Ketamine Therapy in Newton, MA

What is ketamine therapy?

Ketamine is a medication that has been used as an anesthetic for decades. At much lower doses it can ease the symptoms of depression, sometimes within hours or days. That is faster than standard antidepressants, which often take weeks.

Ketamine acts on glutamate, a different brain chemical from the ones most antidepressants target. That is one reason it may help when other medications have not.

The FDA has approved ketamine as an anesthetic. Its use for depression, anxiety and PTSD is off-label. Off-label prescribing is legal and common in medicine, but it means the FDA has not reviewed ketamine for these conditions. Spravato, a related medication, is FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression.

Who it is for

Ketamine may be worth considering if you:

• have depression that has not improved after other treatments
• have anxiety or PTSD symptoms that standard care has not relieved
• need relief sooner than a new antidepressant could offer

It is not suitable for everyone. Ketamine may not be right for people with uncontrolled high blood pressure, certain heart conditions, a history of psychosis, or who are pregnant. A clinician reviews your medical history and current medications before recommending it.

How a session works

1. Before you arrive. We tell you when to stop eating and drinking, and you arrange for someone to drive you home.
2. Check-in. We take your blood pressure and heart rate and answer any questions.
3. Treatment. You sit back in a private room. Ketamine is given at a low dose, as an infusion or an injection. Your clinician explains which is used for you and how long it takes.
4. Recovery. You rest in the office until the immediate effects wear off and the team is satisfied you are ready to go.

Treatment usually starts with a series of sessions over a few weeks. Your clinician then reviews how you are doing and decides with you whether further sessions make sense.

Safety and monitoring

A member of the clinical team monitors you throughout each session. During and shortly after treatment you may notice:

• a floating or disconnected feeling (dissociation)
• dizziness or drowsiness
• nausea
• a temporary rise in blood pressure and heart rate
• blurred vision

These effects usually pass within a couple of hours. You must not drive or operate machinery for the rest of the day.

Ketamine vs Spravato

Both act on the same brain system. The main differences:

• Approval. Spravato is FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression. Ketamine for depression is off-label.
• How it is given. Spravato is a nasal spray you take yourself in the office. Ketamine is given by the clinical team.
• Insurance. Many plans cover Spravato. Ketamine for depression is usually self-pay.

See the full comparison of TMS, ketamine and Spravato.

Cost and insurance

Most insurance plans do not cover ketamine for depression, so it is usually paid out of pocket. We give you the price before you start. If cost is the main concern, ask us about Spravato or TMS, which insurance is more likely to cover. See cost and insurance.