A medicine with a long track record
Ketamine has been used safely in hospitals as an anesthetic for decades. At much lower doses, given slowly and under medical supervision, it is now used to treat mood and pain disorders.
It works differently from antidepressants
Most antidepressants target serotonin and take weeks to work. Ketamine acts on glutamate, the brain's main signaling chemical, helping the brain form new connections. That is why some people feel better within hours or days.
What a session is like
An IV infusion lasts about 40 minutes in a comfortable, monitored setting. Many people describe feeling relaxed or slightly detached. Effects wear off soon after, and someone else drives you home.
Typical treatment course
A starting series is commonly six infusions over two to three weeks, followed by occasional boosters. Your provider tailors the plan to how you respond.
Cost and insurance
IV ketamine is usually self-pay, often a few hundred dollars per infusion. Spravato (esketamine nasal spray) is FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression and is frequently covered by insurance.