CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — Offering proven success and lasting results, ketamine represents hope and healing in the treatment of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and more.
At Desert Sands Ketamine Treatment Center in St. George, Dr. Eric Evans is exploring the new frontier of using ketamine infusion therapy to address mental health disorders as well as chronic pain conditions.
“A medication that can reduce your pain and elevate your mood can be life-altering,” he said. “We love to help people become more functional and get back to feeling like themselves.”
Recognized as the Best of Southern Utah, Desert Sands Ketamine won silver in the behavioral and mental health treatment category for 2022 and gold in alternative therapies last year. There’s a huge need in the community, Evans said, and he’s committed to helping as many people as he can.
Mental health disorders
Evans said many patients come to Desert Sands Ketamine after trying multiple medications and forms of therapy to manage their mental health without much success, if any. For these patients, ketamine offers hope when other treatments have failed. That’s because it works differently.
Rather than elevating levels of serotonin or dopamine like prescription antidepressants, ketamine targets the brain’s glutamate system and boosts a chemical known as brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which plays an essential role in mood stability. Evans pointed to a research study conducted by Yale University on patients with treatment-resistant depression that demonstrated a success rate of 70%, nearly double that of antidepressants.
“With ketamine, people can wake up in the morning and joy is a possibility for them again,” he said.
Chronic pain conditions
While ketamine has received much attention in recent years as a breakthrough mental health treatment, Evans said the medical world is just now discovering how beneficial it can be for pain conditions. Ketamine is a highly effective painkiller and a dissociative anesthetic. When administered in therapeutic doses via IV infusion, pain relief begins almost immediately. Remission for up to a year is possible in some cases.
Desert Sands Ketamine treats patients with complex regional pain syndrome, back pain, migraines, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetic nerve pain, among other conditions. For these individuals, ketamine enables them to participate in everyday life more comfortably while also regulating the emotional imbalances that often accompany chronic pain.
“Treating their mood disorder was a big part of helping them get their pain under control,” Evans said. “Ketamine has been amazing at helping people with both issues.”
Better results with fewer side effects
While there are many prescription antidepressants on the market, most of them come with a bevy of unpleasant side effects such as erectile dysfunction, nausea, insomnia and weight gain. Another common complaint among people taking antidepressants is that although the medication eliminates their emotional lows, it often takes away the highs as well. Evans said that “numb” state isn’t a concern with ketamine.
“It leaves those things intact and yet treats people’s mental health issues in a unique and new way,” he added. “Ketamine has been nothing short of miraculous for a lot of people in our clinic.”
Ketamine is also a much safer alternative to the opioids frequently prescribed for chronic pain, Evans said. It’s not addictive and is well-tolerated in low doses by the vast majority of patients.
Learning more about ketamine
Desert Sands Ketamine offers a spa-like, comfortable healing environment with compassionate staff who are dedicated to helping patients achieve the best results possible. Every patient’s experience begins with a free consultation to discuss their issues and determine if ketamine is right for them. The clinic also provides patients with resources to improve all aspects of their well-being, including dietary guidance, meditation, massage therapy, relationship counseling and talk therapy.
Unlike many ketamine treatment providers, Desert Sands Ketamine is a physician-driven practice. And because people are often taking multiple medications to manage their pain and mood disorders, Evans personally meets with every patient to review their medical history and underlying health issues. Infusions are tailored to suit each patient’s individual needs for optimal results.
“Every person has such a unique story and set of issues that they’re dealing with,” he said. “We try to use a complete approach to each patient.”
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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