Learn what palliative care is, how it differs from hospice, and how ketamine therapy may ease depression in serious illness.
For Providers
Flexible weekend and evening hours
212-288-3454
Ketamine for Palliative Care
Ketamine can help manage pain and anxiety in palliative care patients.
What Is Palliative Care?
Palliative care is specialized medical support for people with serious or terminal illness. Its goal is to relieve pain, manage symptoms, and address emotional and psychological needs—improving quality of life for both patients and families.
It can be provided at any stage of illness, alongside curative treatments, through a team of doctors, nurses, and counselors who work together to offer holistic support.
How Ketamine Works in Palliative Care
Ketamine treatment plays a unique dual role in palliative care by addressing both physical pain and emotional suffering. By regulating the brain’s glutamate system and blocking NMDA receptors, it can disrupt chronic pain signals, providing relief where traditional pain management techniques may fall short.
Ketamine also offers relief from symptoms such as depression and anxiety, and helps existential distress. It can help people alleviate their fears and anxieties about death while leaning into acceptance, embracing the abyss of the unknown.
Research shows that psychological distress of patients in palliative care may improve after a single administration of S-ketamine.
The Treatment Process
Free
Consultation
Consultation
Our treatment process starts with a personal consultation, where we take time to understand your unique challenges. We collaborate with you and your healthcare providers to create a personalized care plan.
Begin
Treatment
Treatment
From the moment you enter our clinic, you’ll be greeted with a smile and a calm environment. After a quick exam, our staff ensures you’re completely comfortable and ready to begin.
During
Treatment
Treatment
Settle into a cozy reclining chair in a private room. You’ll receive an eye mask, noise-canceling headphones, and music options. Throughout the treatment, our attentive medical team will be by your side.
Regular
Sessions
Sessions
Our physicians design a customized treatment plan for each patient. We offer IV ketamine and Spravato nasal spray. The induction period lasts 3–4 weeks and can be followed by maintenance sessions tailored to each patient’s needs.
Find Relief for Depression, Anxiety and Pain with Ketamine
Ketamine can provide relief within hours to just a few days
70%
improvement in Depression
45%
remission rate by Day 8
74%
favorable pain response to Ketamine
“We at Keta Medical Center understand that palliative care is not just about managing symptoms – it’s about being there for our patients and their families during one of life’s most challenging times.
Ketamine treatment allows us to address both physical pain and emotional distress, helping to ease suffering while fostering moments of connection and clarity. Our commitment is to provide not only effective treatment but also a compassionate presence, ensuring that patients feel truly supported every step of the way.”
- Dr. Haviva Malina
Research
Below are several studies about the effectiveness of ketamine in palliative care.
Our Locations
Our Locations
Monday
9:am- 8:pm
Tuesday
9:am- 8:pm
Wednesday
9:am- 8:pm
Thursday
9:am- 8:pm
Friday
9:am- 8:pm
Saturday
9:am- 8:pm
Sunday
9:am- 8:pm
Please note: The availability of treatment sessions may vary by office depending on our clinical team's schedule. Please reach out to us directly for the most up-to-date appointment times.
Open 7 Days A Week
9:am- 8:pm
Care Where You Need It, When You Need It
Open evenings and weekends, with locations across NYC and NJ.
Please note: The availability of treatment sessions may vary by office depending on our clinical team's schedule. Please reach out to us directly for the most up-to-date appointment times.
FAQs
Is ketamine safe for palliative care patients?
Yes, ketamine is safe when administered in a clinical setting under professional supervision. In palliative care, ketamine may be used to help manage treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD symptoms, and certain types of chronic or neuropathic pain that haven’t responded to standard treatments. Our team monitors each patient closely to ensure proper dosing, safety, and comfort.
Will ketamine treatment affect my current medical regimen?
In most cases, ketamine therapy does not require stopping your current medications, but it depends on your current regimen. At Keta Medical Center, your clinical team will review your full medical and medication history to ensure ketamine can be used safely alongside your current prescriptions.
Who is a good candidate for ketamine in palliative care?
Ketamine may be a helpful option for palliative care patients who are experiencing any of the following:
- Severe depression, anxiety, or PTSD that hasn’t improved or plateaued with standard treatments
- Chronic or neuropathic pain that remains difficult to control despite other medications
- Emotional or existential distress that affects quality of life
- Need for rapid symptom relief to support comfort and well-being
For many palliative care patients, ketamine can help ease emotional suffering, improve mood, and enhance comfort—often more quickly than traditional medications.
Do you coordinate ketamine treatment with my palliative or hospice care team?
Yes. Ketamine therapy is most effective when it is integrated into your overall palliative or hospice care plan. With your consent, Keta Medical Center will work closely with your current providers to deliver safe, compassionate, and coordinated care.
Is ketamine therapy for palliative care covered by insurance or prior authorization?
The overwhelming majority of Keta Medical Center’s patients are covered by insurance and pay $50 or less per treatment.
Insurance coverage for palliative care depends on the type of ketamine treatment you receive:
- Spravato® (Esketamine) is FDA-approved and many insurance providers will cover it for depression related to palliative care. Keta Medical Center will work 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.
Keta Medical Center’s team can help you review your benefits, understand your coverage options, and determine the best financing plan to suit your needs and budget. Unsure? Schedule a consultation and we can help clarify.
Stay Updated
Keta patient Dr. Jim Ellwood shares his personal journey with treatment-resistant depression and how he found lasting relief with ketamine therapy. Here’s his story.
After decades of battling depression and anxiety, one patient found relief when traditional treatments had failed - through ketamine therapy at Keta Medical Center. Read his deeply personal account of transformation, healing, and newfound hope.