About Ketamine: From Anesthesia to Breakthrough Mental Health Treatment

Ketamine has come a long way since its discovery more than 60 years ago. Once known only as an anesthetic used in operating rooms and emergency departments, it’s now one of the most promising and fast-acting treatments for depression, PTSD, anxiety, OCD, and chronic pain.

At New England Ketamine in Salem, NH, we use precise IV infusions guided by anesthesia-trained and psychiatric clinicians. Below is a clear, science-based look at what ketamine is, how it works, and why it’s helping people when other treatments haven’t.

1. A Brief History of Ketamine

Ketamine was first synthesized in 1962 and approved by the FDA in 1970 as a general anesthetic. It became a staple on the battlefield during the Vietnam War because it didn’t suppress breathing or blood pressure like many anesthetics.

Decades later, researchers noticed something remarkable: patients receiving low doses reported rapid improvements in mood and outlook. That observation sparked hundreds of studies on ketamine’s antidepressant and neuroplastic properties.

2. How Ketamine Works in the Brain

Unlike traditional antidepressants that target serotonin or norepinephrine, ketamine acts primarily on the glutamate system—the brain’s main excitatory neurotransmitter. It temporarily blocks NMDA receptors, which paradoxically triggers a surge in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), promoting synaptogenesis—the growth of new neural connections.

This enhanced neuroplasticity is what allows patients to process trauma, shift perspective, and reconnect with motivation and hope—often within hours to days instead of weeks.

3. Conditions Ketamine Can Help

• Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Generalized Anxiety and Panic Disorders
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Chronic Pain Syndromes such as CRPS and fibromyalgia

Many patients who haven’t responded to multiple medications experience relief with ketamine—sometimes for the first time in years.

4. What to Expect During Treatment

Each session takes place in a quiet, private room at our Salem clinic. You’ll receive a low-dose IV infusion over about 45 minutes. You remain conscious but deeply relaxed; some people experience light visuals or an expanded sense of perspective.

Afterward, you’ll rest while the medicine wears off, then head home with a pre-arranged ride. Most patients report improved calm, focus, and energy in the hours or days following treatment.

5. Treatment Plan and Pricing

• Induction phase: six infusions over 2–3 weeks at $425 per session.
• Maintenance boosters: customized schedule (usually every 4–8 weeks) at $275 per session.
• Integration support: coordination with your therapist or prescriber, journaling prompts, and lifestyle guidance.

6. Safety and Side Effects

Ketamine is one of the safest anesthetic agents ever developed. In therapeutic doses, side effects are mild and short-lived: lightheadedness, mild nausea, elevated heart rate or blood pressure, and fatigue. These are monitored and managed by our clinical team.

Ketamine does not cause dependence or withdrawal when administered in a controlled medical setting.

7. Why Choose New England Ketamine

• Clinicians trained in both anesthesia and psychiatry.
• One-on-one monitoring for comfort and safety.
• Personalized protocols and real-time dose adjustments.
• Post-infusion integration planning to sustain results.
• Convenient to patients from Manchester, Nashua, Portsmouth, Concord, and northern Massachusetts.

8. The Future of Ketamine and Mental Health

Researchers continue to explore ketamine’s long-term benefits and its potential role in shaping new classes of rapid-acting antidepressants. For now, it remains one of the few treatments that can lift mood, restore motivation, and spark genuine change in days instead of months.

To learn whether ketamine therapy is right for you, schedule a consultation at New England Ketamine or call us at (857) 256-1487. Relief may be closer than you think.