---
title: "Ketamine Infusion Therapy"
---
## How Ketamine Works
Ketamine works differently from standard antidepressants and standard pain medications. Instead of slowly adjusting serotonin like an SSRI (which can take six to eight weeks to show benefit), ketamine acts on a different brain system called the glutamate system, which is involved in how nerve cells form new connections.
For depression, this often produces a noticeable shift within 24 hours of the first infusion, and a standard treatment course extends and stabilizes that effect.
For chronic pain, ketamine quiets nerve signals that have become hypersensitive after injury, surgery, or long-standing pain. Some patients with conditions like CRPS experience pain relief that outlasts the infusion itself by weeks, suggesting ketamine helps reset the nervous system rather than just masking symptoms.
PHI uses subanesthetic doses, well below what would be used for surgical anesthesia. You remain conscious throughout the infusion, monitored continuously by your physician. PHI starts with IV infusions to assess your response before considering intramuscular (IM) dosing.
## Conditions We Treat with Ketamine Infusion Therapy
#### Mental health and mood
- Treatment-resistant depression (depression that has not improved after two or more medications)
- Major depressive disorder
- Bipolar depression
- PTSD
- Severe anxiety with depressive features
- Suicidal ideation in the context of depression
#### Chronic pain
- Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS / RSD)
- Neuropathic pain and post-surgical nerve pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Chronic migraines and refractory headaches
- Phantom limb pain
- Chronic pain with significant mood overlap
If your condition is not listed, your physician will tell you whether ketamine is an appropriate option during consultation. Ketamine is not a first-line treatment; it is most effective for patients who have already tried standard medications without sufficient relief.
## The Evidence Behind Ketamine
**For depression.** A 2024 umbrella review analyzing 51 studies and 1,182 participants confirmed that repeated intravenous ketamine produces statistically significant improvements in treatment-resistant depression compared to placebo and other treatments. A pooled patient-level analysis found ketamine's benefits were even greater in patients more resistant to prior medications.
**For chronic pain.** Multisociety consensus guidelines from the American Society of Regional Anesthesia (ASRA), American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM), and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) support outpatient ketamine infusion for chronic pain conditions, with established protocols for CRPS and other neuropathic pain syndromes.
This is not an experimental treatment. It is an established option with two decades of clinical research, performed by physicians trained in pain medicine and anesthesia.
## Why Patients Choose PHI for Ketamine Infusion
## A More Elevated Ketamine Experience
PHI treats the whole person, not just the diagnosis. In addition to medically supervised IV ketamine infusions, we offer the option to work with a dedicated Spiritual Guide and Integration Specialist who can help you prepare for and process your experience.
For many patients, ketamine therapy provides personal insight, emotional breakthroughs, and opportunities for growth. A trusted guide can help maximize the therapeutic value of treatment and support meaningful, lasting change. This option is available alongside your infusions; your physician and care team will help you decide whether it fits your goals.
## Your Ketamine Treatment Process at PHI
## Frequently Asked Questions
**Q: Is ketamine FDA-approved for depression?**
The FDA has approved a related medication, intranasal esketamine (Spravato), for treatment-resistant depression. Intravenous ketamine for depression is prescribed off-label, a common and legal practice for medications with strong clinical evidence outside their original FDA approval. The evidence base for IV ketamine in treatment-resistant depression is substantial, including dozens of randomized controlled trials. Your physician will explain the regulatory status during consultation.
**Q: How fast does ketamine work?**
For depression, many patients notice a shift within 24 hours of the first infusion, and the full benefit of an induction series typically becomes clear by the third or fourth infusion. For chronic pain, response is more variable. Some patients experience meaningful relief from a single infusion, others require a short series.
**Q: Is ketamine the same as the street drug?**
The molecule is the same; the medical context is not. PHI uses pharmaceutical-grade ketamine at controlled subanesthetic doses, administered intravenously by a physician with continuous monitoring. The dose, the setting, and the medical oversight are what make it a treatment rather than a substance of misuse.
**Q: Will I be unconscious or hallucinate?**
No. The doses used for depression and pain are far below anesthetic doses. Most patients experience a mild dissociative sensation, sometimes described as feeling slightly distant from the body, that fades shortly after the infusion ends. You remain conscious and able to respond throughout.
**Q: Is ketamine addictive?**
Recreational ketamine misuse can lead to dependence, but the risk profile in supervised, intermittent medical infusions is very different. PHI uses defined treatment series rather than open-ended dosing, and your physician monitors for any signs of escalating tolerance or psychological dependence. Maintenance infusions, when recommended, follow a clear protocol with appropriate intervals.
