What Is IV Ketamine Therapy?
IV ketamine therapy is a cutting-edge treatment that offers rapid relief for people with treatment-resistant depression — those who haven’t improved with standard antidepressants. Originally used as an anesthetic, ketamine is now transforming mental health care by working on a completely different brain system than traditional medications.
Who Is IV Ketamine For?
IV ketamine infusions are typically recommended for adults struggling with:
Major depressive disorder (MDD)
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD)
Anxiety or panic disorders
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Bipolar depression
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Chronic pain conditions, such as fibromyalgia or complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
If you’ve tried multiple medications and therapy but still feel stuck, ketamine can help “reset” your brain’s mood pathways and offer new hope.
How IV Ketamine Therapy Works
Unlike traditional antidepressants that act on serotonin, ketamine targets the glutamate system, helping your brain form new, healthier neural connections.
Here’s how a typical session works:
You’ll sit or recline comfortably in a calm clinical setting.
A low dose of ketamine is administered intravenously over 40 minutes.
You might feel relaxed, floaty, or dreamlike during the infusion — some describe it as a gentle “mental reset.”
A clinician will monitor your vital signs (heart rate, oxygen, and blood pressure) the entire time.
Afterward, you’ll rest for about 15–30 minutes before heading home (with a ride arranged).
Most treatment plans include 6 infusions over 2–3 weeks, followed by maintenance sessions every few weeks or months.
(References: Zarate et al., 2006; Abdallah et al., 2018)
How Does Ketamine Help Depression?
Depression can damage or weaken the connections between brain cells. Ketamine helps repair and strengthen these pathways through increased production of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) — a key protein that supports neural growth and resilience.
This process helps your brain “rewire” itself, improving mood, motivation, and emotional regulation — often within hours or days, not weeks.
(References: Duman & Aghajanian, 2012; McIntyre et al., 2021)
What Are the Side Effects of IV Ketamine?
Ketamine is generally well-tolerated, but mild, short-term side effects can occur:
Dizziness or nausea
Temporary increases in blood pressure or heart rate
Fatigue or grogginess afterward
Mild dissociation or altered perception
These effects typically wear off within an hour, and trained clinicians are present to ensure your comfort and safety.
(References: Short et al., 2018)
Who Should Avoid Ketamine Therapy?
IV ketamine therapy isn’t suitable for everyone. It’s not recommended if you:
Have uncontrolled hypertension or heart disease
Have a history of psychosis or schizophrenia
Are pregnant or breastfeeding
Have active substance misuse or a ketamine use history
Before starting, your provider will perform a comprehensive medical and psychological assessment to ensure ketamine is a safe option for you.
(Reference: APA Consensus Statement, 2017)
Patient Experiences with Ketamine
Many patients describe their ketamine infusions as a mental “reset.” Common benefits include:
Reduced depressive symptoms
Less emotional heaviness
Diminished suicidal thoughts
Improved openness to therapy and self-reflection
The experience itself can also help people gain insight — almost like seeing their struggles from a new angle, without the emotional fog that depression often brings.
IV Ketamine vs. Other Treatments
Ketamine doesn’t replace therapy — it enhances it. Many people find that once their mood lifts, they’re finally able to engage more fully in psychotherapy and daily life.
The Bottom Line
IV ketamine therapy offers real, rapid relief for people who’ve felt hopeless after trying everything else. When administered safely by trained professionals, it can jumpstart your recovery and restore the spark that depression stole.
If you’ve been searching for a new approach to depression or anxiety, IV ketamine might be the option that helps you move forward — quickly, safely, and effectively.
References
Abdallah, C. G., Sanacora, G., Duman, R. S., & Krystal, J. H. (2018). Ketamine and rapid-acting antidepressants: a window into a new neurobiology for mood disorder therapeutics. Annual Review of Medicine, 69, 231–244.
American Psychiatric Association (APA). (2017). Consensus Statement on the Use of Ketamine in the Treatment of Mood Disorders.
Duman, R. S., & Aghajanian, G. K. (2012). Synaptic dysfunction in depression: potential therapeutic targets. Science, 338(6103), 68–72.
McIntyre, R. S. et al. (2021). Synthesizing the evidence for ketamine and esketamine in treatment-resistant depression. Journal of Affective Disorders, 278, 301–311.
Short, B., Fong, J., Galvez, V., Shelker, W., & Loo, C. K. (2018). Side-effects associated with ketamine use in depression: A systematic review. The Lancet Psychiatry, 5(1), 65–78.
Zarate, C. A. et al. (2006). A randomized trial of an N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist in treatment-resistant major depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 63(8), 856–864.
