Can Ketamine Treat Depression?

Depression is a complex and often debilitating condition affecting millions of people worldwide. Traditional treatments like antidepressants and therapy help many people, but we also have cases known as treatment-resistant depression; this is where traditional treatments fail to help the person suffering from depression.

In recent years, ketamine has gained attention as a potential breakthrough for treatment-resistant depression. This article explores the science, benefits, and risks of using ketamine for depression.

Can Ketamine Treat Depression? The Key Points

• Medical-grade ketamine can help people with treatment-resistant depression
• Ketamine is an alternative depression treatment, only explored when other treatments have failed
• Administration of medical-grade ketamine should only be given under professional supervision
• Street ketamine is not medical-grade ketamine and should not be considered a depression treatment
• Prolonged use is not recommended

What is Ketamine?

Ketamine was first approved in the 1960s as an anaesthetic for surgical procedures.

Unlike traditional anaesthetics, ketamine doesn’t suppress breathing or circulation, making it a safer option in many medical contexts. It is also commonly used in veterinary medicine. Beyond its medical use, ketamine became infamous as a party drug due to its dissociative effects, earning nicknames like “Special K.”

In recent years, ketamine’s potential as a treatment for mental health disorders, particularly depression, come into focus. It’s important to distinguish between medical-grade ketamine administered in clinical settings and illicit ketamine used recreationally.

Buying ketamine off the street will not help you with depression; this is often mixed with other ingredients and not administered in a clinical setting. This self-administration, can lead to incorrect dosing and an increased risk of harmful side effects or overdose.

How Does Ketamine Work for Depression?

Traditional antidepressants target serotonin, norepinephrine, or dopamine levels in the body. Ketamine works on a different neurotransmitter: glutamate.

Glutamate plays a role in synaptic plasticity, basically, the brain’s ability to adapt and rewire itself. By modulating glutamate activity and stimulating the growth of new neural connections, ketamine appears to “reset” brain circuits implicated in depression.

The stimulation of the glutamate system only works at low doses; at high doses, ketamine blocks glutamate and acts more as an anaesthetic through this dissociative property.

This unique mechanism offers several advantages:

• Rapid Onset: While most antidepressants take weeks to show results, ketamine often alleviates depressive symptoms within hours.
• Efficacy for Treatment-Resistant Depression: Research indicates ketamine can help patients who have not responded to traditional treatments.
• Potential to Reduce Suicidal Thoughts: In emergency settings, ketamine has been used to quickly reduce suicidal thoughts in some patients.

Ketamine for Depression: What the Research Says

There have now been many studies and clinical trials exploring ketamine’s effectiveness for depression. Key findings include:

1. Rapid Relief: A study published in The American Journal of Psychiatry found that a single ketamine infusion significantly reduced depressive symptoms within 24 hours for 70% of participants.
2. Sustained Benefits: Although the effects of a single dose may fade within a week, repeated doses (administered under supervision) have shown longer-lasting benefits.
3. Suicidal Ideation: Research has demonstrated ketamine’s ability to reduce suicidal thoughts even when depressive symptoms persist, making it a valuable option in crisis situations.

Despite these promising results, experts caution that more research is needed to fully understand long-term outcomes and optimal dosing protocols.

There is some evidence to suggest that after a 6-week course of IV-infused ketamine, if depressive symptoms have not faded, the treatment will not work with further administration.

Benefits of Ketamine for Depression

Ketamine is only administered to patients who have treatment-resistant depression in clinical settings. Benefits include:

• Fast-Acting Relief: Ketamine is often described as a lifeline for people in severe distress, providing relief when other treatments fail.
• Alternative for Treatment-Resistant Depression: For those who have exhausted other options, ketamine represents a new frontier in mental health care.
• Improved Neuroplasticity: By fostering new connections between brain cells, ketamine may help repair the damage caused by chronic stress and depression.

Risks and Concerns

While ketamine can be helpful for some people, it does come with real risks. Some people may develop a psychological dependence on it, meaning they feel like they need it to cope. There is also a risk of overdose, which is why ketamine should only ever be given under strict medical supervision.

A recent high-profile example is the death of Friends actor Matthew Perry, who passed away due to a ketamine overdose. Court documents showed that he initially received ketamine as a medical treatment but later became dependent and began getting it from illegal sources. This highlights how misuse can develop and why caution is essential.

Like many medications that affect the brain, ketamine can be addictive if not used carefully. Doctors closely control the dose and limit how long it’s used, especially if it isn’t clearly helping the person’s mental health.

Common concerns with ketamine include:

• Side effects: These can include feeling disconnected from reality, nausea, dizziness, and raised blood pressure. Most of these effects usually wear off within a few hours.
• Risk of misuse: Ketamine is a controlled drug because it can be abused.
• Cost and access: Ketamine treatments are often expensive and, in many places (including the UK), are not covered by insurance.

Doctors are also still learning about the long-term effects of using ketamine repeatedly for depression, which is why treatment must be carefully monitored.

One of the biggest concerns for doctors is preventing a patient from becoming psychologically dependent on ketamine. If someone has a history of addiction, ketamine treatment is usually not recommended, as they are at higher risk of developing a ketamine use disorder rather than benefiting from the treatment.

Ketamine Treatment in the UK

In the UK, ketamine is not yet widely available as a standard treatment for depression, but select clinics and research centres offer ketamine-assisted therapy under strict guidelines. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) regulates its use, ensuring that treatments are safe and ethical.

Scotland, with its growing focus on mental health innovation, has seen a rise in interest in ketamine treatments. Clinics like Eulas offering ketamine therapy emphasise comprehensive care, combining the medication with psychotherapy and careful monitoring.

Supporting People with Depression

Ketamine is an exciting development in the treatment of depression, particularly for people who have not found relief with traditional methods. Its rapid onset, unique mechanism, and potential to reduce suicidal ideation make it a valuable option for many. However, it is very important to approach ketamine treatment with caution, ensuring it is administered by trained professionals in a controlled environment.

At Nova Recovery, we are committed to helping people explore innovative treatments while prioritising safety and holistic care. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction-related depression, contact us to learn more about how we can support your journey to recovery.

If you’re ready to explore the latest in mental health care, get in touch with Nova Recovery today. Together, we can help you take the first steps toward a brighter future.

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John Gillen - Author - Last updated: January 28, 2026

John has travelled extensively around the world, culminating in 19 years’ experience looking at different models. He is the European pioneer of NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) treatment to Europe in 2010; and recently back from the USA bringing state of the art Virtual Reality Relapse Prevention and stress reduction therapy. His passion extends to other metabolic disturbances and neurodegenerative diseases. The journey continues. In recent times, John has travelled to Russia to study and research into a new therapy photobiomudulation or systemic laser therapy working with NAD+ scientists and the very best of the medical professionals in the UK and the USA, together with Nadcell, Bionad Hospitals own select Doctors, nurses, dieticians and therapists. Johns’ passion continues to endeavour to bring to the UK and Europe new developments with NAD+ Therapy in preventive and restorative medicine and Wellness. In 2017 John Gillen was made a visiting Professor at the John Naisbitt university in Belgrade Serbia.