The Evidence
What the research
actually shows.
Ketamine therapy is well studied — but honest evidence means naming the limits too. Here is a plain-English summary of key findings, with the caveats that matter.
A note on ketamine: IV ketamine is used off-label for mental-health and pain indications. This differs from esketamine (Spravato®), an FDA-approved intranasal formulation administered only in certified healthcare settings. Evidence for one route does not automatically transfer to another. Ketamine therapy is not appropriate for everyone; every prospective client is medically screened, and individual results vary.
The figures below describe study populations, not a promise of outcome for any patient. Ketamine does not work for everyone, effects can vary in size and duration, and no result here should be read as a guarantee. Every prospective client is medically screened, and every protocol is designed and overseen by our Medical Director.
~67%
Antidepressant response in treatment-resistant depression
Across pooled clinical-trial data, roughly two-thirds of patients whose depression had not responded to standard treatment showed an antidepressant response to IV ketamine.
Source: Murrough et al. (treatment-resistant depression trials; see PubMed).
Limitation. Response rates vary by study, dose, and protocol. 'Response' is a research threshold — a measured reduction in symptoms — not a cure or a guaranteed outcome for any individual.
~24 hrs
Onset of measurable relief after a single infusion
A randomized controlled trial reported measurable symptom relief within about 24 hours of a single infusion — far faster than the weeks typically associated with oral antidepressants.
Source: Feder et al., JAMA Psychiatry, 2014.
Limitation. Rapid effects from a single infusion can be transient. Durable benefit generally requires a protocol of sessions and maintenance, individualized to the patient.
~44%
Reduction in PTSD symptoms in veterans (six IV infusions)
In a study of veterans treated with a series of six IV ketamine infusions, PTSD symptom scores fell by roughly 44%, with a parallel improvement of about 50% in depression scores.
Source: Ross et al., 2023.
Limitation. Findings in a specific veteran population and study design may not generalize to everyone. Sample sizes in this area are often modest.
~2 hrs
Typical duration of acute side effects
In the same body of PTSD research, dissociative and cardiovascular side effects typically resolved within about two hours after the infusion, with no serious adverse events reported in the reviewed cohort.
Source: PTSD ketamine review, 2023.
Limitation. Ketamine can raise heart rate and blood pressure and cause dissociation during treatment — which is exactly why every infusion is monitored in person by a board-certified CRNA under physician oversight.
Full references and DOIs are confirmed with our medical team on request. This page is educational and does not constitute medical advice or a diagnosis. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or dial 911.
Medical oversight by Shaheen Mizyed, MD, Medical Director, Arcane Neuro Optimal. Infusions administered by Anita Medolla, CRNA, Chief Clinical Officer. Meet the team.
Have questions about the evidence?
We are glad to talk through whether ketamine therapy is a reasonable fit for your situation — without pressure, and in confidence.