At Balance Ketamine Clinic in Chicago, we administer IV Ketamine for depression, ketamine treatment for anxiety, PTSD and
chronic pain. Ketamine is an anesthetic drug that is additionally recognized as an agent with
antidepressant potential. For depression, it is most commonly administered as a slow intravenous
infusion in subanesthetic doses (usually 0.5 mg/kg) over about 40 minutes. As an antidepressant, it is
strikingly different from conventional antidepressant drugs in that it brings about rapid and marked
attenuation of depressive symptoms even in patients with refractory depression. The benefits are
observed within hours of administration, peak after about a day, and can last for up to 2 weeks.
Patients who do not benefit after the initial dose may benefit with serial dosing or at higher doses.
Benefits can be maintained for weeks to months by the continuation of ketamine sessions at 2- to 4-day
intervals. Adverse effects include dissociative and psychotomimetic changes that are almost always mild
and transient, if present; transient elevation of heart rate and blood pressure often occur. These
changes are usually well tolerated and are very seldom responsible for treatment discontinuation.
Multiple studies have demonstrated the efficacy of Ketamine in treatment-resistant depression, severe
anxiety and chronic pain.