Warning: Risks of Unsupervised Ketamine Therapy - Tips for Healthy Administration - Health

Concerns Over Unsupervised Ketamine Therapy

Ketamine, a drug primarily known as an anesthetic, has gained popularity in recent years for its effectiveness in treating severe depression. However, concerns have been raised about the unsupervised administration of this powerful drug. Dr. Marc Siegel, a medical contributor to Fox News, has warned about the dangers of distributing ketamine to patients who can then self-administer the drug without proper supervision. While ketamine has shown promise in breaking the cycle of severe depression, the method of delivery is crucial in ensuring patient safety.

Ketamine was initially approved for use as an anesthetic in the U.S. in the 1970s, Siegel said.

In a study conducted by the University of Michigan, it was found that nearly half of patients with severe or treatment-resistant depression experienced a significant drop in depression scores after six weeks of ketamine infusions. This highlights the potential benefits of ketamine therapy when administered under proper medical supervision. However, the ease with which some clinics are offering mail-order ketamine therapy, without adequate monitoring, raises serious concerns among experts in the field.

Warnings Against Mail-Order Ketamine Therapy

The American Society of Physicians, Psychotherapists, and Practitioners (ASKP3) has issued a warning about the rise of mail-order ketamine therapy. Concerns have been raised about clinics that are now offering ketamine as an injectable drug for at-home use. Despite being legal, unsupervised administration of ketamine can pose significant risks to patients, including the potential for misuse, abuse, and diversion. Doctors emphasize that self-administering ketamine without proper medical oversight is a recipe for disaster.

Evidence suggests that ketamine is on the rise both recreationally and medicinally.

The tragic death of Matthew Perry, who overdosed on ketamine, has brought attention to the dangers of unsupervised ketamine therapy. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expressed concerns about the use of ketamine for psychiatric disorders without proper monitoring. While some clinics claim positive outcomes from at-home ketamine therapy, experts warn of the potential risks associated with this practice.

Risks of Unsupervised Ketamine Injections

The availability of mail-order ketamine therapy kits, which include syringes and vials of ketamine for self-administration, has raised alarm bells among medical professionals. The American Society of Physicians, Psychotherapists, and Practitioners (ASKP3) has highlighted the substantial risks associated with sending ketamine to patients for home use without adequate supervision. Injections of ketamine without proper monitoring can lead to painful sterile abscesses and other serious complications.

DailyMail.com revealed the ease with which customers can access the sedative, which is sometimes abused as a street drug, after a reporter signed up to an online supply within minutes.

While some online clinics offer at-home ketamine therapy at a lower cost, experts caution against the potential dangers of self-administering this powerful drug. The lack of regulation surrounding the administration of ketamine treatments raises concerns about patient safety and underscores the need for proper medical oversight in the use of ketamine for mental health disorders.