Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTechniquesWhat Is Ketamine Infusion Used For?BenefitsEffectivenessThings to ConsiderHow to Get Started

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Techniques

What Is Ketamine Infusion Used For?

Benefits

Effectiveness

Things to Consider

How to Get Started

Close

Ketamine infusion therapy is a promisingketaminetreatment that helps certain mental health conditions, includingtreatment-resistant depressionandanxiety disorders.

Ketamine, originally developed as anesthesia, was first discovered to work similarly to antidepressants as early as 1975.Early reports from street ketamine users showed promise in its antidepressant effects,but they were dismissed because it was an illegal substance.

Researchers began studying it in humans in the late 1990s, with a first study published in 2000 that showed promising results for ketamine infusion therapy.

Ketamine infusions have been shown to be the kind of ketamine treatment that your body absorbs the best,but they are not the only kinds of ketamine treatment out there. Which one you go with may depend on your preferred setting (clinic vs. home) and, of course, the price.

Ketamine for Treatment-Resistant Depression

Ketamine infusion therapy helps with a number of psychiatric conditions, but it is most commonly used in those with treatment-resistant depression, a form ofmajor depressive disorder. You are likely to be diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression if you have tried more than two antidepressant treatments and have not responded adequately.

Ketamine infusions may also help with acute suicidalityor chronic suicidal ideation.

Other conditions that ketamine may help include:

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

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Benefits of Ketamine Infusion Therapy

If you have tried several antidepressants before, then you know that it takes anywhere from four to six weeks to start seeing the full effect of the medicine—if you see any effects at all. Someone who is suicidal does not have the luxury of waiting several weeks for a medicine to kick in.

In one study, 88% of the participants given a ketamine infusion in the emergency room had their suicidal ideation go away in just 90 minutes.

The new neural pathways—think of them as new roads in your brain—allow you to create more positive thoughts and, therefore, behaviors. This is compared to traditional antidepressants, which only work as long as they are in your system.

Symptoms that may improve include a depressed mood,suicidality, and feelings of helplessness and worthlessness.

Ketamine infusion therapy has been hailed as a transformative treatment because of its high rate of response.

In one study, 85% of patients experienced a remission in their depressive symptoms (defined as at least a 50% reduction in symptoms).However, ketamine infusions aren’t necessarily a cure. Patients relapsed (some symptoms returned) on an average of 19 days after, but some did not relapse for more than three months.

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If you are thinking about receiving ketamine infusion therapy, you’ll want to consider some side effects beforehand. Also, if you’re dealing with a mental health condition, you might not be eligible to receive this kind of therapy.

Let’s also discuss some tips that might be helpful to you if you receive ketamine infusion therapy.

What Are the Side Effects of Ketamine Infusion?

Below are some potential side effects:

Because ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic, you might experience more extreme effects, like an out-of-body experience or feeling as though your mind is no longer connected to your body.

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How to Get Started With Ketamine Infusion Therapy

If you’re looking to start ketamine infusion therapy, this section will discuss how you can find a provider who offers this kind of treatment and what you can expect at your first appointment.

How to Find a Provider for Ketamine Infusion Therapy

If you’ve decided to take this step, you may be overwhelmed with where to begin to look. If you are in a major city, you may have many options, but how do you know which ones are legitimate?

The American Society of Ketamine Physicians, Psychotherapists & Practitioners (ASKP)directoryis a good place to start. Its members must agree to a strict set of standards and ethics.

What Will My First Appointment Be Like?

Your first meeting will likely be an intake session, where the doctor will ask you about your depression, what you’ve already tried, and what medicines you are currently taking.

This appointment is also your opportunity to askthemquestions. If they decide you are a good candidate for treatment—and you feel comfortable with them—you will schedule your first infusion.

Typically, the standard protocol involves about six infusions over the course of two to three weeks, and then you will check in with the doctor on how to proceed from there. Some people will go back roughly monthly for “booster” infusions, and some will be considered “in remission.”

Your first ketamine infusion should last about 40 minutes. The provider will make sure that you are comfortable before you get started, and they will likely put a pulse oximeter on your finger and a blood pressure cuff on your arm so that they can monitor your vitals during the infusion.

