Ketamine-Assisted Therapy protocol
Compound: Ketamine
Status: clinical
FDA-approved dissociative for treatment-resistant depression
Dosing
Dose: 0.5 mg/kg
Route: IV Infusion
Duration: 40 min
Sessions: 6 over 2-3 weeks
Dose: 0.5-1 mg/kg
Route: Intramuscular
Duration: 45-60 min
Sessions: Variable
Dose: 56-84 mg
Route: Intranasal (Spravato)
Duration: 2 hours observation
Sessions: Twice weekly initially
Safety
Monitoring: Blood pressure every 15 min during infusion
Side effects
- Dissociation
- Nausea
- Elevated BP
- Perceptual changes
Contraindications
- Uncontrolled hypertension
- Active psychosis
- Pregnancy
Overview
Mechanism: NMDA receptor antagonist, promotes neuroplasticity
Indications
- Treatment-resistant depression
- Suicidal ideation
- Chronic pain
- PTSD
Evidence level: High - FDA approved (esketamine/Spravato)
Citations
Doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2017.17040472
Year: 2018
Title: Ketamine for Treatment-Resistant Depression
Doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.12.005
Year: 2016
Title: Rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine
Integration
Prompts
- What did you notice?
- Any recurring themes?
- Body sensations?
- Visual phenomena?
Framework: Voice logging during and after sessions captures emergence of insights
Preparation
Screening
- Cardiovascular assessment
- Psychiatric history
- Substance use history
- Blood pressure monitoring
Set setting: Clinical setting recommended, comfortable reclining position, eyeshades optional
Reference material only. Nothing on this page is medical advice or a personal recommendation.
Adults 18 and older only.
First reported by Danny Goler in August 2020; the written protocol grew out of that observation. He has no part in Meridian Optics Lab, this store, or this site, is not a founder and holds no editorial role, and has not reviewed or endorsed any kit, page, or claim published here.