Frequently Asked Questions

See answers to the most frequently asked questions about Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy.

KAP Experience

  • Originally, Ketamine was utilized as a safe and effective anesthesia and was later discovered it could provide rapidly-acting antidepressant and mood-enhancing effects as well. In fact, these profound effects can begin to take effect within 1-2 hours after treatment and with repeated doses the reduction of symptoms can extend for months. It has been found when prescribed off-label it can relieve symptoms of a variety of conditions affecting your mental health such as depression, anxiety PTSD, and more. Research is ongoing but when medically supervised, the effects are positive.

  • This ketamine program uses oral lozenges. While, Ketamine can be administered in a variety of ways including IV infusion, intramuscular injection (IM), nasal spray, in my work with my clients we solely use the sublingual lozenge form as it is more cost effective and allows for the ability to self administer at home. This tablet will be held in the mouth for 12 minutes and the saliva will be spit out and not ingested.

  • When administered in a controlled clinical environment, the FDA categorizes ketamine as having a "moderate or low potential for physical or psychological dependence." However, it is important your treatment approach strictly adheres to specific guidelines and protocols, ensuring monitored, short-term use within a controlled setting. It's crucial to note that the risk of addiction rises significantly with misuse, underscoring the importance of ketamine being taken only in clinical settings.

    https://www.transcendketamine.com/blog-posts/is-ketamine-treatment-addictive

  • Ketamine is an FDA-approved anesthetic widely used in hospitals. While its primary purpose is anesthesia, it has garnered attention over the past 50 years for its diverse applications in mental health treatment. When a licensed medical provider prescribes ketamine to address mental health conditions such as treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, or chronic pain, it falls under the category of "off-label" use. This means the medication is used to treat conditions beyond its original medicinal intent. While studies are ongoing, researchers have found that ketamine's antidepressant effects are both rapid and robust, making it a viable option for various mental health challenges. Currently, ketamine is part of several active clinical trials investigating the benefit for numerous conditions, including alcohol use disorder, treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and major depressive disorder. However, the medical anecdotal evidence continues to support the effectiveness of ketamine in providing promising outcomes for patients experiencing treatment-resistant conditions.

  • The impact of ketamine varies greatly from person to person, making it a truly individualized experience. For many individuals, undergoing a series of four to ten ketamine sessions yields profound and lasting effects, fostering the development of new positive patterns and lifestyle changes. On the other hand, some may find it beneficial to receive a booster session at a later point in time. This approach allows them to sustain their progress and firmly establish healthy, sustainable behaviors. Ultimately, the duration of your treatment should be determined by your personal comfort level and your specific goals, ensuring a tailored and effective journey towards positive transformation.

Ketamine Misconceptions

  • Since ketamine is considered a safe anesthetic it is also used on humans and animals. It is still widely used in veterinary medicine today, which is where the reputation of it being a horse or cat tranquilizer comes from. Because ketamine works quickly and is less likely to cause respiratory issues compared to other anesthetics, veterinarians frequently use it to sedate animals. However, the perception of ketamine as solely an animal tranquilizer overlooks its FDA-approved medical use in humans for anesthesia and, more recently, for mental health disorders.

  • You might have heard of ketamine being used at clubs or parties, where it’s known as ‘Special K.’ In those settings, people use it for the short-lived, sense of detachment, or to amplify sensory experiences. But this type of use can be risky—unregulated doses can impair judgment and even lead to injuries due to loss of motor control. In therapy, ketamine is used very differently. It’s given in carefully controlled doses with the goal of helping people explore their inner world and process emotions in a calm, safe setting without the overwhelm of a chaotic, overstimulating environment so they can focus on healing.

  • Unfortunately, the controversy surrounding ketamine as a factor in Matthew Perry’s tragic passing created some fear in its safety profile, but it’s important to note it was not used therapeutically. Matthew had taken a dose suitable for surgical anesthesia, along with a medication to treat an opioid addiction which can suppress breathing when combined with other sedatives, and then entered a hot tub, which likely led to drowning. His case involved illegally obtained ketamine, used frequently and outside a medical setting. Sadly, his passing has cast a shadow on a treatment that, when supervised, can provide safe, life-changing benefits for mental health.


Ketamine as Medicine

  • Compared to traditional antidepressants, Ketamine-Assisted Therapy has shown remarkable benefits in treating depression. The STAR*D trial, a $35 million study on traditional antidepressants, revealed that the majority of patients did not respond to the first trial, and one-third of patients never responded despite months of switching treatments.

    In contrast, ketamine has been widely regarded as one of the most significant breakthroughs in psychiatry in the past two decades due to its rapid-acting antidepressant effects. Many people can experience relief within 24 to 72 hours after their first treatment, compared to the 3-6 weeks typically needed for conventional antidepressants to take effect. The antidepressant effects of ketamine therapy can extend when engaging in a longer-term protocol to help work with the increased neuroplasticity of the brain in combination with traditional therapy, self-care, and lifestyle changes to create lasting change in brain function.

