break-through treatment for depression

IV Ketamine Infusion Therapy

Ketamine infusion therapy is a fast and effective treatment for depression, treatment resistant depression, and emotional distress.

About this treatment

Brief Overview of the Treatment

A safe, evidence-based IV therapy delivering low-dose ketamine. It can provide rapid relief from depression, PTSD, and suicidality, with lasting benefits when combined with ongoing care.

Who is the treatment for?

For individuals coping with depression, treatment resistant depression, post traumatic stress disorder, or suicidal thoughts.

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Number of Sessions and Duration

The treatment consists of nine infusions administered over six weeks, with each session lasting about one hour, including a short recovery period. Maintenance treatments may be provided as clinically indicated and subject to approval by the medical team.

Ketamine Infusion Therapy

What is Ketamine Infusion Therapy?

Ketamine infusion therapy is an innovative, cutting edge medical approach designed to provide meaningful relief from depressive symptoms, emotional distress, and suicidal thoughts. Unlike conventional psychiatric medications that act slowly on the serotonin system, ketamine works directly on the brain’s glutamate system and promotes the formation and strengthening of new neural connections, a process that supports emotional regulation and cognitive flexibility. Clinical studies indicate that approximately 70 percent of patients experience significant clinical improvement, sometimes within just a few days, even in cases of treatment resistant depression that have not responded to standard therapies.

To ensure the most supportive and therapeutic experience possible, treatment is provided in a private, quiet room within a respectful and calming environment, where the patient rests comfortably in a reclining chair. The process involves a slow infusion lasting about one hour under close medical supervision by experienced physicians, followed by a brief recovery period at the clinic. The standard treatment protocol includes a series of nine infusions administered over approximately six weeks. When clinically indicated, and subject to the medical team’s judgment and approval, additional maintenance treatments may be scheduled to help sustain therapeutic benefits over time. In addition, we offer an integrated treatment option known as ketamine assisted psychotherapy (KAP), which combines ketamine infusions with psychotherapy delivered by specially trained clinicians, with the goal of maximizing therapeutic outcomes.

AFTER KETAMINE INFUSION THERAPY, MANY PATIENTS HAVE EXPERIENCED:

  • Rapid reduction in depressive symptoms
  • Relief from suicidal thoughts
  • Decrease in anxiety and panic attacks
  • Improved emotional stability and stress resilience
  • Better sleep and daytime energy
  • Enhanced ability to connect with others and engage socially
  • Renewed sense of hope and motivation

Ketamine Infusion Therapy can have dramatic positive effects on a wide range of symptoms and conditions.

Treatment-resistant depression
Suicidality and suicidal thoughts
Loss of motivation or energy
Anxiety & panic attacks
Intrusive thoughts & rumination
Sleep disturbances & insomnia
Irritability & mood swings
Emotional numbness or detachment
Low self-worth and hopelessness
Social withdrawal & isolation

How is the procedure done?

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 Before starting, patients meet with a clinician to review medical history, set treatment goals, and ensure suitability for ketamine infusion therapy. Vital signs are monitored, and the patient is made comfortable in a calm treatment setting.

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 The treatment consists of a controlled intravenous infusion of low-dose ketamine, lasting about one hour. During the infusion, patients are continuously monitored by medical staff to ensure safety and comfort. Many describe the experience as deeply relaxing, with some reporting mild dissociation or dreamlike sensations that typically subside shortly after the session.

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 After the infusion, patients rest briefly in the clinic until they feel ready to leave, usually within 20–30 minutes. Most return to their normal activities the same day, although it is recommended not to drive until the following morning.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS

Some patients may experience mild side effects such as nausea, dizziness, or changes in perception during or shortly after the infusion. These effects are generally temporary and resolve quickly, usually within the same day.

Payment and Financing

Ketamine infusion therapy is provided at our private clinic in a comfortable, safe, and professional setting, with close medical supervision and continuous care by senior specialists. The treatment protocol includes nine sessions delivered over approximately six weeks, in accordance with advanced clinical standards.

In addition, we offer a dedicated protocol that integrates psychotherapy delivered by expert therapists with specialized training in ketamine assisted integrative treatment. This approach is designed to deepen the therapeutic process and enhance clinical outcomes.

Costs and treatment options:

  • Cost per individual session: 1,700 ILS, with the option to pay separately for each session.

  • The full protocol includes nine ketamine infusions over a period of approximately six weeks.

Cost and treatment options

Costs and treatment options:

  • Cost per individual session: 1,700 ILS, with the option to pay separately for each session.

  • The full protocol includes nine ketamine infusions over a period of approximately six weeks.

