Ketamine Therapy FAQs
Ketamine-assisted therapy (KAP) combines clinically appropriate ketamine treatment with preparation, therapeutic support, and integration. Below are answers to common questions about how ketamine works, what treatment feels like, safety, medications, virtual treatment, and what to expect from care at Proactive Psychiatry.
Ketamine is not appropriate for everyone, and online information cannot determine whether it is appropriate for you personally.
At Proactive Psychiatry, treatment begins with an individualized psychiatric evaluation and continues with the same clinician throughout your care.
Explore Ketamine Therapy in Washington, DC →
Understanding Ketamine Therapy
What is ketamine-assisted therapy?
Ketamine-assisted therapy, or KAP, is a treatment model that combines clinically appropriate ketamine use with preparation, therapeutic support, and integration.
Ketamine can temporarily alter perception, emotional processing, body awareness, and familiar patterns of thought. KAP attempts to place that experience within a broader therapeutic process rather than treating ketamine as an isolated medication session.
The specific components and structure of KAP vary among clinicians and programs, and research has not established one universally accepted KAP protocol.
How does ketamine work for mental health?
Ketamine primarily affects the brain’s glutamate system, including NMDA-receptor signaling, through mechanisms that differ from conventional antidepressants such as SSRIs.
Its downstream effects involve neural signaling and processes associated with synaptic plasticity.
Ketamine’s biological effects are complex, however, and statements that ketamine simply “rewires the brain” substantially oversimplify the science.
Research is strongest for ketamine’s antidepressant effects, particularly in treatment-resistant depression.
Is ketamine a psychedelic?
Ketamine is technically a dissociative anesthetic rather than a classic psychedelic, although lower-dose ketamine can produce experiences that share some characteristics with psychedelic states.
People may experience changes in perception, time, body awareness, emotional intensity, imagery, sense of self, or feelings of connection and meaning.
This is why ketamine is often discussed within the broader field of psychedelic-assisted therapy.
Is ketamine the same as Spravato?
No. Ketamine and esketamine (Spravato®) are related but distinct medications.
Ketamine is FDA-approved as an anesthetic and is prescribed off-label when used for psychiatric conditions.
Spravato contains esketamine and has FDA-approved psychiatric indications. It is administered in certified healthcare settings under specific monitoring and Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy requirements.
Spravato is therefore not interchangeable with compounded ketamine or virtual at-home KAP.
Is ketamine FDA approved for depression?
Ketamine itself is not FDA-approved for depression or other psychiatric disorders. Its psychiatric use is off-label.
Off-label prescribing means an FDA-approved medication is being prescribed for a use, dose, route, or population outside its approved labeling.
Esketamine (Spravato) is different and has specific FDA-approved psychiatric indications.
What Ketamine May Help
What mental health conditions is ketamine used for?
Ketamine has been studied most extensively for depression, particularly treatment-resistant depression, with research also examining its potential role in other psychiatric conditions.
Research has explored ketamine in areas including depression, suicidal symptoms, PTSD, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other conditions.
The strength of evidence is not equal across these conditions.
A diagnosis by itself also does not determine whether ketamine is appropriate for a particular person.
Does ketamine work for treatment-resistant depression?
Ketamine has demonstrated rapid antidepressant effects in research involving some patients with treatment-resistant depression, although response varies and benefits may not persist without additional treatment.
This is one of the areas where the evidence for ketamine is most developed.
Treatment planning still requires consideration of previous treatments, diagnosis, medical history, medications, risks, and longer-term strategy.
Can ketamine help anxiety?
Ketamine has been studied for anxiety symptoms and certain anxiety disorders, but the evidence is less established than it is for depression.
Whether ketamine makes sense depends on the nature of the anxiety, co-occurring conditions, previous treatments, and the broader clinical picture.
Can ketamine help PTSD or trauma?
Ketamine has been studied for PTSD, and researchers are also examining approaches that combine ketamine with psychotherapy for trauma-related symptoms.
Research remains evolving.
KAP should not be described as a proven way to erase trauma or permanently “reset” the nervous system.
Can ketamine help ADHD?
Ketamine is not an established treatment for ADHD, and it should not replace evidence-based ADHD evaluation and treatment.
