Ketamine Infusion Therapy: What It Is and What the Evidence Shows
Medically reviewed by Harsha Moole, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor provides Ketamine Infusion Therapy?
A psychiatrist, a doctor who treats mental health problems, may give ketamine infusion therapy for depression. A pain medicine doctor, a doctor who treats long-lasting pain, may use it for pain. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What it is
Ketamine infusion therapy gives ketamine through a vein. Ketamine is a medicine first used during surgery. In research on depression, doctors used a single, low-dose infusion.
Ketamine itself is not FDA-approved for any mental health disorder. Still, dozens of clinics in the United States offer it for depression, anxiety, and other conditions. Esketamine is a related medicine given as a nasal spray. It is FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression in adults. This means depression that has not improved with usual antidepressants.
What people use it for
Studies have shown that one low-dose ketamine infusion can often relieve depression symptoms within hours. This was seen in people who have not responded to usual antidepressants. Usual antidepressants typically take weeks or months to work.
Complex regional pain syndrome causes intense, often long-lasting pain in an arm or a leg after an injury. Some people do not get enough relief from other treatments. In some specialized medical centers, doctors may use low doses of ketamine to help reduce this pain.
If you are thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) right away.
How to prepare
Unsupervised ketamine use may have serious health risks. Using other drugs along with ketamine, especially opioids or GHB, led to the most health problems. Some of these problems were life-threatening. GHB is another club drug.
What happens during it
Clinics may give ketamine by injection into a vein or into a muscle. Some clinics offer it as a pill or a nasal spray. Clinics sometimes combine ketamine with talk therapy.
Recovery
In NIH research on one low-dose infusion, most side effects peaked within an hour. They were gone within two hours. None lasted more than four hours. That research did not look at repeated infusions or long-term use.
What the research shows and safety concerns
The most common short-term side effect was feeling strange or loopy. Other short-term effects can include headache, dizziness, and sleepiness. Some people have trouble speaking, numbness, blurred vision, or nausea. Ketamine may also change blood pressure and heart rate.
Unsupervised use may cause slow breathing. The breathing can be dangerously slow and shallow. NIDA, a drug abuse institute, links long-term, heavy ketamine use to memory problems. It says long-term use may also cause digestive problems. Ketamine use can also cause a urinary problem. It can be treated, but it may be serious. The signs are like those of a urinary tract infection.
Studies in humans link regular ketamine use to signs of addiction. More research is needed to learn how addictive ketamine might be.
Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have trouble breathing, chest pain or discomfort lasting for two minutes or more, or fainting.
Who performs it
A psychiatrist or a pain medicine doctor may provide it. For pain, it is used only in specialized settings.
Common questions
Is ketamine infusion therapy FDA-approved for depression?
No, ketamine itself is not FDA-approved for any mental health disorder. Dozens of clinics in the United States still offer it for depression, anxiety, and other conditions. Esketamine is a related nasal spray. It is FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression in adults.
How fast can ketamine work for depression?
It can work within hours for some people. Studies have shown that one low-dose ketamine infusion can often relieve depression symptoms within hours.
What are the most common side effects of ketamine?
The most common short-term side effect was feeling strange or loopy. Headache, dizziness, and sleepiness can also happen. So can trouble speaking, numbness, blurred vision, or nausea.
Is ketamine used to treat pain?
Yes, in some specialized medical centers. Doctors may use low doses of ketamine to help reduce pain in complex regional pain syndrome when other treatments do not give enough relief.
How does a direct primary care or concierge doctor fit in?
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance.
Sources
- National Institutes of Health - Side effects mild, brief with single antidepressant dose of intravenous ketamine
- National Institute on Drug Abuse - Ketamine
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
