Call Now (435)263-0267
Dr. Nathan Kartchner, MD
Matias Quintanilla, FNP
Bridget Quintanilla, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC
%20(8_5%20%C3%97%2011%20in)%20(11%20%C3%97%208_5%20in)%20(1).png)
Ketamine Cedar City Infusion Clinic offers ketamine infusion therapy for treatment resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD, complex regional pain syndrome and other conditions. We take great pride in providing our community with this potentially life altering therapy. Our staff of highly skilled medical professionals are trained specifically in Ketamine Infusion Therapy as well as Ketamine Assisted Therapy (KAP). Contact us if you have any questions or to set up a consultation appointment
**Some insurance benefits available. Financing available for patients without insurance options
What Is Ketamine?
Ketamine is not a new drug. It has been used for five decades in human and veterinarian medicine. Ketamine is an anesthetic drug that was introduced into clinical practice in 1970. At anesthetic doses, it results in a complete loss of consciousness while preserving certain protective reflexes. That has made it attractive to anesthesiologists in selective patients. While it does stimulate opiate receptors, much like morphine, its NMDA receptor antagonism at subanesthetic doses is thought to be much more important in the treatment of chronic pain and psychiatric disorders. Blocking the NMDA receptor and preventing the passage of ions through the channel interrupts pain signal transduction, giving central pain centers a chance to “reboot”. This often requires that a patient undergo a series of low dose ketamine infusions for dramatic or complete elimination of their symptoms. Ketamine infusions have been most often used when other treatment modalities have failed. Certain types of pain considered to be “neuropathic” in origin have been most studied and are considered to be most responsive to ketamine therapy.
About
Ketamine can be an alternative to psychiatric medications, or be used to minimize or simplify medication regimens. The patient’s experience with an intravenous medication used in psychiatry relies not only on the chemical composition of the compound, but also is affected by the experience and skill of the clinician administering it. Believing that much of that suffering was unnecessary, more clinicians are turning to Ketamine treatment as an alternative to other treatments and medications because of the success they've seen, when administered correctly. Since administering nearly 5000 IV ketamine infusions as of summer 2020, they repeatedly saw patients’ symptoms rapidly improve with the use of ketamine after other treatment modalities failed to bring relief.
Treatment for Severe Depression and Anxiety
It’s not entirely clear how Ketamine works. Because it exerts an antidepressant effect through a new mechanism, Ketamine may be able to help people successfully manage depression when other treatments have not worked. One likely target for Ketamine is NMDA receptors in the brain. By binding to these receptors, Ketamine appears to increase the amount of a neurotransmitter called glutamate in the spaces between neurons. Glutamate then activates connections in another receptor, called the AMPA receptor. Together, the initial blockade of NMDA receptors and activation of AMPA receptors lead to the release of other molecules that help neurons communicate with each other along new pathways. Known as synaptogenesis, this process likely affects mood, thought patterns, and cognition.
What the Ketamine Infusion Treatment Looks Like...
​
It is clear through the research that while Ketamine could very well be the answer in seeking relief for debilitating depression and anxiety, finding the right clinician to assist you in this therapy is incredibly important. Ketamine should only be given by a skilled physician specifically trained in this form of treatment. Dr. Kartchner takes immense care and preparation in evaluating each and every patient... individually... to see if they would be a good candidate. Once evaluated and if found to be a good candidate, the patient would come to Cedar City Health and Wellness with highly skilled clinicians who will monitor the patient during their treatments. However, what truly sets us apart, and what will give our patients the best chance for success in achieving true brain health, is the fact that we see Ketamine as a tool, not the only solution. We use Ketamine in conjunction with other tools and resources that will provide the patient with the skills to be self sufficient, healthy, and whole. Total brain health is a process, it often times requires a change in life style. Ketamine may not be the right fit for some patients and for those situations, we are prepared to provide what we feel, as a skilled professional team, what other options are available to give them their individualized treatment plan. Every single patient that walks through our door is unique...their treatment should reflect that.
The Research
