​​Are you a Maine veteran interested in ketamine infusions? 

The Maine VA is currently making referrals to Northern Lights Out Patient Mental Health Clinic for treatment-resistant depression. This means that you have tried various medications and therapy that have not been successful in treating your depression. You may also have a diagnosis of PTSD and/ or anxiety disorders, and /or TBI. Northern Lights will evaluate other diagnoses and may not disqualify you from ketamine infusion treatment, including substance abuse issues.

*It should be noted that Northern Lights would like to see patients try ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) before ketamine infusions. You would not be appropriate for ECT if you have ever had a seizure or any condition that may elevate the likelihood of a seizure or serious memory loss, such as TBI or other seizure disorders. If you have had ECT in the past. It is very important to mention these things when being evaluated by the clinic so that you may bypass a referral for ECT and go directly into ketamine infusion therapy.

You will be required to provide some of the things to the clinic before being accepted ...

• A community referral from your medication manager at the VA mental health clinic.

• Your primary care physician at the VA can provide a current Physical (within a calendar year). Your medication manager in the mental health clinic can assist you with this.                                     

• A current EKG (within a calendar year) This can be ordered and done by your medication manager in the mental health clinic at the VA.

• You must be in some form of therapy. This therapy does not need to be at the VA. It can even be a private therapist and/or integration therapist/coach that is self-pay.  You do not need to disclose the name of the therapist you choose.

• Currently, you will not be required to take a UA for substances, nor do they test for other substances at the clinic. However, this may change, and it should be noted that it is important to discuss all medications with the psychiatrist at Northern Lights upon admission to their ketamine clinic to prevent possible drug interactions. The clinic will often provide certain medications to you before your infusion, as they will instruct you not to take anything the night before an infusion.

Currently, there may be a waiting list to get into Northern Lights Ketamine Clinic once you are accepted. The wait can take several months but continue checking in so you are fresh on their minds when an opening comes available. *Currently, Northern Lights is the only approved community referral for ketamine. This will hopefully change in the future.

What to expect at the clinic once your first ketamine infusion has been scheduled...

• You will likely start out with 2 or 3 infusions on your first week. This will depend on the clinics schedule and the number of clients they are able to get in. As you go, infusions will be scheduled farther apart. 

• The amount of ketamine that you will get in your infusion will mainly be based upon your weight. They will be administered by both the psychiatrist and an anesthesiologist. The initial amount of ketamine may be slightly increased or decreased based on how you do throughout treatment.

• You will participate in assessments every time you are scheduled for an infusion. This will occur before the infusion starts and after the infusion ends. These screens basically measure your mood, your suicidal risk, your mental status and measure self-reported changes before and after infusion. 

• The total time you will spend at the clinic should be approximately 3 hours. The infusion will last approximately one hour. After the infusion, they like to monitor you for one hour.

• During the infusion, your blood pressure and your oxygen level will be monitored by a nurse. You may be in the room with other patients although, they do try to seperate you by curtains.

• You must have a ride to and from the clinic on infusion day. They may regularly ask your ride to sign you out with an agreement that you make no major decisions (legal or financial) and that you operate no vehicle or big equipment for the rest of the day. * At the Bangor clinic, they will allow you to call a paid ride service, knowing the drivers will not sign these forms.

• Prior to leaving the clinic, your next scheduled infusion (date and time) will be provided to you. The psychiatrist will discuss your progress at the beginning of each session.

How to make the most out of your ketamine infusions... 

• Be comfortable! Bring your own pillow /and or blanket although they may provide you these items at the clinic there is nothing as good as having your own items.

• Minimize outside distraction by bringing an eye cover and your own headphones. Yes! Spotify has several "ketamine" music play lists! During infusions you can become your music so try to pick playlists in advance and feel comfortable with what your listening to. 

• Go within! This is so important. Have positive intention with positive expectations. This time is so important and shouldn't be used to try to talk with the nurses or to be texting on your phone. The single most important thing you can do is just be in the experience. Talk with your chosen therapist/coach before and/or after for integration.

• Bring a notebook and paper to write down the important parts of your experience immediately afterwards. Although the affects of the ketamine will last longer the experiences you had in ketamine will be short lived. You may easily forget important points to discuss with your therapist/coach if you do not write them down immediately.

• Remember the affects of ketamine are immediate However, like with anything else you will get out of it what you put in it. The important thing to remember is to embrace the inner work of healing.

Esketamine Is similar to Ketamine and comes in pill form.  It is not as strong as the ketamine infusions. TOGUS has recently approved esketamine therapy for veterans at their facility.  This will be offered at TOGUS in the very near future as they are trying to set up the staff and program now in their mental health department.