PTSD
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that may develop following a physically traumatic experience. The trauma may include but is not limited to a motor vehicle accident, natural disaster, combat or sexual assault. Common PTSD symptoms include: frequent flashbacks to the event, traumatic nightmares, distress following exposure to traumatic reminders, avoidance of certain situations and the burden of negative thinking, shame, despair and depression. Most people will experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. However, most people do not develop PTSD. For those patients who develop PTSD, it can be a chronic and disabling condition.
The most appropriate infusion option to treat PTSD, is typically a one-hour low-dose infusion. This includes 40 minutes of active infusion and a 20 minute active recovery before being released to go home. In total, patients spend about an hour and a half with us at each visit. The low-dose infusions typically start around 0.5mg/kg/hr and may be adjusted to the response of the patient.
Patients frequently describe the experience of a low-dose infusion as floating or “floaty” and may experience mild visual hallucinations and other similar mild side effects that wear off quickly after the infusion. We work hard to avoid any uncomfortable experiences. Although serious side effects are unlikely, we provide physician administration, continuous monitoring, safety equipment, and protocols consistent with best practices for the procedure and with the Alabama Medical Board Codes for office-based anesthesia.