**Q: Can I keep taking my current antidepressant during ketamine treatment?**
In most cases, yes. Your physician will review your current medications at consultation and identify any that need adjustment. Most SSRIs, SNRIs, and mood stabilizers can be continued.
**Q: Should I bring someone with me?**
Yes. You cannot drive after an infusion, so we recommend a trusted person accompany you to your first infusion. For subsequent infusions, you may use a rideshare service if preferred.
**Q: How much does ketamine therapy cost at PHI?**
Pricing is structured per consultation, per infusion, and for the standard induction series, and all costs are disclosed at consultation with no hidden fees.
**Q: Do you accept international patients?**
Yes. PHI regularly treats patients from outside Los Angeles, including Las Vegas, Palm Springs, London, and other international locations. For ketamine, we coordinate the full induction series timing with your travel schedule, which often means concentrating infusions into a two-week stay.
> An umbrella review of effectiveness of intravenous ketamine in treatment-resistant depression. European Psychiatry, 2024.
— [Klassen AM, et al.](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11859803/)
> International pooled patient-level meta-analysis of ketamine infusion for depression: in search of clinical moderators. Peer-reviewed via PMC, 2022.
— [Price RB, et al.](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9763119/)
> Use of ketamine infusions for treatment of complex regional pain syndrome: a systematic review. Peer-reviewed via PMC, 2021.
— [Chitneni A, et al.](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8601938/)
```ld+json
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@graph": [
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Service",
"@id": "https://painandhealing.com/treatments/ketamine/#service",
"name": "Ketamine Infusion Therapy",
"url": "https://painandhealing.com/treatments/ketamine/",
"description": "Physician-administered ketamine infusion therapy for treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain involving central sensitization. Delivered as a defined treatment series in a private clinic setting with continuous monitoring, not…",
"provider": {
"@type": "Organization",
"name": "PHI - Pain and Healing Institute"
},
"image": {
"@type": "ImageObject",
"contentUrl": "https://painandhealing.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ketamine-therapy-infusion-hero-1024x682.webp",
"width": 1024,
"height": 682,
"caption": "Patient receiving Ketamine Infusion Therapy"
}
},
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "MedicalProcedure",
"@id": "https://painandhealing.com/treatments/ketamine/#procedure",
"name": "Ketamine Infusion Therapy",
"url": "https://painandhealing.com/treatments/ketamine/",
"image": {
"@type": "ImageObject",
"contentUrl": "https://painandhealing.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ketamine-therapy-infusion-hero-1024x682.webp",
"width": 1024,
"height": 682,
"caption": "Patient receiving Ketamine Infusion Therapy"
}
},
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "MedicalWebPage",
"@id": "https://painandhealing.com/treatments/ketamine/#webpage",
"name": "Ketamine Infusion Therapy",
"url": "https://painandhealing.com/treatments/ketamine/",
"mainEntity": {
"@id": "https://painandhealing.com/treatments/ketamine/#service"
},
"lastReviewed": "2026-06-10",
"reviewedBy": [
{
"@type": "Person",
"@id": "https://painandhealing.com/providers/faisal-lalani/#provider",
"name": "Faisal Lalani",
"url": "https://painandhealing.com/providers/faisal-lalani/"
},
{
"@type": "Person",
"@id": "https://painandhealing.com/providers/nadiv-y-samimi/#provider",
"name": "Nadiv Y. Samimi",
"url": "https://painandhealing.com/providers/nadiv-y-samimi/"
}
],
"mentions": [
{
"@type": "MedicalCondition",
"name": "Complex regional pain syndrome",
"sameAs": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1066311"
},
{
"@type": "MedicalCondition",
"name": "Migraine",
"sameAs": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q133823"
},
{
"@type": "MedicalCondition",
"name": "Treatment-resistant depression",
"sameAs": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7836891"
},
{
"@type": "MedicalCondition",
"name": "Post-traumatic stress disorder",
"sameAs": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q202387"
},
{
"@type": "MedicalCondition",
"name": "Anxiety",
"sameAs": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q154430"
},
{
"@type": "MedicalProcedure",
"name": "Intravenous therapy",
"sameAs": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11748353"
},
{
"@type": "Organization",
"name": "Food and Drug Administration",
"sameAs": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q204711"
}
],
"about": [
{
"@type": "Drug",
"name": "Ketamine",
"sameAs": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q243547"
},
{
"@type": "MedicalCondition",
"name": "Chronic pain",
"sameAs": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1088113"
},
{
"@type": "MedicalSpecialty",
"name": "Pain Management",
"sameAs": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q621261"
}
],
"speakable": {
"@type": "SpeakableSpecification",
"cssSelector": [
".geo-summary"
]
},
"citation": [
{
"@id": "https://painandhealing.com/treatments/ketamine/#citation-f6a36aba"
},
{
"@id": "https://painandhealing.com/treatments/ketamine/#citation-cd2435e5"
},
{
"@id": "https://painandhealing.com/treatments/ketamine/#citation-d82778f0"
}
]
},
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "BreadcrumbList",
"itemListElement": [
{
"@type": "ListItem",
"position": 1,
"name": "Home",
"item": {
"@id": "https://painandhealing.com/",
"@type": "WebSite",
"name": "Home"
}
},
{
"@type": "ListItem",
"position": 2,
"name": "Treatments",
"item": {
"@id": "https://painandhealing.com/treatments/",
"@type": "CollectionPage",
"name": "Treatments"
}
},
{
"@type": "ListItem",
"position": 3,
"name": "Ketamine Infusion Therapy",
"item": "https://painandhealing.com/treatments/ketamine/"
}
]
},
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Question",
"name": "Ketamine Infusion Therapy",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Ketamine infusion therapy at PHI is administered by board-certified physicians Dr. Faisal Lalani and Dr. Nadiv Samimi in a monitored clinical setting at our Beverly Hills practice. Using subanesthetic intravenous doses, it treats treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, anxiety with depression, and chronic pain conditions including CRPS, neuropathic pain, and migraines."
