An evidence-based overview of psychedelic-assisted therapy, covering psilocybin, MDMA, ketamine, and other substances being studied for PTSD, depression, addiction, and more.
Ketamine for chronic pain blocks NMDA receptors behind central sensitization. For chronic migraine it can ease pain within hours but often fades in weeks, while CGRP inhibitors need at least 3 months to judge.
IV ketamine is usually easier to access than Spravato: Spravato esketamine nasal spray is given only at REMS certified treatment centers with at least 2 hours of monitoring, while IV ketamine has no REMS but is rarely covered by insurance.
Ketamine therapy uses low doses of ketamine, as an IV infusion or the esketamine nasal spray Spravato, to treat treatment-resistant depression, suicidal thoughts, PTSD and some chronic pain. In a 2013 trial one infusion produced a 64 percent response rate versus 28 percent for placebo.
Medicare and Medicaid Coverage Medicare Part B generally covers Spravato, though copay amounts vary by plan. The Janssen copay assistance program is not available to Medicare, Medicaid, or government-insured patients due to federal anti-kickback regulations. However, some Spravato clinics work with patients to find other financial assistance options, and some state Medicaid programs have begun…
Ketamine treatment costs $400 to $800 per IV infusion session, so a standard six-infusion series runs $2,400 to $4,800. At-home oral ketamine costs about $200 to $400 a month, and Spravato nasal spray is the form insurance most often covers.
At a Glance Ketamine works differently than traditional anxiety medications by modulating glutamate and NMDA receptors rather than serotonin or GABA. Clinical evidence shows rapid and significant anxiety reduction, often within hours to days rather than weeks. Multiple administration routes are available: IV infusion, intramuscular injection, nasal spray (Spravato), sublingual, and oral lozenges. Most patients…
How ketamine treats chronic pain through NMDA antagonism and central sensitization reversal. Evidence for CRPS (50-80% response), fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain, infusion protocols, and at-home options.
Ketamine therapy is one of the fastest-acting treatments for treatment-resistant depression, chronic pain, and PTSD. This guide covers the science, different formats (IV, nasal, oral, IM), costs, and what a session actually looks like.
Ketamine therapy for PTSD uses low dose IV infusions to ease symptoms within hours. In a 2021 trial, 67% of patients responded to six infusions, though a larger veterans trial found no clear benefit.
You can get psilocybin treatment legally in the US through Oregon or Colorado's regulated programs for adults 21 and over, a clinical trial, or New Mexico's medical program once it opens. Here is how each route works, who qualifies, and what a session involves.
IV ketamine infusion is the original and most studied ketamine protocol for treatment-resistant depression. Here is how the standard protocol works, what the experience feels like, and how IV compares to Spravato, oral, and IM delivery.