    Overall, Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy's ability to provide quick and effective relief for depression has made it an increasingly popular and promising treatment option.

  • IV infusions are typically administered in a medical setting by a healthcare provider. IM or intramuscular injections also can only administered by a nurse or doctor but treatment can take place at home or a therapist’s office. Oral or racemic nasal ketamine is prescribed by a doctor or nurse practitioner and then can be administered by a patient with the support of a therapist. The bioavailability (or amount of drug that enters the bloodstream) differs with each route of administration mentioned above determining the effectiveness of the ketamine. Through a personalized dose discovery process, your provider considers each patient's unique absorption, metabolism, and response to the medication. This has allowed the development of an effective dose for each method to ensure the best results.

  • Ketamine helps re-engage the parts of the brain that were “stuck” in an unhealthy loop of behaviors and gives it the ability to create new healthier ones. Over time, stress can weaken and alter the neuroplasticity of our brain. Neuroplasticity is the brain's capacity to continue growing and evolving in response to life experiences. Oftentimes, our brain becomes resistant to change due to a variety of stressors and remains “stuck” in an unhelpful thought pattern or belief system. Ketamine works directly to restore the neural connections that allow for change to occur by boosting neural circuits that regulate stress and mood and create healthier thought patterns in the brain.

  • The following are indicators this not be recommended for your treatment

    • Current mania or psychosis

    • Diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizophreniform

    • High blood pressure/ hypertension (untreated)

    • Arrhythmia

    • Thyroid disease (Untreated)

    • Active addiction

    • Caution with previous stroke or vascular disease

    • Caution with obstructive sleep apnea

    • Pregnancy

  • During a ketamine session, you may experience short-term side effects or such as a modest increase in heart rate and blood pressure, nausea, dizziness, an altered state of consciousness, and impaired motor coordination. However, if you do experience these symptoms, they usually fade quickly and are gone within 2-4 hours after the session, as ketamine is rapidly cleared from your body.

    If you have a history of high blood pressure, our medical team will provide you with instructions on how to monitor your blood pressure at home so that we can adjust your dose safely throughout the program.

    When it comes to long-term effects, it's worth noting that the risks of long-term ketamine exposure are rare since the ketamine experiences are spaced several days apart and the program only lasts for a few months. However, if you have any concerns about potential long-term effects, we recommend discussing them with your medical prescriber who is knowledgeable about Ketamine-Assisted protocols. They can help you feel fully informed and comfortable about any potential risks.

  • Ketamine stands out from other psychedelics due to its unique neurobiological effects in the brain, and is actually considered a non-traditional psychedelic due to its shorter-acting duration. While the entire experience typically lasts around 2 hours on average, the deepest part of the dosing session or “psychedelic state” is usually approximately 15-30 minutes in duration. Compared to other psychedelics such as LSD, psilocybin, or ayahuasca, ketamine tends to be more predictable in terms of the duration and intensity of its effects.

    A "psychedelic state" refers to an altered state of consciousness induced by psychedelic substances such as LSD, psilocybin, or ketamine. This state can be characterized by perceptual and sensory changes, such as a sense of floating and weightlessness, accompanied by vivid imagery, valuable insights, and spiritual experiences. Additionally, this can result in profound changes in thought and emotions. People often describe this state as a "trip" or a "journey" that can lead to new insights, self-discovery, and personal growth.

    Overall, ketamine's unique properties make it a powerful tool for accelerating the healing process through safe and productive exploration of one's consciousness.

  • Ketamine via oral tablet, intramuscular injection, or nasal racemic ketamine has not been FDA-approved for the treatment of depression or anxiety and is considered “off-label.” However, it is a frequent practice when you receive a prescription from your healthcare provider, the medication they prescribe may not have FDA approval for your specific symptoms. The discovery that it does help alleviate additional symptoms allows for expanded use. This is known as an "off-label prescription." It's a common and legally accepted practice, with around 20% of prescriptions in the U.S. falling into this category.

Cost and Treatment Plan

  • The cost of treatment will vary depending on how many sessions you and your therapist feel will benefit your healing goals. The costs involved would include the medical intakes, sessions with the therapist, and ketamine medicinal tablets.

  • Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy is often referred to as (KAP). The therapist provides the psychotherapy portion of the experience, while the medical team supports the patient on all medical aspects. This includes determining eligibility, developing a custom treatment plan, prescribing the medicine and monitoring outcomes. After the patient receives the ketamine tablets, the therapist and client will work together to provide the proper preparation for the dosing session through setting intentions, creating the best setting for a safe and contained healing environment, integrating the insight received during the “journey,” and helping create an action plan to help create lasting change.