Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and IV Ketamine

Nearly 2% of the population is affected by myalgic encephalomyelitis or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). There is also significant overlap with long-COVID, which affects 10% of patients with COVID. This is a debilitating condition that physicians know very little about. Learn more about ME/CFS and how IV Ketamine therapy can be a promising therapy for this challenging condition.

The Mystery Illness: Myalgic encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

ME/CFS is described as a persistent fatigue that is not improvement by rest and sleep. The exhaustion is often exacerbated by physical or mental activity and persists for months. Routine lab tests and MRIs do not show abnormalities, leading many some people to believe it "is all in your head." We don't always know what triggers ME/CFS, but it can be preceded by:

• Viral or bacterial infections (COVID, Epstein-Barr virus, Hepatitis, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, etc.)
• High levels of inflammation
• Brain cell over-activation (called "neuroglial failure")
• Physical trauma or stress (like surgery or accidents)
• Emotional or psychological stress (PTSD, grief, etc.)
• Defective energy metabolism

The symptoms of ME/CFS can include:

• Memory or cognitive impairment
• Headaches
• Chronic pain
• Heart problems (like arrhythmias)
• Gastrointestinal upset, possibly because of altered gut microbiome
• Sleep abnormalities

Interestingly, women are affected more often than men. While NAD+ therapy is effective for many of our ME/CFS patients, there are few other effective treatments. This makes emerging treatments like IV Ketamine very important for those struggling with ME/CFS.

Ketamine May Hold Powerful Benefits for ME/CFS

Ketamine is a powerful anesthetic and pain-relieving medication. It is not related to opioids, classical anesthetics, or other pain-killers. Ketamine has several important characteristics that are believed to help treat patients with ME/CFS:

• Ketamine has anti-inflammatory effects (specifically reducing IL-6 levels) which may quiet the hyperinflammation observed in some patients with ME/CFS
• Neuroglial overactivation may be calmed via ketamine's inhibitory effects on microglia
• Ketamine can improve the intractable nausea that affects some patients with ME/CFS
• Comorbid depression in ME/CFS patients is high, and ketamine has been shown to reduce both
• Ketamine increases glutamate release and transmission in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) which is believed to underlie improved fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis and bipolar disorder

Ketamine is an antagonist of the NMDA receptor and increases levels of presynaptic release of glutamate. The extra glutamate is then shunted towards the AMPA receptor (because the NMDA receptors are blocked by ketamine). This may explain the biochemical anti-fatigue effect of ketamine.

Interestingly, while some studies show the anti-fatigue benefits of ketamine are related to its anti-depressant effects, some studies show independent effects of ketamine in improving both outcomes.

How Fast Can Fatigue Improve with Ketamine?

In some studies, anti-fatigue effects occurred within days. In other studies, anti-fatigue effects took several weeks to become stronger.

Combining Ketamine with NAD+ is a Powerful Synergy

NAD+ therapy provides many benefits to patients struggling with chronic fatigue. NAD+ therapy can be combined with IV Ketamine for convenient and synergistic improvements in mood and energy levels.

IV Ketamine vs Oral Ketamine

Ketamine comes in many forms, from most-to-least efficient:

• Intravenous - gold standard, highest bioavailability, most customizable to patient
• Intramuscular
• Intranasal
• Oral - sublingual or trochees, lowest bioavailability, lowest customization to patient

IV Ketamine is the gold standard for ketamine therapy because of its 100% bioavailability. Oral ketamine has low bioavailability, around 30%. IV Ketamine allows for significantly more effective symptom relief compared to other forms Ketamine therapy because of its unique intravenous administration.

You Deserve Restored Mood and Energy

You deserve to find healing from chronic fatigue and to regain your peak mood and energy. Ketamine therapy, especially when combined with NAD+ therapy, may provide a break in your symptom relief. It is important to speak with your doctor about the benefits and risks of IV Ketamine and NAD+ therapy. Schedule a free consultation with Clarus Health to learn if IV Ketamine Therapy may be effective in restoring your energy levels.