They may offer you an eye mask and headphones, or you may want to bring your own. Some people find it more pleasant to have an eye mask on and listen to calming music. You may begin to feel some of the effects of the ketamine within a few minutes. You might feel a “floaty” sensation or you may feel like you are not quite in your body. This is all normal and mildlydissociatingis part of the process. Rest assured that these feelings will pass.

Once the infusion is over, you will likely still feel a little out of it as the ketamine wears off. You will be monitored for another 20 to 30 minutes, and then you can leave. Have a ride (whether a loved one or a ride-share) home, because you will not be able to drive.

Rest, if you can, when you get home, and take advantage of your brain’s ability to create new thoughts and habits.

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10 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sofia RD, Harakal JJ.Evaluation of ketamine HCl for anti-depressant activity.Arch Int Pharmacodyn Ther. 1975;214(1):68-74.Domino EF, Warner DS.Taming the ketamine tiger.Anesthesiology. 2010;113(3):678-684. doi:10.1097/ALN.0b013e3181ed09a2Berman RM, Cappiello A, Anand A, et al.Antidepressant effects of ketamine in depressed patients.Biological Psychiatry. 2000;47(4):351-354. doi:10.1016/s0006-3223(99)00230-9NIMH »questions and answers about the NIMH sequenced treatment alternatives to relieve depression (Star*d) study— all medication levels.Zanos P, Moaddel R, Morris PJ, et al.Ketamine and ketamine metabolite pharmacology: insights into therapeutic mechanisms. Witkin JM, ed.Pharmacol Rev. 2018;70(3):621-660. doi:10.1124/pr.117.015198Maguire L, Bullard T, Papa L.Ketamine for acute suicidality in the emergency department: A systematic review.Am J Emerg Med. 2021;43:54-58. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2020.12.088Can AT, Hermens DF, Dutton M, et al.Low dose oral ketamine treatment in chronic suicidality: An open-label pilot study.Transl Psychiatry. 2021;11:101. doi:10.1038/s41398-021-01230-zMaguire L, Bullard T, Papa L.Ketamine for acute suicidality in the emergency department: A systematic review.The American Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2021;43:54-58. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2020.12.088Abdallah CG, De Feyter HM, Averill LA, et al.The effects of ketamine on prefrontal glutamate neurotransmission in healthy and depressed subjects.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2018;43(10):2154-2160. doi:10.1038/s41386-018-0136-3Mathew SJ, Shah A, Lapidus K, et al.Ketamine for treatment-resistant unipolar depression.CNS Drugs. 2012;26(3):189-204. doi:10.2165/11599770-000000000-00000

10 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sofia RD, Harakal JJ.Evaluation of ketamine HCl for anti-depressant activity.Arch Int Pharmacodyn Ther. 1975;214(1):68-74.Domino EF, Warner DS.Taming the ketamine tiger.Anesthesiology. 2010;113(3):678-684. doi:10.1097/ALN.0b013e3181ed09a2Berman RM, Cappiello A, Anand A, et al.Antidepressant effects of ketamine in depressed patients.Biological Psychiatry. 2000;47(4):351-354. doi:10.1016/s0006-3223(99)00230-9NIMH »questions and answers about the NIMH sequenced treatment alternatives to relieve depression (Star*d) study— all medication levels.Zanos P, Moaddel R, Morris PJ, et al.Ketamine and ketamine metabolite pharmacology: insights into therapeutic mechanisms. Witkin JM, ed.Pharmacol Rev. 2018;70(3):621-660. doi:10.1124/pr.117.015198Maguire L, Bullard T, Papa L.Ketamine for acute suicidality in the emergency department: A systematic review.Am J Emerg Med. 2021;43:54-58. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2020.12.088Can AT, Hermens DF, Dutton M, et al.Low dose oral ketamine treatment in chronic suicidality: An open-label pilot study.Transl Psychiatry. 2021;11:101. doi:10.1038/s41398-021-01230-zMaguire L, Bullard T, Papa L.Ketamine for acute suicidality in the emergency department: A systematic review.The American Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2021;43:54-58. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2020.12.088Abdallah CG, De Feyter HM, Averill LA, et al.The effects of ketamine on prefrontal glutamate neurotransmission in healthy and depressed subjects.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2018;43(10):2154-2160. doi:10.1038/s41386-018-0136-3Mathew SJ, Shah A, Lapidus K, et al.Ketamine for treatment-resistant unipolar depression.CNS Drugs. 2012;26(3):189-204. doi:10.2165/11599770-000000000-00000

