Ketamine is an anesthetic that has been used surgically for decades.  However, nearly 20 years ago researchers discovered that Ketamine could improve mood much faster than traditional antidepressant drugs, and it works when many other drugs have failed.
 
Although researchers are not sure exactly how Ketamine works to treat depression, it does work in a mechanism completely different from typical antidepressants that focus on the Serotonin system.  Ketamine via IV works on Glutamate receptors which work faster and can provide a more rapid response for the patient. For suicidal patients, this can be life-saving.  Many times patients report relief within hours or days of the infusion.  However, additional infusions are necessary over the following 5 weeks to encourage the longest lasting benefit.

APSKC is one of the very few Ketamine programs in the country that provide individual, high quality care for patients experiencing chronic, debilitating depression. We provide the safest, most individualized treatment with both a board-certified Anesthesiologist and board-certified Psychiatrist present for each infusion. Patients’ vital signs are individually monitored during each infusion. Ketamine therapy for the treatment of chronic, severe depression is a very precise therapy that requires expertise any clinics are now offering Ketamine for the treatment of depression, however, with much less stringent oversight than APSKC. We encourage all potential patients to research potential physicians and clinics and ask questions regarding experience, education and safety of the person administering Ketamine.
 
We offer a 6-week protocol for IV Ketamine. After the series of 6 infusions, patients often find long-lasting relief from their depression; however, we can schedule a single additional booster as needed to help control recurring symptoms.