#58 - Ketamine Infusion Clinics (Dr. Shaw)

Ketamine infusion protocol clinics are now an exploding fad even though these clinics are not FDA approved for this purpose of what they are calling psychiatric care and therapy for depression or suicidal ideation. This drug is legally approved for sedation for surgeries etc but not for this purpose.  Discovered in 1926 and utilized more in the 60s as an anesthetic, Ketamine was used to tranquilize horses as well. Ketamine infusion protocols for people at outpatient clinics are what is alarming. It's an "Off-Label" use of ketamine for suicidal ideations and for other situations in people who are finding that the medicines they have tried are not working for their depression. People pay upwards of $300 to sit in a comfortable chair, and get an IV started to receive the anesthesia drug ketamine infused into their veins over a period of about 25 minutes and then go home. This is the therapeutic intervention that is being tried now for depression. The sad thing is that people are reporting that they have out-of-body experiences, feel at peace, and feel a connectedness to others during their time there. The motivation to help people with depression is something to be commended but I'm concerned that this is not the answer, Dr. Shaw explains.  I think we need to quit looking for answers from drugs. Dr. Shaw mentions Jonathan Isaac, the Orlando Magic basketball player who recently shared the Gospel very well and very accurately in a news conference. We have the hope of the Gospel. Jesus Christ shed his blood on the cross for our sins. Those who place their trust in him for salvation are saved eternally. Dr. Shaw says he's saddened by the increasing search for hope from drugs.