Ketamine for Migraines
Migraines will put a complete stop to everything in your life. According to the American Migraine Foundation, at least 39 million Americans suffer from migraines. The pain associated with migraines can be truly unbearable, and you may not actually find relief through traditional treatments. Ketamine is a fast-acting alternative treatment for chronic refractory migraines. If you’re ready to find a treatment that will let you live your life fully, call San Antonio Ketamine Specialists today at (210)960-6998 to schedule your appointment.
What are migraines?
Essentially, migraines are severe headaches. However, this is a bit reductive. Where you can still live your life through a headache, migraines can make it difficult to think, withstand being in a lit room, or even keep your eyes open. They can be so severe that they have a ripple effect through your whole nervous system, causing side effects like nausea, vomiting, and auras.
What causes Migraines?
We still haven’t determined the exact cause of migraines, but some triggers are constant among migraine sufferers, including:
- Stress
- Medications
- Sensory stimuli
- Physical exertion
- Hormonal changes
- Alcohol consumption
- Temperature changes
- Brain chemistry alterations
- Atmospheric pressure changes
- Specific food additives and preservatives
What are the symptoms of migraines?
Migraines generally develop in childhood or adolescence and continue through adulthood. There are four recognized stages of migraines, but experiencing each stage is not necessarily a requirement for diagnosis.
- Prodrome phase: This will generally start 1-2 days before a migraine. During this phase, you may experience cravings, mood swings, muscle tension, and thirst.
- Aura phase: You may experience the aura phase right before a migraine when the nervous system is overwhelmed. Symptoms of this phase include difficulty speaking, tingling sensations, visual distortions, and temporary vision loss.
- Attack Phase: The attack phase is generally the most severe phase of a migraine. It can last anywhere from hours to days and usually includes light and noise sensitivity, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and extreme pain.
- Postdrome phase: This is the final phase of a migraine and is characterized by mood shifts, lethargy, muscle pain, and weakness.
If you believe you’re experiencing migraines, we urge you to seek professional help for an accurate diagnosis.
Can ketamine treat migraines?
Yes. Ketamine is proving useful in addressing treatment-resistant migraines. In fact, ketamine is often used in emergency departments to treat severe pain and migraines.
How does ketamine therapy work for migraines?
The research about how ketamine works to treat migraines is ongoing, but we believe that it acts as an inhibitor to the neural pathways that are generally responsible for migraines.
What should I expect from ketamine for migraines at San Antonio Ketamine Specialists?
At San Antonio Ketamine Specialists, we work hard to provide you with a calming environment so that you can get the most out of your treatment, especially if you show up to the clinic with a migraine. You will be led to your own private room where you will receive a sub-anesthetic dose of ketamine through an IV. During your infusion, you may feel disassociated and experience changes in perception. Some people also report feeling nauseated after the infusion. These side effects should subside quickly following the end of your infusion. You can expect your infusion to last 45-60 minutes with a 30-minute recovery time.
The entire time you are in our clinic, you will be monitored for your safety and comfort.
If you’re ready to see if ketamine infusions are the solution you’ve been looking for, call San Antonio Ketamine Specialists today at (210)960-6998.