Anyone who suffers from migraines will tell you that it is a debilitating condition, lasting anywhere from a few hours to several days.
Those who suffer the most from migraines are usually those who have the toughest time finding an effective treatment. However, over the past decade or so, research has pointed to ketamine treatment as an effective tool in treating migraines. Migraines and ketamine might just be a combination that finally offers some relief for chronic sufferers.
Migraines and Ketamine
Migraines can upend one’s life. The debilitating headaches that are a hallmark of this disorder can be accompanied by vomiting and light sensitivity. Many sufferers also experience an aura, which can appear as wavy lines or tunnel vision, in addition to other symptoms, just before an attack. However, some symptoms, like bloating, changes in appetite, sensitivity to light and sound, or mood changes, can begin days before.
Unfortunately, relief has proven difficult to find for many migraine sufferers, with no known cure yet developed. However, migraines have been the subject of many studies over recent years, with ketamine treatment showing signs of effectiveness against migraines.
Ketamine Treatment for Migraines
Beginning in the 1970s, ketamine has traditionally been used as anesthesia. Since then, doctors have found many secondary uses for it, including ketamine treatment for depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. In recent years, ketamine’s effectiveness in treating the symptoms of migraines has also become more well known.
Ketamine treatment can be applied in many different ways, including intravenously, orally, or intranasally. A 2013 study showed that intranasal ketamine showed significant success in reducing the severity of migraines and their accompanying aura. Attacks were reduced by three hours for those participants using ketamine. Another report by the British Journal of Pharmacology showed that patients received quick, effective, and lasting relief from chronic pain using IV ketamine treatment.
If you’re suffering from migraines and think ketamine might be a good fit for you, the first step is scheduling an evaluation. Relief from migraine attacks could be just a life-changing appointment away.
At Vitalitas Denver, we want to help relieve pain of any kind. Don’t wait for major life events—prioritize your mental well-being today.
