Ketamine is used to treat depression, including severe, treatment resistant depression in addition to PTSD and anxiety. Dr. David Danish was the 1st provider in the Philadelphia region to offer IV ketamine for treatment-resistant depression. Our Main Line Philadelphia area providers have seen first-hand the many positive ways that Ketamine therapy can change people's lives with a faster onset of action and fewer side effects compared to traditional treatments for depression.
We offer Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy as well as stand alone psychiatric Ketamine treatments via intramuscular (IM) injection.
The intranasal version of esketamine is FDA approved, with studies showing that ketamine can help with suicidal thinking, certain anxiety disorders, PTSD symptoms, certain pain disorders, and tinnitus. There is mounting evidence it can also help treat alcohol use disorder. Ketamine works quickly, effectively, and with few known side effects which is a major advantage over traditional antidepressants.
We are providing Intramuscular (IM) ketamine injections at our practice and there is ample research that is as effective as IV ketamine. Typically, this injection is given in the upper arm, similar to common vaccinations. There is growing anecdotal evidence that IM ketamine may be more effective than the intranasal esketamine that was recently FDA approved. Ketamine treatment for depression involves a series of treatments (6 treatments within 3 weeks) followed by maintenance treatments that usually occur anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks apart.