Someone with ADHD may independently have another psychiatric condition for which ketamine is being considered, but that is different from using ketamine specifically to treat ADHD.
The Ketamine Experience
What does ketamine feel like?
Ketamine can temporarily change perception, body awareness, thinking, emotional intensity, and your sense of time or surroundings.
Some people describe feeling deeply relaxed, detached from ordinary worries, physically light or heavy, emotionally open, or immersed in internal imagery.
Others find the experience strange, confusing, emotional, or relatively subtle.
Experiences vary considerably between people and between sessions.
Will ketamine make me hallucinate?
Ketamine can produce perceptual changes and vivid internal imagery, although the experience does not necessarily resemble conventional hallucinations.
Effects depend on dose, route of administration, individual sensitivity, medications, setting, and other factors.
Will I lose control during ketamine therapy?
Ketamine can significantly alter awareness and perception, but psychiatric ketamine treatment generally aims for an altered state rather than general anesthesia or complete unconsciousness.
Feeling less connected to your usual sense of control can sometimes be uncomfortable.
Preparation includes discussing what may occur and how to respond if the experience feels unfamiliar or difficult.
Will I be unconscious?
Ketamine-assisted psychiatric treatment generally uses dosing intended to maintain consciousness rather than produce the deeper anesthetic state associated with surgical anesthesia.
The degree of sedation and dissociation varies, however, and appropriate monitoring remains important.
What if I have a bad ketamine experience?
Ketamine experiences can sometimes involve anxiety, sadness, fear, confusion, or difficult memories, and a challenging experience is possible.
Preparation includes discussing how to respond if this happens.
A difficult experience should not automatically be romanticized as therapeutic, nor does it necessarily mean treatment has failed.
It can be explored thoughtfully afterward during integration.
Do I need to have a mystical experience for ketamine to work?
No. A dramatic, spiritual, or mystical experience is not required for ketamine treatment to be meaningful.
Some sessions feel profound. Others are subtle.
The clinical value of ketamine should not be judged solely by how extraordinary the subjective experience feels.
Preparation and Integration
How should I prepare for ketamine therapy?
Preparation generally includes understanding the medication, setting realistic expectations, reviewing safety instructions, preparing the treatment environment, and considering your intentions for treatment.
Specific instructions about medications, food, fluids, transportation, monitoring, and support should come from your treating clinician because they can differ according to the treatment plan.
What is an intention in ketamine therapy?
An intention is a direction or area of curiosity you bring into treatment rather than a specific experience you expect ketamine to produce.
For example, someone might want to explore avoidance, grief, self-criticism, relationships, or a feeling of being stuck.
Intentions can provide direction without requiring the experience to unfold in a predetermined way.
What is ketamine integration?
Integration is the process of reflecting on the ketamine experience after the acute medication effects have resolved and considering whether anything that emerged is useful in everyday life.
Integration might involve emotions, relationships, behaviors, values, recurring patterns, or perspectives that appeared during treatment.
Not every thought experienced during ketamine should be interpreted as profound or literally true.
Integration provides space to examine it.
Does psychotherapy make ketamine work better?
Research has not yet established that adding psychotherapy reliably enhances ketamine’s pharmacological effects for every patient or identified one optimal KAP protocol.
Studies combining ketamine and psychotherapy are promising in some areas, but methods vary considerably.
At Proactive Psychiatry, preparation and integration are components of the treatment model because they provide context and a structured way to work with the experience, not because psychotherapy is presented as proven to biologically amplify ketamine.
Safety and Side Effects
Is ketamine therapy safe?
Ketamine has a long history of medical use, but psychiatric treatment still carries meaningful risks and requires appropriate screening, prescribing, monitoring, and follow-up.
Potential risks depend on dose, route, medical history, psychiatric history, medications, treatment setting, and frequency of use.
Safety begins with determining whether ketamine is appropriate for the individual patient.
What are the common side effects of ketamine?
Ketamine can cause dissociation, sedation, dizziness, nausea, changes in perception, impaired coordination, and temporary changes in blood pressure or heart rate.
Some people may also experience anxiety, headache, confusion, or emotional discomfort.
The type and intensity of effects vary.
Can ketamine raise blood pressure?
