Ketamine Therapy for PTSD

Ketamine works differently from traditional PTSD treatment by boosting glutamate activity. This supports neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to form new, healthier connections which can help reduce symptoms such as hypervigilance, the “fight or flight” response and intrusive thoughts and memories that can be debilitating.

This can help interrupt trauma-related thought patterns associated with PTSD, reduce emotional reactivity, and create a calmer mental state leading to better motivation and engagement. Many patients also find that ketamine makes them more responsive to psychotherapy, which can further support recovery. Ketamine often works faster than traditional medications, with some people noticing improvement within hours to days.

A good candidate for ketamine treatment for PTSD is someone who is medically stable and able to participate in supervised, in-clinic treatment.

Individuals who may benefit include:

• People with treatment-resistant PTSD who have tried multiple medications or trauma-focused therapy without sufficient relief or whose medications have plateaued
• Patients whose symptoms significantly impact daily functioning, relationships, or quality of life
• Individuals who cannot tolerate the side effects of standard PTSD medications

Clinicians on the Keta Medical Center team will review your medical history, symptoms, and current medications to ensure ketamine is a safe and appropriate option for you.

Many patients with PTSD notice symptom relief within hours to days of their first ketamine treatment, though individual response varies. This may include feeling calmer, less reactive, or less overwhelmed by intrusive thoughts.

For others, progress happens more gradually over several treatments. Because ketamine enhances neuroplasticity, symptoms often continue to improve across the full treatment series and even in the weeks that follow.

Individual responses vary, but ketamine typically works much faster than traditional medications, which can take several weeks over the induction phase to have an effect.

Many patients report improvement within hours to days, with some noting changes in 2–4 hours after a session, and many feeling better after several treatments.

The duration of benefit varies by person. Improvements often last weeks to months and can be prolonged with individualized maintenance sessions.

Most patients continue their existing psychiatric medications and ongoing psychotherapy for PTSD while receiving ketamine, and our team will review medications during the initial evaluation to ensure safety. Ketamine is often combined intentionally with therapy, and Keta Medical Center supports coordinated care, including Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy when appropriate.

The overwhelming majority of Keta Medical Center’s patients are covered by insurance and pay $50 or less per treatment.

Insurance coverage for PTSD 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 PTSD.  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. 
• PRISM for PTSD is an FDA-cleared, evidence-based neurofeedback treatment designed specifically for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It uses real-time brainwave monitoring and feedback to help patients learn to regulate activity in the amygdala—the part of the brain tied to fear, stress, and emotional responses. It is covered by some insurance companies. 

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.