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Sofia RD, Harakal JJ.Evaluation of ketamine HCl for anti-depressant activity.Arch Int Pharmacodyn Ther. 1975;214(1):68-74.Domino EF, Warner DS.Taming the ketamine tiger.Anesthesiology. 2010;113(3):678-684. doi:10.1097/ALN.0b013e3181ed09a2Berman RM, Cappiello A, Anand A, et al.Antidepressant effects of ketamine in depressed patients.Biological Psychiatry. 2000;47(4):351-354. doi:10.1016/s0006-3223(99)00230-9NIMH »questions and answers about the NIMH sequenced treatment alternatives to relieve depression (Star*d) study— all medication levels.Zanos P, Moaddel R, Morris PJ, et al.Ketamine and ketamine metabolite pharmacology: insights into therapeutic mechanisms. Witkin JM, ed.Pharmacol Rev. 2018;70(3):621-660. doi:10.1124/pr.117.015198Maguire L, Bullard T, Papa L.Ketamine for acute suicidality in the emergency department: A systematic review.Am J Emerg Med. 2021;43:54-58. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2020.12.088Can AT, Hermens DF, Dutton M, et al.Low dose oral ketamine treatment in chronic suicidality: An open-label pilot study.Transl Psychiatry. 2021;11:101. doi:10.1038/s41398-021-01230-zMaguire L, Bullard T, Papa L.Ketamine for acute suicidality in the emergency department: A systematic review.The American Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2021;43:54-58. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2020.12.088Abdallah CG, De Feyter HM, Averill LA, et al.The effects of ketamine on prefrontal glutamate neurotransmission in healthy and depressed subjects.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2018;43(10):2154-2160. doi:10.1038/s41386-018-0136-3Mathew SJ, Shah A, Lapidus K, et al.Ketamine for treatment-resistant unipolar depression.CNS Drugs. 2012;26(3):189-204. doi:10.2165/11599770-000000000-00000

Sofia RD, Harakal JJ.Evaluation of ketamine HCl for anti-depressant activity.Arch Int Pharmacodyn Ther. 1975;214(1):68-74.

Domino EF, Warner DS.Taming the ketamine tiger.Anesthesiology. 2010;113(3):678-684. doi:10.1097/ALN.0b013e3181ed09a2

Berman RM, Cappiello A, Anand A, et al.Antidepressant effects of ketamine in depressed patients.Biological Psychiatry. 2000;47(4):351-354. doi:10.1016/s0006-3223(99)00230-9

NIMH »questions and answers about the NIMH sequenced treatment alternatives to relieve depression (Star*d) study— all medication levels.

Maguire L, Bullard T, Papa L.Ketamine for acute suicidality in the emergency department: A systematic review.Am J Emerg Med. 2021;43:54-58. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2020.12.088

Can AT, Hermens DF, Dutton M, et al.Low dose oral ketamine treatment in chronic suicidality: An open-label pilot study.Transl Psychiatry. 2021;11:101. doi:10.1038/s41398-021-01230-z

Maguire L, Bullard T, Papa L.Ketamine for acute suicidality in the emergency department: A systematic review.The American Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2021;43:54-58. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2020.12.088

Abdallah CG, De Feyter HM, Averill LA, et al.The effects of ketamine on prefrontal glutamate neurotransmission in healthy and depressed subjects.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2018;43(10):2154-2160. doi:10.1038/s41386-018-0136-3

Mathew SJ, Shah A, Lapidus K, et al.Ketamine for treatment-resistant unipolar depression.CNS Drugs. 2012;26(3):189-204. doi:10.2165/11599770-000000000-00000

Hannah Owens, LMSW

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