Ketamine for Bipolar Disorder: How Does it Help?

Millions of Americans struggle with bipolar disorder, a serious mental health condition associated with extremely “high” moods (sometimes called mania)  followed at some point by deep “lows” or depressive episodes. 

Once called manic-depressive disorder or manic depression, bipolar disorder can take a huge toll on your life — and while medication and psychotherapy may help some people, others find their symptoms persist, despite these conventional approaches to care.

Fortunately, there’s another treatment that’s been shown to be very effective for people struggling with treatment-resistant symptoms: It’s ketamine therapy, and at  Revival Infusion Madison, Sarah Wilczewski, CRNA, APNP, offers custom infusion treatments to help every patient with bipolar disorder finally find relief.

Bipolar disorder: How ketamine works

Bipolar gains its name from the two “polar opposite” moods it causes — a cycling or “seesaw” between highs and lows that can last for days, weeks, or longer. The goal of bipolar treatment is to help stabilize those extremes and the effects they have on the rest of your life.

Like other moods and emotions, the moods associated with bipolar disorder are controlled by chemicals that, in turn, support nerve function in your brain. When the balance of chemicals is disrupted or “off,” nerve communication is also disrupted, leading to mood symptoms like those associated with bipolar disorder.

Balancing these chemical extremes is typically the focus of treatment, and in most cases, medications are the choice for stabilizing mood-influencing chemicals like serotonin and dopamine. While these chemicals definitely play key roles in mood regulation, they’re not the only chemicals that can be involved in bipolar disorder. 

Ketamine works differently from traditional medications, targeting a different set of neurotransmitters, such as glutamate, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). These chemicals work in different ways to stabilize mood and help prevent the extreme highs and lows associated with bipolar disorder.

Ketamine also helps support nerve “remodeling,” a process called neuroplasticity that helps your brain manage stress and its effects more effectively — and more “normally.” It also helps your brain develop new nerve pathways to help improve and optimize signaling associated with mood regulation.

What to expect during your therapy session

Performed on an outpatient basis, ketamine therapy takes about an hour, and best of all, all you have to do is recline and relax while the infusion does all the work. The ketamine solution is dosed for you specifically and administered via an IV in your arm.

During your session, we monitor you closely for your peace of mind. It’s not uncommon to feel deeply relaxed, euphoric, buoyant, or “floaty” during your session. Once your infusion is complete, it’s also not uncommon to feel drowsy for a couple of hours, which is why you’ll need to arrange to have someone drive you home from your session.

You may experience the benefits of therapy soon after one treatment, while others benefit from a series of treatments based on their symptoms and other factors. Your therapy will be tailored to your needs for optimal outcomes.

Learn more about ketamine therapy

Ketamine infusion therapy can be a safe, effective option for people who haven’t found relief from medication and psychotherapy. To learn more about ketamine infusion and how it could help you, request an appointment online or by phone with the team at Revival Infusion Madison in Fitchburg, Wisconsin, today.