Yes. Ketamine can temporarily increase blood pressure and heart rate, which is one reason cardiovascular history and appropriate monitoring matter.
Patients with certain cardiovascular conditions or uncontrolled hypertension may require additional evaluation or may not be appropriate candidates depending on their circumstances.
Is ketamine addictive?
Ketamine has abuse and dependence potential, particularly when used frequently or outside an appropriate medical framework.
This is one reason screening for substance-use concerns, appropriate prescribing quantities, monitoring, and clear treatment boundaries are important.
Can ketamine cause bladder problems?
Frequent or heavy ketamine exposure has been associated with urinary and bladder complications, particularly in the context of chronic misuse.
Urinary symptoms should be discussed with the treating clinician rather than ignored.
The potential for cumulative adverse effects is another reason ketamine should not be treated as an unlimited wellness product.
Who should not receive ketamine?
Certain medical, psychiatric, substance-use, pregnancy-related, medication, or safety factors may make ketamine inappropriate or require additional evaluation.
There isn’t one simple online checklist that can determine candidacy.
The risk-benefit decision should be individualized.
Can people with bipolar disorder receive ketamine?
A history of bipolar disorder requires careful evaluation before ketamine treatment because diagnosis, current mood state, medications, previous manic or hypomanic episodes, and other factors can affect treatment planning and risk.
A bipolar diagnosis should not be reduced to an automatic yes or no based on a website FAQ.
Individual assessment is particularly important.
Can people with a history of psychosis receive ketamine?
A current or past psychotic disorder is an important consideration because ketamine can produce significant changes in perception and thought.
The specific diagnosis, history, current symptoms, medications, and clinical circumstances need to be evaluated before considering treatment.
Medications and Ketamine
Do I have to stop my antidepressant before ketamine?
Not necessarily. Many patients receiving ketamine remain on other psychiatric medications, but medication decisions must be individualized.
Do not stop an antidepressant or other psychiatric medication simply because you are considering ketamine.
Your medication list should be reviewed before treatment.
Can I take stimulants if I receive ketamine?
Stimulant use does not automatically answer whether someone can receive ketamine, but medications that affect cardiovascular parameters or mental state should be reviewed as part of treatment planning.
Instructions for the day of treatment should come from the prescribing clinician rather than generalized online guidance.
Can I take benzodiazepines with ketamine?
Benzodiazepines and other sedating medications require review when planning ketamine treatment because they may affect sedation, safety, and potentially treatment response.
Do not abruptly discontinue a benzodiazepine to prepare for ketamine.
Withdrawal can be medically dangerous in some circumstances.
Medication changes should be individualized.
What about alcohol or cannabis?
Alcohol, cannabis, and other psychoactive substances can affect cognition, sedation, perception, safety, and the ketamine experience.
Patients should discuss substance use openly before treatment and follow individualized instructions regarding use around a ketamine session.
Virtual and At-Home Ketamine Therapy
Can ketamine therapy be done virtually?
Some components of ketamine-assisted therapy may be provided through telehealth, and appropriate patients may potentially receive treatment in a home setting when clinically and legally appropriate.
Virtual KAP requires more than simply receiving medication.
Screening, safety planning, monitoring, environment, support, follow-up, and applicable prescribing requirements all matter.
Explore Virtual Ketamine-Assisted Therapy →
Is at-home ketamine therapy safe?
At-home treatment can be appropriate for selected patients, but ketamine can cause sedation, dissociation, cardiovascular changes, impaired coordination, and psychological effects that make patient selection and safety planning important.
Not everyone who might receive ketamine in another setting is necessarily appropriate for treatment at home.
Do I need someone with me during virtual KAP?
A responsible adult may be required or recommended depending on the individual treatment plan, medication protocol, risk factors, and circumstances.
Specific requirements are established before treatment.
Patients should not assume that “at home” means ketamine should be taken alone.
Can I drive after ketamine?
You should not drive while ketamine is affecting your judgment, coordination, perception, or reaction time and must follow the specific post-treatment restrictions provided by your clinician.
Transportation should be planned before treatment begins.
Can I work after a ketamine session?
You should plan for recovery after ketamine rather than assuming you can immediately return to work or other demanding activities.
