Understanding Ketamine Therapy: Why Do I Need Maintenance Treatments?

Unlike daily medications, ketamine is not taken regularly. Instead, it offers long-lasting benefits even after the medication has left your system. This is why maintenance infusions, rather than daily or weekly use, are often recommended.

Phase 1: Stabilization: Many patients seeking ketamine therapy have endured years of ineffective treatments and debilitating symptoms. The initial phase of treatment, known as “stabilization,” aims to provide immediate relief from severe symptoms. This typically involves a series of six ketamine infusions over a condensed timeframe, usually spanning two to four weeks. Stabilization does not cure the underlying condition, but it offers stability, reducing the weight of symptoms and improving overall quality of life.

Phase 2: Maintenance: Following the stabilization phase, patients often experience notable improvements. However, these positive changes may not last indefinitely without a long-term strategy. Maintenance treatments serve as “tune-ups” for the brain, ensuring the enduring benefits of ketamine therapy. Unlike many daily medications, ketamine doesn’t require a rigid schedule, but regular maintenance treatments are crucial to sustaining wellness. The frequency of these treatments varies based on individual needs, ranging from monthly to yearly.

Wellness: Sustaining wellness through holistic approaches that incorporate talk therapy, meditation and exercise, support networks, and coping skills, alongside occasional ketamine infusions, can provide a comprehensive strategy for continued healing across all aspects of life.