Ketamine was originally developed in the 1950s and used as an anesthetic for medical procedures due to its pain reducing properties. In more recent years, researchers have found that it also helps with mood disorders such as: depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, bipolar depression, postpartum depression, and suicidal ideation. It is also used for chronic pain such as: fibromyalgia, migraines, chronic opioid use, cancer pain, neuropathy, and complex regional pain syndrome. Ketamine works by increasing the activity of glutamate in the brain which plays an important part in mood regulation. It also supports neuroplasticity which allows ketamine to help "re-wire" your brain. Ketamine also blocks specific pain receptors in the brain such as inflammatory signaling.  ​ For mood disorders, ketamine is typically given as 6 infusions over a period of 3-4 weeks and then routine maintenance infusions after that. For pain disorders, ketamine is given as 3-5 infusions in the course of about a week (you want to have consecutive days as much as possible) and then routine maintenance infusions after that. We are always willing to work with you to figure out the best course of action based on your specific needs and budget. Is Ketamine Safe? As you can see in the image below, ketamine is very low on the list for risk of dependence and also risk for death. It is lower in risk for dependencewhen compared to caffeine and nicotine and lower in risk for deathwhen compared to alcohol and morphine.