Integrated treatment (KAP, Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy):
  • We offer an integrated treatment pathway that combines ketamine infusions with accompanying psychotherapy sessions. These sessions are provided by professionals with specialized training in the field, with the goal of maximizing therapeutic effectiveness and supporting deep, lasting change processes.

PLEASE NOTE

  • Currently, there are no reimbursements from health funds (Kupot Cholim) or private insurance for this treatment.
  • If needed, you can contact a Stella representative to request a review for specific assistance and be added to a waiting list for additional subsidies beyond the standard rates.
2023
logo new england journal

Breakthrough Treatment: Ketamine as Effective as ECT for Treatment-Resistant Depression

A large-scale clinical trial shows that ketamine infusions offer similar efficacy to the common treatment for severe depression, without the cognitive side effects.

2024

Real-World Success: Ketamine Rapidly Reduces Depression and Suicidal Ideation

A five-year longitudinal study demonstrates that low-dose IV ketamine infusions provide significant and fast-acting relief for patients with treatment-resistant depression.

Clinical Research

Ketamine has been extensively studied over the past two decades for the treatment of depression, suicidality, and post traumatic stress disorder.

Since the early 2000s, dozens of clinical trials and research publications have demonstrated that ketamine infusion therapy can provide rapid and meaningful relief from symptoms, including in cases of treatment resistant depression. Studies have also highlighted its effectiveness in reducing suicidal thoughts, alleviating post traumatic stress symptoms, and improving overall functioning.

Frequently asked questions about Ketamine Treatment

If you didn’t find an answer to your question, or if you would like to speak to our team confidentially and for free, leave your details at the bottom of the page.

Low-dose Ketamine Infusion (Sub-anesthetic dose) is a medical breakthrough primarily intended for people suffering from clinical depression or treatment-resistant depression (depression that has not responded to at least two types of antidepressant medications). Unlike traditional medications that affect serotonin levels, Ketamine acts on the glutamate system in the brain, allowing for a faster and more significant effect.

Yes. Ketamine acts on the NMDA and glutamate system in the brain, a completely different mechanism from most common medications (like Cipralex or Lustral). Therefore, it can also help those who are under medication treatment and still suffer from the symptoms mentioned above. The treatment helps “open a window of opportunity” where the brain becomes more flexible for change.
One of Ketamine’s greatest advantages is its speed. While antidepressant medications (like SSRIs) require weeks to take effect, many patients report initial relief after the first or second treatment. To achieve long-term results, a series of several treatments at regular intervals is usually recommended.
Ketamine helps restore synaptic connections in the brain (a process called neuroplasticity) that have been damaged as a result of depression or trauma. It acts as a “Reset” for the nervous system, and in many cases brings about rapid relief of symptoms, sometimes within hours or a few days, including a significant reduction in suicidal thoughts.
The treatment is especially suitable if you identify with the following symptoms: A feeling of “emptiness” or loss of pleasure (anhedonia): You feel a complete lack of interest in things that once brought you joy. Life seems “grey,” and there is difficulty feeling any emotion – positive or negative. Mental stickiness (rumination): Your brain is in an endless loop of negative thoughts, self-blame, or painful memories, and you feel like you don’t have an “off switch” for this mental noise. Extreme lack of energy (“emotional paralysis”): Simple actions like getting out of bed, showering, or answering the phone seem like impossible tasks. You feel physical and mental heaviness that prevents you from functioning. A deep sense of despair: The thought that the situation will never change, or a feeling of “I’ve tried everything and nothing helped.” Ketamine works on different brain mechanisms and can generate new hope even when everything seems lost. “Brain fog” and concentration difficulties: You feel your thinking is slow, you find it hard to make simple decisions, or you can’t concentrate on anything for more than a few minutes. Difficult thoughts of worthlessness: The feeling that the world would be a better place without you or recurrent thoughts of death as a way to stop the mental suffering.
According to a large scientific review and meta analysis published in 2023, racemic ketamine, which is most commonly administered via intravenous infusion, was found to be more effective and to have more durable effects than esketamine, which is administered as a nasal spray, in the treatment of depression. The main difference is that racemic ketamine produces stronger clinical effects starting from the first dose, is more successful in maintaining mood improvement across repeated treatment sessions, and most importantly, the therapeutic benefits are sustained for several weeks after treatment completion. In contrast, the effects of esketamine tend to diminish more rapidly. Despite the advantage in efficacy observed with racemic ketamine, research indicates that both formulations are considered similarly safe and well tolerated by patients, with appropriate dosing being a key factor for successful treatment in both approaches.
Clinical Depression (MDD) is a mental disorder characterized by deep sadness, loss of interest and pleasure (anhedonia), and significant impairment in functioning for at least two weeks. Diagnosis is made by a psychiatrist (male/female) or a clinical psychologist (male/female) based on criteria from the DSM-5, which include emotional, cognitive, and physiological symptoms.
The term “Treatment-Resistant Depression” refers to a condition where a patient does not experience significant improvement in symptoms despite having tried at least two different types of antidepressant medications (such as SSRIs or SNRIs) at the appropriate dose and duration. Approximately 30% of people suffering from depression will be classified as having TRD, and for them, advanced solutions like Ketamine Infusion are considered one of the most effective options today.

