CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — Ketamine infusions offer hope and healing for many people living with depression and other mental health disorders. In Southern Utah, the award-winning Desert Sands Ketamine Treatment Center stands at the forefront of this cutting-edge therapy.

Dr. Eric Evans, a native of the St. George area, created Desert Sands Ketamine to provide the community with a new treatment option. Many of the clinic’s patients have already tried the pharmaceutical approach without success.

“Ketamine has been nothing short of miraculous for a lot of patients in our clinic,” he said. “With ketamine, people can wake up in the morning and joy is a possibility for them again.”

How ketamine works 

Ketamine therapy targets the amygdala, the area of the brain responsible for processing moods and emotions in the conscious mind. While most prescription antidepressants focus on boosting serotonin and dopamine levels, ketamine instead elevates a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Evans highlighted ongoing research at Yale University indicating that depression and other mood disorders are caused by a shortage of this protein.

Ketamine lays the foundation to reshape detrimental thought and behavior patterns. The drug is administered intravenously, a process that usually takes about 40 minutes. During that time, the patient enters a dream-like state of altered reality. Evans said people often describe a feeling of being in touch with their inner self and the ability to gain powerful insight into deeply rooted emotional issues.

Quick relief, lasting results

Offering long-term improvement with virtually no side effects other than potential nausea and headache during the infusion, Evans said ketamine is a “wonder drug” for patients struggling with depression, anxiety, PTSD and more. Clinical trials found ketamine to be effective in approximately 70% of people with treatment-resistant depression, a significantly higher success rate than traditional medications and counseling (around 40% to 45%).

 “I feel like ketamine is definitely the best depression treatment out there at this point,” Evans said. “It has so many benefits compared to traditional treatments and very little downside. And the upside can be pretty miraculous.”

While some people experience a boost in mood after their first session, Desert Sands Ketamine usually administers four to six infusions over a span of two or three weeks. If the patient is responding well, they’ll enter the “maintenance phase” and only return to the clinic as often as necessary to stay on the right track. That might mean an infusion every month, every six weeks or every other month, Evans said, adding that every patient is different.

Experience the Desert Sands’ difference

Unlike many providers of ketamine therapy, Desert Sands Ketamine is a physician-driven practice. Evans is a board-certified anesthesiologist with more than 25 years of experience administering ketamine in both surgical and clinical settings.

At Desert Sands Ketamine, every patient’s experience begins with a free consultation to discuss their issues and determine if ketamine therapy may be right for them. Evans said many patients come to the clinic with a complex array of issues that require multiple medications, including antidepressants. That’s why every patient receives one-on-one attention and monitoring from a physician. 

The gold standard of ketamine therapy

Patients shouldn’t trust just any ketamine provider with their therapy, however. Desert Sands Ketamine is recognized as the Best of Southern Utah, having won silver in the behavioral/mental health treatment category for 2022 and gold in alternative therapies last year. The clinic offers a comfortable, spa-like healing atmosphere with compassionate staff who are dedicated to helping patients achieve the best results possible.

Every patient comes to the clinic with a unique story and set of issues they’re struggling to navigate, Evans said. As such, Desert Sands Ketamine employs a multifaceted approach to mental health by providing support systems designed to improve all aspects of well-being, including dietary guidance, meditation, massage therapy, relationship counseling and talk therapy.

“We’ve studied ketamine clinics around the country and spared no expense in setting up an environment conducive for success,” Evans said. “Our goal is to help you get back to living a passionate, rewarding and productive life as quickly as possible.”

For more information or to schedule a free consultation, visit the Desert Sands Ketamine Treatment Center website or call 435-522-5190.

Written by ALEXA MORGAN for St. George News.

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Resources

• Desert Sands Ketamine Treatment Center | Address: 346 E. 600 South, St. George | Telephone: 435-522-5190 | Email: [email protected] | Website.

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