
Substance Abuse:
For individuals struggling with substance abuse, ketamine therapy may help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, particularly in cases where traditional addiction treatments have been unsuccessful.
Medical Evaluation:
A comprehensive medical and psychiatric evaluation is crucial to determine the appropriateness of ketamine therapy. This process helps identify any contraindications or potential risks associated with the treatment.
History of Substance Abuse:
Patients with a history of substance abuse require careful consideration. While the risk of addiction to ketamine is low in a controlled clinical environment, past substance abuse must be taken into account when determining eligibility.
Current Medications:
The patient’s current medications should be reviewed to prevent adverse interactions. In some cases, adjustments or discontinuation of certain medications may be necessary before commencing ketamine therapy.
Overall Health:
The patient’s general health and any underlying medical conditions are critical factors in determining suitability. Patients with specific cardiovascular or respiratory conditions may not be ideal candidates for this therapy.
“Take the first step toward a brighter future with Ketamine Therapy in Thousand Oaks, CA. Don’t let another day go by without exploring this life-changing treatment. Contact us today to schedule your consultation and begin your journey to renewed hope and well-being.”
Is Ketamine Safe?
Yes, Ketamine has an extensive safety profile and is used commonly in hospitals and clinics. It preserves the patient’s vital signs and is exceptionally safe when administered by certified anesthesia providers such as anesthesiologists.
Does insurance cover the treatment?
Currently, most insurances do not cover Ketamine as a treatment option for depression or chronic pain. However, if you request, we will provide you with documentation for treatment so that you may attempt to get reimbursed.
How many Ketamine infusion treatments do work for you?
The typical treatment plan includes 5-6 infusions over three weeks. After that, further maintenance treatments on a weekly or monthly basis are as-needed. However, most patients need maintenance infusion approximately every 4-5 weeks.
What medical conditions can prevent a patient from receiving Ketamine treatment?
Ketamine is beneficial for many people, even with serious illnesses. But like any medical procedure, some contraindications and conditions prevent the patients from having it.
These conditions would be:
Should you stop your other medications?
Dr. Borna will discuss your medications with you in the free consultation session and plan any adjustments if needed. For example, for some medications, you might need to reduce the doses before having Ketamine treatment to achieve the best result.
To get from Thousand Oaks, CA, to Ketamine Haven in Tarzana, CA, here are the directions:
Start by getting on US-101 S from Thousand Oaks:
Continue on US-101 S:
Take exit 25 for Reseda Blvd toward Reseda/Tarzana.
Turn right onto Reseda Blvd and continue for about 1.2 miles.
Turn left onto Ventura Blvd.
Continue on Ventura Blvd for about 0.5 miles.
Arrive at Ketamine Haven, which should be on the right side of Ventura Blvd in Tarzana, CA.
The entire trip should take approximately 30-40 minutes, depending on traffic conditions.
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Our Location
18321 Ventura Blvd Suite#815
Tarzana, CA 91356
Ketamine Haven Clinic is dedicated to offering advanced mental health treatments with a focus on ketamine therapy. Our expert team provides compassionate, personalized care to help individuals overcome depression, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain. We are committed to innovative, holistic approaches that empower our patients to achieve lasting wellness and improved quality of life.
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