Reset Ketamine: An innovative treatment for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain comes to the desert.
Millions of Americans battle mental and physical maladies everyday. Unfortunately, some are still not finding adequate relief even with traditional treatment methods such as psychotherapy or prescription drugs. Fortunately, there are an increasing number of studies showing that low-dose, intravenous infusions of ketamine may be effective in easing depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and migraines. Ketamine is an FDA-approved anesthetic used in emergency rooms and hospitals since the 1960s, and is on the World Health Organization’s “List of Essential Medicines.”
Accordingly, Samuel Ko, MD, FACEP—a board-certified emergency physician and assistant professor at Loma Linda University—has opened Reset Ketamine, the first such clinic in the desert. “I’ve been utilizing ketamine in the emergency department for the past decade,” he says. “Some patients would share vivid dreams they experienced during the procedural sedation and have an improved mood. I became curious, and read research articles that showed it was rapidly effective in treating depression. I started the clinic to provide that type of healing.”
How does ketamine work? According to Reset Ketamine’s website, “The exact mechanism of how ketamine works in depression, anxiety, and chronic pain is not fully known. However, scientific study is showing ketamine improves the health of the neurons (brain cells) by increasing the connection between the neurons and improving the brain’s ability to adapt (AKA neuroplasticity). Ketamine also seems to change the way the central nervous system processes pain, so it’s like hitting the reset button on your computer, to restore normal pain processing.” Hence “reset” in the clinic’s name.
Dr. Ko carefully screens and assesses potential patients. Once found to be appropriate candidates, they will undertake the suggested course of six closely monitored intravenous infusions administered over a two- to three-week period. Research has shown improvement in 70-80% of patients, with alleviation of symptoms occurring within a few hours to a few days, and lasting weeks or months following the full six infusion treatment.
Dr. Ko says, “The remarkable improvements that I’ve seen in my patients inspire me daily to do this work and share the potential for transformational healing.” Individuals who are not finding relief with the standard treatment and are open to innovative methods may find the “reset” they need at Reset Ketamine in Palm Springs.