In this interview, published in April 2022, Pharmacy Times spoke with Tiago Reis Marques, MD, PhD, CEO of Pasithea Therapeutics, about how psychedelic-assisted therapy could help address opioid addictions and those living with chronic pain.
During the interview, Dr. Marques made it clear that Ketamine specifically could be an excellent drug to help curb the use of opioids, using it as an alternative for pain management compared to highly-addictive drugs such as oxycodone, heroin, or morphine.
While clinical trials are still being conducted to determine whether ketamine therapy can help treat addictions, Dr. Marques seemed hopeful about their use in that arena as well.
How does ketamine help chronic pain?
“The [type of pain] we see ketamine to be most effective in treating is definitely in neuropathic pain management. Again, with a multidisciplinary approach together with behavioral therapies, activity-based therapies, rather than as a single intervention,” Dr. Marques said. He then went on to note that ketamine infusion therapy is not intended as a single treatment for pain management, but rather as a multi-infusion process, over several weeks, and under medical supervision.
Another reason this physician finds ketamine infusion therapy to be so effective for the treatment of chronic pain is the ability to conduct infusions in-home. For many patients experiencing chronic pain, traveling to an office is too difficult a task. With appropriate medical equipment, physicians can travel to their patients’ homes and conduct the sessions safely.
“Ketamine, more and more, is finding its own space in the treatment algorithm of chronic pain management. And that's what we need,” he said in closing.
If you or a loved one is interested in a consultation for ketamine infusion therapy for treatment-resistant depression or chronic pain, Freedom Ketamine Treatment Centers has offices in Rockville, Bethesda, Columbia, Reston, Vienna, and Marshall, and is available to take your call.
To schedule a free consultation with our compassionate care team at Freedom Ketamine Treatment Centers, call (301) 235-9022.