Ketamine Therapy for
Depression
Depression affects over 20 million adults in the US. 30% of patients do not respond to traditional psychiatric treatment or antidepressants.
What is depression and how is it treated?
Depression is a serious mental health condition that affects mood, thinking and daily functioning, causing persistent sadness and a loss of interest in life. It is typically treated with a combination of antidepressant medications and psychotherapy.
-
Clinical name
Major depressive disorder (MDD) or treatment-resistant depression (TRD) -
Prevalence
~8.2% of American adults -
Typical onset
Late teens to mid-20s -
Standard treatment
Psychotherapy & antidepressants -
Diagnostic criteria
Symptoms persisting most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks -
Treatment gap
~30% of patients do not respond to at least two antidepressant medications.
- Persistent sadness
- Feelings of worthlessness
- Loss of interest in activities
- Appetite/weight changes
- Sleep disturbances
- Fatigue
- Thoughts of self-harm
- Difficulty concentrating
How ketamine treats depression
For many patients, relief begins within hours of their first session — not weeks.
Ketamine works differently — and faster — than antidepressants. It targets glutamate, the brain’s most abundant neurotransmitter. This enhances communication between brain cells in mood-related circuits.
Ketamine also promotes neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to form new neural connections. Because chronic stress and depression can weaken these connections, the “rewiring” can support lasting healing.
A wealth of clinical studies have demonstrated ketamine’s effectiveness, particularly for individuals with treatment-resistant depression.
For many patients, relief begins within hours of their first session.
- Glutamate
- NMDA receptor
- New pathways
- Onset of relief
- Primary mechanism
- Neuroplasticity effect
- Serotonin
- Dopamine
- Onset of relief
- Primary mechanism
- Neuroplasticity effect
The ketamine treatment process
01
Intake & evaluation
Start with a free, 20-minute call with our intake specialist. This is followed by a medical evaluation with our medical director, who will then reach out to your provider to confirm and coordinate your treatment plan. In-house providers are available if needed.
02
Preparation for your first treatment
03
During treatment
04
Ongoing sessions
What our patients are saying
Treatment options
We offer two evidence-based ketamine treatments: Spravato® nasal spray, for patients who also have treatment-resistant depression, and IV ketamine infusions, both administered under medical supervision.
Spravato®
Esketamine nasal spray
- FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression
- Based on a ketamine derivative
- In-clinic treatment under physician supervision
- Insurance-covered
- Most patients pay $0–$50 per visit after insurance coverage and available assistance programs.
IV ketamine
Intravenous ketamine infusion
- Treats depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, postpartum depression, AUD, and other mental health disorders.
- Available to patients not eligible for Spravato
- Delivered under physician supervision
- Self-pay treatment
- $500 per session
If you’re not sure, we’ll help you understand which option is right for you.
Research on ketamine therapy & depression
Real-world Impact On Depression And Anxiety
“Ketamine’s promise for severe depression grows”
Ketamine versus ECT for Nonpsychotic Treatment-Resistant Major Depression
“Ketamine versus ECT for nonpsychotic treatment-resistant major depression”
Real-world Impact On Depression And Anxiety
Retrospective controlled analysis showing significant symptom reduction in routine care settings.
FAQs
Yes, when administered under medical supervision by trained physicians, ketamine therapy is safe. At Keta Medical Center, our team is led by emergency medicine physicians with extensive training, ensuring that every treatment adheres to the highest standards of medical safety.
Keta Medical Center offers 2 types of ketamine-based treatments for depression — Spravato (Esketamine) nasal spray and Intravenous ketamine infusions.
As a physician-led mental health clinic, all sessions are supervised by trained clinicians to manage safety, dosing, and overall comfort. We also offer ketamine assisted psychotherapy (KAP) and integrated psychiatric care to deliver a treatment plan tailored to individual needs.
Ketamine therapy may be appropriate for adults struggling with conditions such as treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar depression, or other mental health conditions that have not responded adequately to traditional treatments.
Ketamine therapy may not be appropriate for individuals with uncontrolled hypertension, a history of aneurysm, active substance use disorder, or a history of psychosis (such as schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder). Ketamine is also generally not recommended during pregnancy.
The best way to determine whether ketamine therapy is right for you is through a comprehensive consultation with our clinical team. We carefully review each patient’s medical and psychiatric history to ensure treatment is both safe and appropriate.
Many patients experience symptom improvement within hours to days after treatment, with both Spravato and IV ketamine often producing rapid effects within 2–4 hours for many people.
The duration of benefit from treatment varies by individual. Some patients maintain improvements for weeks to months, and others require maintenance or booster sessions to sustain gains. We recommend completing the entire induction schedule and coming for periodic maintenance sessions to achieve the maximum, lasting benefits.
The overwhelming majority of Keta Medical Center’s patients are covered by insurance and pay $50 or less per treatment after insurance coverage and available assistance programs.
Insurance coverage for depression depends on the type of ketamine treatment you receive:
Spravato® (esketamine) is FDA-approved and many insurance providers cover it for depression when patients meet clinical criteria. Keta Medical Center works with your insurer to complete the required prior authorization and provide documentation of your treatment history.
IV Ketamine is considered an off-label treatment, so most insurance plans do not cover it. Therefore, it is typically an out-of-pocket service. Superbills for patients to submit to insurance providers are available.
Not sure yet?
Explore the resources on our site to find out how ketamine treatment can help you heal.