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The death of actor Matthew Perry from ketamine spotlighted the drug’s risks. He had been receiving ketamine infusion therapy at a clinic, but according to the New York Times, investigators found he had been illegally administered ketamine at his home. Five people, including two doctors, were charged.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved ketamine as a surgical anesthesia in 1970. The drug can also be legally administered by medical professionals certified in ketamine-infusion therapy, like Dr. Erin Boyd.
Dr. Boyd, founder of Lumina Mind based in North Florida, uses ketamine to treat treatment-resistant mood disorders and substance abuse, including cannabis use disorder (CUD).
Increased use of marijuana has raised concerns about CUD, which the Centers for Disease Control warns can lead to health and social problems, including memory loss, lethargy, withdrawal symptoms, and neglected obligations.
Dr. Boyd says ketamine treatments could help break such dependency and other substance use disorders. Her clinic administers ketamine intravenously (IV) to treat treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression in patients unresponsive to other treatments.
She explained that the infusion takes 40 minutes, and the patient feels calm and has a bit of a euphoric feeling. After an infusion, a patient rests for 20 minutes, followed by an hour consultation with a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner.
Dr. Boyd says her typical treatment regime consists of at least six infusions over a few weeks.
Dr. Boyd recommends visiting the American Society of Ketamine Physicians, Psychotherapists & Practitioners’ website, www.askp.org, to find qualified providers.
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