Ketamine therapy is a transformational treatment that uses low doses of ketamine to help manage various mental health conditions, such as treatment-resistant depression, anxiety disorders, addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder as well as chronic pain. Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic medication but when used off label at sub-anesthetic doses, it has psychedelic properties providing a short but intense subjective experience.

How it works

Ketamine alters a chemical called glutamate by blocking NMDA receptors in the brain and may produce a more rapid antidepressant effect compared to drugs that work on serotonin, dopamine, or norepinephrine. Ketamine can interrupt negative thoughts and feelings and help the brain create new, healthier patterns by stimulating neuroplasticity. By altering connectivity in the brain, ketamine can help people to break out of old thought patterns that cause anxiety and depression.

What to expect

Intramuscular (IM) Injections are a single shot of Ketamine that is administered via a needle into one of the muscles. IM injections typically last from 30-45 minutes. Ketamine lozenges are also used in-office. Smaller micro-doses are occasionally prescribed for maintenance and are for home administration.