Benefits of Ketamine Not Common Knowledge for the General Public
Dr. Steven Reichbach is a graduate of the State University of New York Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. He trained at Stony Brook University in anesthesiology with specialty training in pain management and pediatrics during his residency. Dr. Reichbach has been board-certified in anesthesiology since 1994. He practiced in New York from 1997 to 2015 as a partner with North American Partners in Anesthesia (NAPA), the largest private practice anesthesiology group in the United States. In 2015, Dr. Reichbach moved to Sarasota and served at Sarasota Ambulatory Surgery Center, providing anesthesia for patients undergoing various nerve block procedures.
Dr. Reichbach has worked with ketamine for more than two decades in general anesthesiology. He became an advocate of intravenous (IV) ketamine infusions after observing the relief patients experienced with treatments and reviewing the growing body of research over the past decade supporting its efficiency. These ongoing studies and successful results have inspired Dr. Reichbach to utilize ketamine as a viable and effective treatment for severe depression and neuropathic pain disorders.
He is a member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), the Florida Society of Anesthesiologists (FSA), and the American Medical Association (AMA).
What Is Ketamine Therapy?
We have seen consistent linear growth over the 7 years we have been here. Initially, the challenge was getting the word out there that this therapy was available. There has been a lot of research on ketamine over the past 20 years, with respect to treating depression and more recently other mood disorders, but there was very little knowledge of it within the local mental healthcare community and public in general. Over time, the local psychiatrists, therapists, and other MH care providers have become much more open with their patients as far as recommending IV Ketamine for difficult-to-treat patients. Patients have also been much more proactive in finding alternative treatments for their ailments over the past few years.
The other issue is overcoming the stigma of ketamine as a horse tranquilizer, Vitamin K, date rape drug, etc. All of these can be true of course; however, it is also a human anesthetic that is on the WHO list of 5 essential medications. This is why I stress the importance of IV infusions over other forms of ketamine therapy, where it is performed in a physician’s office with appropriate monitoring and the lowest effective doses can be used to yield the best outcomes.
About the Reichbach Center
Since 2016, Reichbach Center has remained dedicated to offering a place of comfort and a place of hope to patient-guests throughout the Gulf Coast region and across the nation. Reichbach Center proudly serves as a national center for the treatment of chronic pain and mental health disorders. Offering ketamine infusions, medical cannabis assessments and expertise in emergent psychotropic treatments for pain and mental health, we have treated over 1200 patients and performed over 12000 infusions in the time we have been in practice.
We take pride in treating each patient as if they were a member of our family, and I personally am on-site at all times while the office is open. I have a unique protocol that I have developed over the years which allows me to tailor each patient’s treatment to their unique circumstances and individual needs. As with any treatment, there are no guarantees; we feel that we give each individual patient the best chance for a successful response and outcome. We answer all the phone calls that come in during the day, and I am happy to speak with anyone who is interested in getting information and learning more about this therapy.
Ketamine Takeaways
The most important message I can share is to recognize that there are many people out there struggling with severe depression, anxiety, and other disorders. Be aware that people can oftentimes be reluctant to ask for help.
Don’t be afraid or shy away from asking friends and loved ones how they are doing. If their behavior starts changing (i.e. more isolated, less engaging, weight loss, etc.), don’t be reluctant to ask and keep asking them if they need help. You can also reach out for help and ask for guidance from friends, family, and mental health professionals if you feel something is not right with yourself or a loved one.
Many clients get to the point of feeling hopeless, thinking they can never get better. There are many options for treatment, most of which you may be unaware of. Ketamine is one such option, but the message is don’t lose hope. There will always be a new mode of treatment, therapy, etc., and what works for one person may not work for another. Keep asking questions and be your own best advocate.
To learn more or to schedule an appointment at Reichbach Center, call 941-213-4444 or visit www.findpainrelief.com.