},
"isPartOf": {
"@id": "https://painandhealing.com/treatments/ketamine/#webpage"
},
"url": "https://painandhealing.com/treatments/ketamine/"
},
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "FAQPage",
"mainEntity": [
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "Is ketamine FDA-approved for depression?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "The FDA has approved a related medication, intranasal esketamine (Spravato), for treatment-resistant depression. Intravenous ketamine for depression is prescribed off-label, a common and legal practice for medications with strong clinical evidence outside their original FDA approval. The evidence base for IV ketamine in treatment-resistant depression is substantial, including dozens of randomized controlled trials. Your physician will explain the regulatory status during consultation.
"
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "How fast does ketamine work?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "For depression, many patients notice a shift within 24 hours of the first infusion, and the full benefit of an induction series typically becomes clear by the third or fourth infusion. For chronic pain, response is more variable. Some patients experience meaningful relief from a single infusion, others require a short series.
"
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "Is ketamine the same as the street drug?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "The molecule is the same; the medical context is not. PHI uses pharmaceutical-grade ketamine at controlled subanesthetic doses, administered intravenously by a physician with continuous monitoring. The dose, the setting, and the medical oversight are what make it a treatment rather than a substance of misuse.
"
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "Will I be unconscious or hallucinate?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "No. The doses used for depression and pain are far below anesthetic doses. Most patients experience a mild dissociative sensation, sometimes described as feeling slightly distant from the body, that fades shortly after the infusion ends. You remain conscious and able to respond throughout.
"
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "Is ketamine addictive?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Recreational ketamine misuse can lead to dependence, but the risk profile in supervised, intermittent medical infusions is very different. PHI uses defined treatment series rather than open-ended dosing, and your physician monitors for any signs of escalating tolerance or psychological dependence. Maintenance infusions, when recommended, follow a clear protocol with appropriate intervals.
"
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "Can I keep taking my current antidepressant during ketamine treatment?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "In most cases, yes. Your physician will review your current medications at consultation and identify any that need adjustment. Most SSRIs, SNRIs, and mood stabilizers can be continued.
"
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "Should I bring someone with me?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Yes. You cannot drive after an infusion, so we recommend a trusted person accompany you to your first infusion. For subsequent infusions, you may use a rideshare service if preferred.
"
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "How much does ketamine therapy cost at PHI?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Pricing is structured per consultation, per infusion, and for the standard induction series, and all costs are disclosed at consultation with no hidden fees.
"
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "Do you accept international patients?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Yes. PHI regularly treats patients from outside Los Angeles, including Las Vegas, Palm Springs, London, and other international locations. For ketamine, we coordinate the full induction series timing with your travel schedule, which often means concentrating infusions into a two-week stay.
"
}
}
]
},
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "ScholarlyArticle",
"@id": "https://painandhealing.com/treatments/ketamine/#citation-f6a36aba",
"name": "Klassen AM, et al.",
"url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11859803/"
},
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "ScholarlyArticle",
"@id": "https://painandhealing.com/treatments/ketamine/#citation-cd2435e5",
"name": "Price RB, et al.",
"url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9763119/"
},
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "ScholarlyArticle",
"@id": "https://painandhealing.com/treatments/ketamine/#citation-d82778f0",
"name": "Chitneni A, et al.",
"url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8601938/"
}
]
}
```