Patient Testimonials

Some may experience instant relief, while others may see gradual progress or require additional treatments. It is essential to recognize that each patient’s unique journey is valid, and our team is dedicated to providing support throughout the entire treatment process. 

Frequently asked questions about Ketamine Treatment

If you didn’t find an answer to your question, or if you would like to speak to our team confidentially and for free, leave your details at the bottom of the page.

Low-dose Ketamine Infusion (Sub-anesthetic dose) is a medical breakthrough primarily intended for people suffering from clinical depression or treatment-resistant depression (depression that has not responded to at least two types of antidepressant medications). Unlike traditional medications that affect serotonin levels, Ketamine acts on the glutamate system in the brain, allowing for a faster and more significant effect.

Yes. Ketamine acts on the NMDA and glutamate system in the brain, a completely different mechanism from most common medications (like Cipralex or Lustral). Therefore, it can also help those who are under medication treatment and still suffer from the symptoms mentioned above. The treatment helps “open a window of opportunity” where the brain becomes more flexible for change.
One of Ketamine’s greatest advantages is its speed. While antidepressant medications (like SSRIs) require weeks to take effect, many patients report initial relief after the first or second treatment. To achieve long-term results, a series of several treatments at regular intervals is usually recommended.
Ketamine helps restore synaptic connections in the brain (a process called neuroplasticity) that have been damaged as a result of depression or trauma. It acts as a “Reset” for the nervous system, and in many cases brings about rapid relief of symptoms, sometimes within hours or a few days, including a significant reduction in suicidal thoughts.
The treatment is especially suitable if you identify with the following symptoms: A feeling of “emptiness” or loss of pleasure (anhedonia): You feel a complete lack of interest in things that once brought you joy. Life seems “grey,” and there is difficulty feeling any emotion – positive or negative. Mental stickiness (rumination): Your brain is in an endless loop of negative thoughts, self-blame, or painful memories, and you feel like you don’t have an “off switch” for this mental noise. Extreme lack of energy (“emotional paralysis”): Simple actions like getting out of bed, showering, or answering the phone seem like impossible tasks. You feel physical and mental heaviness that prevents you from functioning. A deep sense of despair: The thought that the situation will never change, or a feeling of “I’ve tried everything and nothing helped.” Ketamine works on different brain mechanisms and can generate new hope even when everything seems lost. “Brain fog” and concentration difficulties: You feel your thinking is slow, you find it hard to make simple decisions, or you can’t concentrate on anything for more than a few minutes. Difficult thoughts of worthlessness: The feeling that the world would be a better place without you or recurrent thoughts of death as a way to stop the mental suffering.
According to a large scientific review and meta analysis published in 2023, racemic ketamine, which is most commonly administered via intravenous infusion, was found to be more effective and to have more durable effects than esketamine, which is administered as a nasal spray, in the treatment of depression. The main difference is that racemic ketamine produces stronger clinical effects starting from the first dose, is more successful in maintaining mood improvement across repeated treatment sessions, and most importantly, the therapeutic benefits are sustained for several weeks after treatment completion. In contrast, the effects of esketamine tend to diminish more rapidly. Despite the advantage in efficacy observed with racemic ketamine, research indicates that both formulations are considered similarly safe and well tolerated by patients, with appropriate dosing being a key factor for successful treatment in both approaches.
Clinical Depression (MDD) is a mental disorder characterized by deep sadness, loss of interest and pleasure (anhedonia), and significant impairment in functioning for at least two weeks. Diagnosis is made by a psychiatrist (male/female) or a clinical psychologist (male/female) based on criteria from the DSM-5, which include emotional, cognitive, and physiological symptoms.
The term “Treatment-Resistant Depression” refers to a condition where a patient does not experience significant improvement in symptoms despite having tried at least two different types of antidepressant medications (such as SSRIs or SNRIs) at the appropriate dose and duration. Approximately 30% of people suffering from depression will be classified as having TRD, and for them, advanced solutions like Ketamine Infusion are considered one of the most effective options today.