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.

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.