Everything You Need to Know About Ketamine and Lidocaine
Pain relief through lidocaine and ketamine infusions is a promising alternative to opioids. We at American Pain and Wellness Centers have had an excellent experience in treating our patients with services like this and helping them toward their end goal of treating chronic pain without relying on opioids.
These infusions are used to reduce or eliminate pain for patients with conditions like:
- Chronic Diabetic Neuropathy
- Cluster Headaches/Migraines
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
- DepressionFibromyalgia
- OCD/PTSD
- Severe Anxiety
- Widespread Pain
Continue reading to learn more indepth about both of these options including how they work and how they could possibly benefit you.
Ketamine
Ketamine helps to reduce pain by acting against a chemical receptor found in the nervous system. Ketamine infusions provide longer-lasting relief, leading to elimination or reduction of opioid and other medications.
Your ketamine infusion therapy will be approximately 4 to 5 hours from beginning to end. The doctor will determine dosage and duration of treatment. During the infusion process, your vital signs will be monitored. This effect will wear off within approximately 30 minutes after infusion. You will continue to be monitored by the medical staff for approximately 45-60 minutes. You must be picked up by a responsible adult and have someone with you overnight.
Lidocaine
Lidocaine is commonly used as a topical anesthetic to numb the skin for a treatment. Infusions (intravenous or IV treatment) of ketamine and lidocaine can be effective for pain relief.
Lidocaine has no cognitive side effects but can sometimes cause short-lived nausea, dizziness or tingling around the mouth. If you are recommended Lidocaine infusions, you will likely receive both medications, but the infusions run for only 45 minutes with a 15-minute planned recovery period.
Conclusion
More research is being done on both types of infusions, but the prognosis is promising. Lidocaine and Ketamine infusions are becoming a regular treatment option for individuals living with chronic pain. We at American Pain and Wellness Centers have had an excellent experience in treating our patients with services like this one, but we recommend you always consult with certified professionals before taking part in any procedures like the one mentioned in this article. Book a call with one of our seasoned professionals find out whether or not this service would be a good fit for your personal needs.
