Just like with many other types of medicine you may consider for various conditions, those looking into ketamine treatments for a variety of needs should be ensuring they don't improperly mix this with other medications. There are just a couple popular medications that may alter the effectiveness of ketamine in certain ways, and knowing about these in advance is beneficial if you're receiving ketamine treatment.
At A Mind's Journey, we're thrilled to not only provide safe, quality ketamine therapy treatments for numerous conditions, from depression and anxiety to PTSD, trauma, and several other issues, but also to offer assistance with basic themes like medication combinations. Here's a quick look at the medications you may be advised to avoid during or after ketamine treatments, plus a few others where more research and information is still needed.
Medications That Risk Decreased Ketamine Effectiveness
There are two specific medication types that, in observable trials with robust samples, have shown a propensity to decrease the effectiveness of ketamine therapy:
- Lamotrigine: Lamotrigine, an anticonvulsant medication that's typically used to treat seizures and bipolar disorder, may decrease the effectiveness of ketamine treatment. Some people may be able to still receive benefit from both therapies, but it's important to note that there are other medication options for bipolar disorder, so it's never recommended to have both treatments at once.
- Benzodiazepines: Perhaps more well-known are benzodiazepines, which are a class of anti-anxiety medication. These medications, though helpful for many people, have been shown to decrease the effects of ketamine treatment. There are other options available, so if you're seeking help for anxiety or stress management it's typically best to avoid benzodiazepines during treatment.
- MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors): Including brands like Isocarboxazid and Phenelzine, MAOIs generally aren’t recommended within two weeks of a ketamine infusion.
Both these medications have not only reduced effectiveness of ketamine treatments, but also have lowered the average duration of ketamine's effects in some cases.
Medications With Some Ketamine Interaction
Now, there are also a few other medications that have shown some evidence of interacting with ketamine if taken together -- but more research is needed to confirm exactly what these interactions are. These medications include:
- Clozapine: Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic medication that's commonly used to treat schizophrenia. Studies do show evidence of ketamine affecting clozapine, but more research is needed here to be certain of the implications and effects.
- Haloperidol: Another antipsychotic medication, haloperidol has been shown to affect ketamine in some trials. Again, there isn't enough information to know for certain what the implications and effects of this interaction would be, so it's best to avoid these two medication types altogether if possible.
- Risperidone: In the same vein, risperidone has been shown to affect ketamine treatment as well, but it's unclear exactly what this interaction would mean. In any of these medications-drug interactions, it's more important to consider whether there are other options or medications available that might be a better fit for you and your needs.
For more on medications that may reduce the effectiveness of ketamine treatments, or to learn about any of our ketamine therapy services, speak to the staff at A Mind's Journey today.
