Ketamine is an anesthetic, originally developed in 1970. Since then, it has been used widely in emergency medicine and operating rooms around the world. Ketamine is often used for the most vulnerable patients due to its safety profile and minimal side effects. The World Health Organization has named ketamine as one of the 100 most essential drugs in the world.
Recent research has found that, Ketamine at low doses helps with symptoms of mood spectrum disorders, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and bipolar disorder and can also be used to address symptoms of severe pain.
Yes. Ketamine is safe and is used daily in hospitals and clinics around the world, and has been for decades.
To ensure safety, ketamine infusions should be administered by medical professionals trained in anesthesia or emergency medicine.
Since research emerged showing ketamine’s significant benefits in treatment resistant depression, ongoing research has shown its benefits in treating PTSD, anxiety, pain conditions like CRPS, bipolar, OCD, and more. We keep a library of ongoing research in the field here.
During the infusion, the most common side effect of ketamine is mild nausea. In rare cases, patients may experience allergic reactions, elevated blood pressures, elevated heart rate, or cardiac arrhythmia (FDA). A monitoring physician will intervene in the case of any of these effects .
There are no known negative long-term effects of ketamine when used at the appropriate doses for depression and anesthesia. Select cases of long-term, daily use of ketamine by those who abuse the drug have shown some negative effects on the bladder and on cognition (Yale) .
For many patients, ketamine can be an exceptionally effective option to relieve symptoms of depression. It can help people even when other treatments have not worked.
Studies have shown that ketamine relieves depressive symptoms for 75% of patients with depression, including Major Depressive Disorder and Treatment-Resistant Major Depressive Disorder. This is compared to antidepressant prescription medications, which have shown to be effective in as few as 30% of people with depression, and often include extensive side effects.
Some patients experience relief after one infusion, some experience relief after multiple infusions, and some patients receive infusions without obtaining any relief. Each individual has their own experience, and the outcome of their infusion treatment plan may not match the results found in studies or experienced by other patients. (Nature)
If this treatment option is a good fit for you, you will be sent intake and consent forms and we will help you book your initial visits. Once your intake and consent forms are complete and your visits are booked, we will reach out to your other mental healthcare providers to confirm your care with us.
Over the past few decades, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been widely prescribed to address depression. SSRIs are based on the chemical imbalance theory of depression – that adding more serotonin to one’s system will lead to an improvement of mood. Literature supports that SSRIs have a 30 – 50% effectiveness rate for people with depression (here) . They require a steady state of medication in one’s system over time to have an effect. SSRIs often result in significant side effects and can take 6 to 12 weeks in the system before working. People often experience additional withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking SSRIs.
Ketamine’s benefits occur via the neural network theory of depression. Treatment leads to a structural reset of the emotional reward system in the brain. Patients who have a generally low baseline mood achieve a new normal from which they can appropriately feel good when good things happen and appropriately feel bad when bad things happen. These new neural connections triggered by ketamine often happen within the first 72 hours. Literature supports that ketamine has a 75% efficacy rate for people with Treatment Resistant Depression. These positive results do not depend on the chemical staying in the body over time. Treatment results in few-to-no side effects, and stopping treatment at the dosage and frequency we administer does not result in any unwanted withdrawal symptoms.
Patients report that even though SSRIs may help stabilize their mood, they result in a “flatness”, “emotional numbness”, or a “mental fog.” The medication makes them feel less like themselves by bringing down their emotions and therefore their depressive symptoms. These same patients have described how ketamine has helped them feel more like themselves by creating an emotional baseline to appropriately feel emotions and reframe core issues that have contributed to their depressive state.
Ketamine for mental health treatments is not experimental. There is an overwhelming body of literature supporting the safe, effective use of ketamine for depression. See our updated collection here. Since 1968, there have been thousands of scientific, peer reviewed papers exploring ketamine for depression. The American Psychiatric Association as well as the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health have both published consensus guidelines for how to treat patients. Ketamine is considered part of the Standard of Care in helping people deal with their depression.
No. Ketamine has been shown many times to be a non-addictive medication. There is no physical dependency that occurs with the use of ketamine, and patients who stop using the drug do not experience symptoms of withdrawal (WHO) .
That being said, there are some who use it to achieve an altered mental state, without supervision, and in an uncontrolled environment.
No. Opioids are substances that bind with opioid receptors in the brain. Ketamine has been found to interact with the Mu Receptor (an opioid receptor in the brain) and also interacts with many other receptors in the human brain (Wiki) .
Unlike opioids, ketamine does not cause euphoria, it does not slow down or stop breathing, and it is not addicting.
We work with each patient’s insurer to receive as much reimbursement as possible for treatments and keep therapy as affordable as possible. Contact us and we will work with your carrier to determine your eligibility. Patients who have out-of-network insurance benefits could expect to receive some reimbursement for their care. Check with us and see if you are covered in network.
For most patients, ketamine relieves depressive symptoms for an average of six weeks after each infusion. Patients may receive booster infusions as depressive symptoms recur JAMA.
We work with each patient to identify a suitable maintenance program. Sometimes, this consists of a regular cadence of infusions according to a patient’s needs and schedule. Some patients find that their need for boosters becomes less frequent over time, prompting them to come in every 2 – 3 months. In some cases, patients experience full remission of their depressive symptoms and do not feel the need to seek continued treatment Yale.
Ketamine boosters may be given for as long as needed with no known long-term side effects.
At MindWell Health, you don’t need a referral. We only provide ketamine treatment to people who are working with an accredited and trusted healthcare provider, including psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, or primary care providers.
This is important to us for several reasons: For one, we never want to be the ones to diagnose people directly with depression or encourage our therapy if there are other options that might be of greater help. Second, data shows that ketamine treatment is most effective when accompanied by continuous therapy.
For those not yet connected to a provider, we’re happy to help. We’ve built a strong and trusted network of mental health professionals who can assess symptoms of depression and discuss whether ketamine is an appropriate option.
While starting ketamine infusion therapy, the concurrent use of other antidepressant medications will not interfere with ketamine’s effectiveness for addressing depressive symptoms, nor will it cause negative medication interactions. Many patients who experience relief from ketamine have found that over time, they can reduce or eliminate other antidepressent medications. We advise each patient to work with their prescribing physician to tailor a plan.
There are no medical conditions that prevent you from getting ketamine treatment. That said, ketamine is not advised for patients with schizophrenia, mania, or uncontrolled heart or blood pressure issues, so we would approach those on a case by case basis.
Our physician reviews the medical history of each patient prior to treatment. All patients are closely monitored during treatments by an extensively trained clinical team to ensure the safety of the treatment.
While the majority of people we treat live in or around Greenville, we make every effort to accommodate the needs of those who come to us from farther away.
We administer six foundational ketamine treatments to all new patients over a 14 day period. For those coming in from out of town, this often entails a week-long stay in the Greenville area, or two, three-day visits over the course of two weeks. That said, we tailor treatment plans based on individual medical needs and travel restrictions.
After the foundational treatment, we provide infusions as depressive symptoms may recur, and will continue to work with individual calendars and travel plans as needed. For those new to the area, we’re happy to recommend nearby accommodations.