The duration of impairment varies, and individualized post-treatment instructions should be followed.
Is compounded ketamine FDA approved?
No. Compounded ketamine products are not FDA-approved and are not reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality before marketing in the same way as FDA-approved medications.
Compounded medications can still have legitimate medical uses when prescribed appropriately.
Patients should understand the distinction as part of informed consent.
Some components of ketamine-assisted therapy may be provided through telehealth, and appropriate patients may potentially receive treatment in a home setting when clinically and legally appropriate.
Virtual KAP requires more than simply receiving medication by mail.
Screening, safety planning, monitoring, environment, support, follow-up, and applicable prescribing requirements all matter.
Ketamine Treatment
at Proactive Psychiatry
What makes ketamine therapy at Proactive Psychiatry different?
Proactive Psychiatry is built around continuity with one clinician rather than dividing evaluation, prescribing, ketamine care, integration, and psychiatric follow-up among a rotating team.
Your care is provided by Ryan Sheridan, DNP, PMHNP-BC.
That allows the same clinician to understand your psychiatric history, why ketamine is being considered, what emerges during preparation and treatment, how you respond over time, and how ketamine fits into your broader psychiatric care.
One clinician. One therapeutic relationship. Continuity throughout your care.
Will I see the same clinician throughout treatment?
Yes. Proactive Psychiatry’s model is intentionally designed around continuity with Ryan Sheridan, DNP, PMHNP-BC, rather than passing patients between multiple clinicians at different stages of treatment.
What comes up during evaluation can inform preparation.
What happens during treatment can inform integration.
And what is learned throughout the process can inform your broader psychiatric care.
Is Proactive Psychiatry a ketamine clinic?
Proactive Psychiatry is a psychiatric practice that incorporates ketamine-assisted therapy into broader individualized mental health care rather than operating solely as a ketamine treatment center.
Ketamine is one potential treatment option.
The evaluation may determine that another psychiatric treatment makes more sense.
How many ketamine sessions will I need?
There is no universal number of KAP sessions appropriate for every patient.
Recommendations depend on the reason for treatment, clinical response, tolerability, goals, risks, and whether continued treatment remains beneficial.
More ketamine is not automatically better.
How much does ketamine-assisted therapy cost?
Proactive Psychiatry is a private-pay practice, and costs depend on the services included in your individualized treatment plan.
Current evaluation, KAP, and follow-up pricing is listed on the Treatment Options & Pricing page so that pricing information remains transparent and up to date.
Does insurance cover ketamine therapy?
Coverage for ketamine-related services varies substantially because ketamine used for psychiatric treatment is off-label and different components of care may be treated differently by insurance plans.
Proactive Psychiatry is a private-pay practice and does not accept insurance.
Patients should contact their insurer directly if they want to determine whether any services may qualify for out-of-network reimbursement.
Patients may also use this link to review out of network benefits.
Where is ketamine-assisted therapy available?
Proactive Psychiatry provides care only where Ryan Sheridan, DNP, PMHNP-BC is appropriately licensed and where the specific treatment can be provided in accordance with applicable clinical, prescribing, and legal requirements.
Availability of ketamine treatment may differ from ordinary psychiatric telehealth availability.
Your physical location at the time of care can matter, particularly for virtual treatment.
Current availability is confirmed during the intake process.
Still Have Questions
About Ketamine Therapy?
Reading about ketamine can help you understand the treatment, but it cannot determine whether KAP is appropriate for you.
At Proactive Psychiatry, treatment begins with a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation.
If ketamine makes sense, your care continues with the same clinician throughout evaluation, preparation, treatment, integration, and follow-up.
If another treatment makes more sense, we’ll discuss that instead.
Explore Ketamine Therapy in Washington, DC →
Explore Virtual Ketamine-Assisted Therapy →
Ketamine is FDA-approved as an anesthetic but is not FDA-approved for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Psychiatric use is off-label. Esketamine (Spravato®) is a distinct medication with specific FDA-approved psychiatric indications and regulatory requirements. Compounded ketamine products are not FDA-approved and are not reviewed by FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality before marketing in the same manner as FDA-approved medications. Information on this page is educational and does not replace individualized medical evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment.