Patient Education: Understanding IV Ketamine Therapy for Depression
IV Ketamine Therapy for Depression at Nervana Medical in Sandy, Utah
If you are considering IV ketamine therapy for depression, you probably have questions about how it works, what you should expect during treatment, and whether the unusual sensations some patients experience are necessary for the medication to be effective.
At Nervana Medical in Sandy, Utah, we believe that understanding your treatment helps you feel more comfortable and confident throughout the process. This guide explains what current research tells us about ketamine treatment for depression and treatment-resistant depression.
What Is Ketamine Treatment?
Ketamine is a medication that has been safely used in medicine for more than 50 years, originally as an anesthetic. More recently, researchers discovered that low-dose ketamine can rapidly improve symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD) in many patients who have not responded adequately to traditional antidepressant medications.
Unlike conventional antidepressants, which often take several weeks to begin working, ketamine may begin improving depressive symptoms within hours to days after treatment.
At Nervana Medical, ketamine therapy is administered by experienced medical professionals in a comfortable, closely monitored environment to maximize both safety and effectiveness.
What Dose Is Used?
The dose most commonly used for depression is 0.5 mg/kg of body weight, administered as a slow intravenous (IV) infusion over approximately 40 minutes.
This dosage has been studied extensively and remains the most evidence-supported protocol for treating depression.
Researchers have evaluated doses ranging from approximately 0.1 mg/kg to 1.0 mg/kg. While some individuals may receive individualized treatment plans based on their medical history and response, higher doses have not consistently demonstrated superior antidepressant outcomes and are associated with a greater risk of side effects.
For this reason, most evidence-based ketamine clinics begin treatment using the well-established 0.5 mg/kg protocol.
What Is Dissociation?
During your ketamine infusion, you may experience what is known as dissociation.
Patients commonly describe this sensation as:
- Feeling detached from their body
- Feeling as though time has slowed
- A floating sensation
- Dream-like thoughts or imagery
- Feeling less connected to their surroundings
These sensations are temporary and generally resolve within one to two hours after the infusion has ended.
Some patients experience significant dissociation, while others notice very little. Both experiences are considered normal.
Does Dissociation Mean the Treatment Is Working?
One of the most common questions patients ask is:
“Do I need to dissociate for ketamine to work?”
Based on the best available scientific evidence, the answer appears to be no.
Multiple clinical studies have investigated whether dissociation is responsible for ketamine’s antidepressant effects.
Current research suggests:
Dissociation is not required.
Patients who experience little or no dissociation can still achieve significant improvement in depression symptoms.
More dissociation does not predict better outcomes.
Studies have not found consistent evidence that patients with stronger dissociative experiences experience greater antidepressant benefit.
The antidepressant effects appear to involve different brain mechanisms.
The dissociative experience usually fades within about 80 minutes after treatment, while improvements in depression often continue to develop over the following hours and days and may last for a week or longer. This difference in timing suggests that ketamine’s antidepressant effects are not simply caused by the temporary dissociative experience.
What Does This Mean for You?
Whether your infusion feels very relaxing or quite unusual, it does not necessarily predict how much improvement you will experience afterward.
Remember:
- Little or no dissociation does not mean your treatment failed.
- Experiencing dissociation does not guarantee a better response.
- Higher doses generally increase side effects and have not consistently shown greater antidepressant benefit.
- Our goal is to provide the safest and most effective treatment supported by current medical evidence.
What to Expect During Your IV Ketamine Treatment
At Nervana Medical, your comfort and safety are our highest priorities.
During treatment you can expect:
- A comprehensive medical evaluation before beginning therapy
- Continuous monitoring of your heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen level, and overall comfort
- A relaxing treatment room with calming music, dim lighting, and eye masks available if desired
- Medical staff available throughout your infusion
- Observation after treatment until you are medically cleared to leave
Because ketamine temporarily affects judgment and coordination, you must have a driver and should not drive, operate machinery, or make important decisions for the remainder of the day.
Common Side Effects
Most side effects are temporary and resolve shortly after treatment.
Possible side effects include:
- Dissociation or feeling detached
- Dizziness
- Mild nausea
- Temporary increase in blood pressure
- Blurred vision
- Fatigue
- Mild headache
Most patients recover fully within one to two hours after the infusion.
How Many Treatments Will I Need?
Most patients benefit from an initial series of six IV ketamine infusions, typically performed two to three times per week over two to three weeks.
Many patients then transition to maintenance treatments based on their individual response and treatment goals.
Every treatment plan at Nervana Medical is customized to each patient’s medical history, symptoms, and long-term mental health goals.
Why Choose Nervana Medical for Ketamine Therapy?
At Nervana Medical in Sandy, Utah, we provide personalized, evidence-based ketamine therapy for patients struggling with:
- Treatment-resistant depression
- Major depressive disorder
- Anxiety disorders
- PTSD
- Chronic pain
- Mood disorders
Our experienced medical team carefully evaluates every patient and develops an individualized treatment plan focused on safety, comfort, and lasting improvement.
We believe ketamine therapy is most effective when combined with comprehensive mental health care, healthy lifestyle habits, and appropriate follow-up.
If you have questions about whether IV ketamine therapy is right for you, our team is happy to discuss your options during a consultation.
References
- Luckenbaugh DA, Niciu MJ, Ionescu DF, et al. Do the Dissociative Side Effects of Ketamine Mediate Its Antidepressant Effects? Journal of Affective Disorders. 2014.
- Ballard ED, Zarate CA. The Role of Dissociation in Ketamine’s Antidepressant Effects. Nature Communications. 2020.
- Acevedo-Diaz EE, Cavanaugh GW, Greenstein D, et al. Can “Floating” Predict Treatment Response to Ketamine? Journal of Psychiatric Research. 2020.
- Mathai DS, Meyer MJ, Storch EA, Kosten TR. The Relationship Between Subjective Effects Induced by a Single Dose of Ketamine and Treatment Response in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder: A Systematic Review. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2020.
- Fava M, Freeman MP, Flynn M, et al. Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Dose-Ranging Trial of Intravenous Ketamine as Adjunctive Therapy in Treatment-Resistant Depression. Molecular Psychiatry. 2020.
- Seshadri A, Prokop LJ, Singh B. Efficacy of Intravenous Ketamine and Intranasal Esketamine With Dose Escalation for Major Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2024.
- Zhou L, Duan J. The Role of NMDARs in the Anesthetic and Antidepressant Effects of Ketamine. CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics. 2024.