You’ve tried to feel better. You’re still waiting to feel like yourself.

Ketamine is a medication that has been used in medical settings for decades, primarily as an anesthetic. At lower doses, it has also been studied for its rapid antidepressant effects, particularly in people with depression that has not responded adequately to other treatments.

At The Sanctuary, ketamine therapy is provided within a medically supervised, calming environment.

Unlike many standard antidepressants that primarily influence neurotransmitter systems such as serotonin or norepinephrine, ketamine works largely through the brain's glutamate system and appears to affect pathways involved in communication and plasticity between brain cells.

For some appropriate patients, ketamine may produce antidepressant effects more rapidly than many standard antidepressant medications. Response varies from person to person, which is why treatment begins with a comprehensive evaluation and individualized plan.

Ketamine is an FDA-approved medication that has long been used in medicine as an anesthetic. Its use for depression and other psychiatric conditions is considered off-label.

Ketamine is not right for everyone. Our goal is to determine whether it makes sense for you as part of an individualized treatment plan.

Ketamine works differently from many standard antidepressants.

It acts on the brain's glutamate system, particularly NMDA receptors, and triggers downstream changes in brain signaling that researchers believe may contribute to its antidepressant effects.

These changes appear to influence pathways involved in communication between brain cells and neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to adapt and form new connections.

Researchers are still working to fully understand how ketamine produces its antidepressant effects, and its mechanism is likely more complex than any single pathway.

One area of ketamine research involves neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to adapt, reorganize, and strengthen connections between neurons.

Ketamine appears to influence signaling pathways associated with synaptic plasticity. Researchers believe these effects may be one reason ketamine can produce antidepressant changes more rapidly than many conventional antidepressant treatments, although the exact mechanisms are still being studied.

Many conventional antidepressants primarily affect neurotransmitter systems such as serotonin or norepinephrine and may take several weeks to produce their full therapeutic effect.

Ketamine works through a different pathway involving the brain's glutamate system and has been studied for its ability to produce more rapid antidepressant effects in some patients.

Some clinical studies have observed improvement in depressive symptoms within hours to approximately 24 hours after ketamine administration. However, the timing, degree, and duration of response vary, and not everyone responds to treatment.

Ketamine is not a replacement for other antidepressants. It is another treatment option that may be considered when standard approaches have not provided adequate relief.

Your ketamine session is designed to be quiet, private, and unhurried.

After a brief check-in and assessment, you'll settle into a comfortable space in a calm, low-stimulation environment with soft lighting and minimal distractions. Your care team will guide you through the treatment process and explain what to expect based on your individualized plan.

The experience is different for everyone.

Some people describe:

• deep relaxation
• feeling lighter or more distant from their usual thoughts
• changes in their perception of time or surroundings
• a temporary sense of detachment
• a feeling of calm

You may choose to use an eye mask or listen to relaxing music while you rest.

Throughout the session, our team remains nearby and monitors you for safety and comfort.

As the effects gradually fade, you'll have time to reorient before leaving.

Because ketamine can temporarily affect judgment, coordination, and reaction time, you will need a responsible adult to drive you home after treatment.

Patients should also follow their individualized post-treatment safety instructions and avoid driving or engaging in potentially hazardous activities for the time period instructed by their care team.

There is nothing you need to accomplish during your session. Your only job is to settle in, exhale, and allow yourself the space to simply be.

Ketamine may be considered for adults living with depression that has not improved enough with previous treatment.

You may be a candidate if you:

• Have persistent or treatment-resistant depression
• Have tried appropriate antidepressant medications without enough relief
• Have experienced side effects that have made prior treatment difficult to continue
• Continue to have symptoms that significantly affect your daily life, relationships, or ability to function
• Are medically and psychiatrically appropriate for ketamine treatment after a comprehensive evaluation

Certain medical conditions, psychiatric conditions, medications, pregnancy, substance-use concerns, or other individual factors may affect whether ketamine is appropriate for you. These are reviewed carefully during your evaluation.

Before your first ketamine treatment, we begin with a comprehensive evaluation to determine whether ketamine may be an appropriate and safe option for you.

We'll take time to understand:

• your symptoms
• psychiatric history
• medical history
• current medications and supplements
• previous treatments
• previous treatment responses
• your goals for care

When clinically appropriate, the evaluation may also include:

• vital signs, including blood pressure and heart rate
• laboratory testing
• additional medical clearance
• discussion of potential benefits
• discussion of risks and possible side effects
• discussion of alternatives to ketamine
• development of an individualized treatment plan

Before each treatment, we will provide specific preparation instructions, including guidance about:

• food and fluids
• medications
• transportation
• what to expect the day of treatment

Because ketamine can temporarily affect judgment, coordination, and reaction time, patients must arrange for a responsible adult to drive them home after treatment.

We want you to understand your treatment, feel comfortable with the plan, and know what to expect before your first session begins.

Your safety is our priority throughout every ketamine session.

Ketamine is administered in a medically supervised setting, and our team remains available throughout treatment to monitor your response, comfort, and overall well-being.

Before treatment begins, we check vital signs and review relevant changes in your:

• health
• medications
• symptoms

During the session, monitoring continues as clinically appropriate while the effects of ketamine are present.

Temporary side effects may include:

• drowsiness or sedation
• nausea
• dizziness
• increased blood pressure or heart rate
• changes in perception
• a temporary feeling of detachment

Our team is available to support you if these occur and will continue observing you until you are ready to leave safely.

Patients are not rushed out at the end of treatment.

We allow time for the effects to lessen and for you to feel appropriately oriented before discharge.

Because ketamine can temporarily affect judgment, coordination, and reaction time, patients must have a responsible adult drive them home and follow all post-treatment safety instructions.

Careful screening, medical supervision, and ongoing monitoring are part of every treatment experience at The Sanctuary.