Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic commonly used in surgery, as well as an analgesic used for pain management. A safe, widely-used medicine in hospital settings worldwide, Ketamine has gained more widespread use in recent decades prescribed off-label as a fast-acting antidepressant as well as as a psychedelic medicine used as an adjunct to psychotherapy.

Ketamine has rapidly-acting antidepressant and mood-enhancing effects, which can begin to take effect within 1-2 hrs of administration. It works by blocking the brain’s NMDA receptors as well as by stimulating AMPA receptors, which are thought to help form new synaptic connections and boost neural circuits that regulate stress and mood. Ketamine has also been shown to enhance overall neuroplasticity for lasting symptom improvement. 

Ketamine’s positive effects include decreasing negative thoughts, improving neuroplasticity and building new synaptic connections for a stronger and more resilient brain. When administered under supervision in a safe environment, ketamine can help patients create lasting change, break free from old thought patterns and embrace new perspectives.

The effects of ketamine last for approximately 45 minutes. These effects can make patients feel "far from" their body, and facilitates shifts in perception that can often feel expansive in nature. Motor and verbal abilities will typically be reduced. During Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, patients typically lie down in a comfortable position during their dosing session, wearing headphones and an eye-mask. While it may feel hard to articulate what happens during the experience, many patients feel like the insights gained are clear.