Ketamine Therapy: What It Is, How It Works, and What You Need to Know

When you hear ketamine therapy, a medical treatment using the drug ketamine to relieve severe depression and chronic pain. Also known as ketamine infusion therapy, it's no longer just an anesthetic from the 1970s—it's becoming a lifeline for people who haven’t responded to anything else. Unlike traditional antidepressants that take weeks to work, ketamine can lift the weight of depression in hours or days. That’s not hype. It’s what patients and clinics are seeing every day.

This isn’t about party drugs or street use. Medical ketamine therapy is tightly controlled, given in low doses under supervision, and often used when other treatments have failed. It’s especially helpful for treatment-resistant depression, a form of depression that doesn’t improve with standard antidepressants or talk therapy. People with severe anxiety, PTSD, and even chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia are also finding relief. The effect isn’t just mood-lifting—it can break the cycle of negative thinking that keeps people stuck.

One version, called esketamine, a nasal spray form of ketamine approved by the FDA for depression. Also known as Spravato, it’s prescribed alongside an oral antidepressant and only given in certified clinics. It’s not a cure, but for many, it’s the first real break they’ve had in years. The therapy usually starts with a few sessions over a couple of weeks, then tapers to maintenance doses. Side effects like dizziness or dissociation are common but short-lived and monitored closely.

What makes ketamine therapy different isn’t just speed—it’s how it works in the brain. Instead of just adjusting serotonin, it rebuilds connections between brain cells. Think of it like fixing broken roads in a city that’s been stuck in traffic for years. That’s why the effects can last beyond the treatment window. But it’s not for everyone. People with uncontrolled high blood pressure, a history of psychosis, or substance abuse need extra caution—or may be ruled out entirely.

The posts below cover everything you need to understand before considering this option. You’ll find guides on how to spot legitimate clinics, what to expect during a session, how it compares to other new treatments like psilocybin, and why insurance often doesn’t cover it yet. There are also warnings about online sellers pushing unregulated ketamine products—some of which are dangerous or fake. This isn’t a DIY treatment. It’s medical care that requires expertise, oversight, and patience. If you’re exploring options for depression, chronic pain, or mental health that hasn’t budged with other methods, what follows here could be the most practical information you’ll read this year.