Ketamine

Ketamine is a treatment that can provide relief from depression, anxiety, PTSD, pain, and in some cases, addiction. It is administered intravenously (IV), intranasally (nasal spray), intramuscularly (injection), or sublingually (orally) at a clinic or at home and can be administered with or without a therapist.

Also called:

Pros & Cons

Your individual experience may vary based on your medical history, genetics, environment, habits, and other factors.

Pros

Fast-acting relief
Long lasting effects
High rate of success
Little side effects

Cons

Not FDA approved
Insurance does not cover
Addictive potential
Potential for unregulated clinics

Rapid Symptom Relief
Offers rapid relief from depression, anxiety, PTSD & Pain.

Helps Where Others Fail
Effective for treatment-resistant cases.

Unique Action
Works differently from traditional antidepressants.

Promotes Neuroplasticity
May enhance brain’s ability to form new connections.

Cost and Availability
May be expensive for some and not backed by insurance.

Limited Long-Term Studies
Lack of extensive long-term data for treating certain conditions.

Side Effects
May cause disorientation and hallucinations.

Ongoing Treatment
May require periodic treatments for sustained benefits.

Improve brain function

Ketamine has been shown to increase Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in the brain. This increase in BDNF leads to an enhancement of neuroplasticity.

Improve Brain Function

Ketamine has been shown to increase Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in the brain. This increase in BDNF leads to an enhancement of neuroplasticity.

Common questions

Is ketamine covered by Insurance?

Ketamine is not covered by a majority of insurance companies. Insurance companies may not cover ketamine therapy because it is prescribed “off-label.” Because generic ketamine has not been approved by the FDA specifically for treatment of depression and anxiety, some insurers choose not to cover it.

Is ketamine safe?

Overall, ketamine is a relatively safe drug when administered under the supervision of a doctor. Many ketamine doctors report using ketamine for over 20 years without reporting a single ketamine infusion fatality.

Is ketamine addictive?

Ketamine is a drug that is used in the medical setting, but it can also be misused. When misused, ketamine can lead to addiction.

Ketamine vs. SSRI’s

Ketamine is a rapid-acting antidepressant—which means that it can help you feel better right away! Traditional antidepressants take several weeks to begin working; most of these drugs take 4-6 weeks before you get any relief, and up to 12 weeks to achieve maximum benefit.

Ketamine vs. Spravato

1. There are two different types of Ketamine: R-Ketamine and S-Ketamine. While they are nearly identical molecules, they have slightly different effects on the brain. The type of Ketamine used in IV infusions is racemic, which means that is a mixture of R-Ketamine and S-Ketamine. Meanwhile, Esketamine is isolated to only contain S-Ketamine, which makes Spravato™ unique for Esketamine treatments.

Recreational vs. Clinical Ketamine

Recreational ketamine is used in recreational settings, such as parties or clubs. This type of ketamine has a high possibility of being laced with other narcotics, and it’s not recommended for use by people without experience in the substance. It is also less likely to be absorbed into your body than IV ketamine.