What Ketamine Actually Is
Ketamine has been a legal, FDA-approved medication since 1970, when it was cleared as an anesthetic for surgical use (Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2024). For more than five decades it has been used in hospitals, emergency departments, and pediatric settings around the world — valued specifically because of its safety profile, its predictable behavior at clinical doses, and its effectiveness across a wide range of patient populations. It is on the World Health Organization’s list of essential medicines. Dr. Mirza Umair Baig, our board-certified Emergency Medicine physician, used ketamine in the ER for pain management and sedation — including in children with fractures — long before it became a subject of mainstream mental health interest. That clinical history is not incidental. It is part of why we approach ketamine with both confidence and precision.
The mental health applications of ketamine are newer but grounded in rigorous research. What researchers discovered is that ketamine works through the glutamate system — the brain’s primary excitatory neurotransmitter network — via a mechanism involving NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor antagonism (PMC). NMDA receptors are central to synaptic plasticity, the process by which neurons form and strengthen connections. By blocking these receptors, ketamine triggers a cascade of neurological events that can produce rapid antidepressant effects — often within hours rather than the weeks required by SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors). This mechanism is fundamentally different from every first-line psychiatric medication most patients have already tried, which is precisely why it may help people who have not responded to those medications.
The Recreational Association — and Why It Does Not Apply
The objection we hear most often is a version of: “Isn’t ketamine a party drug?” The honest answer is that ketamine has been used recreationally, at doses and in contexts that are entirely different from clinical treatment. At therapeutic doses, administered by a licensed medical team in a controlled clinical setting, the experience is categorically different — in purpose, in dose, in administration, in monitoring, and in outcome.
Research published by the NIH confirms that side effects from a single antidepressant dose of intravenous ketamine are mild and brief — primarily dissociation, mild perceptual changes, and transient elevation in blood pressure and heart rate, all of which resolve within the session or shortly after (NIH). These effects are monitored in real time by clinical staff. Patients are not left alone during treatment. They are assessed before the session, monitored throughout, and checked following completion before being cleared to leave.
The dissociative experience that occurs during some ketamine sessions — a sense of altered perception, detachment from surroundings, or floating — is temporary, not universal across all patients or modalities, and does not resemble the recreational experience in dose, intent, or context. Many patients describe it as calm or unusual rather than distressing. Your provider will describe exactly what to expect before your first session so that nothing about the experience is a surprise. You can find answers to more common questions about how ketamine works on our ketamine therapy FAQ page.
What Treatment Actually Looks Like at KetaMed
We offer three modalities at our Salisbury, Maryland clinic, each with a different format and a different use case. A full overview of all available treatment options is on our website.
IV ketamine therapy is our most comprehensive option. A small intravenous line is placed in the arm, and ketamine is administered as a controlled infusion over 45 to 120 minutes, depending on your condition and treatment plan. You remain in a calm, private space throughout, with clinical staff monitoring your vital signs and comfort in real time. Most mental health patients begin with a series of six sessions. This modality is used for both mental health conditions and chronic pain at KetaMed.
IM ketamine — intramuscular ketamine — involves a single injection into the arm or thigh, with the session lasting approximately 30 to 60 minutes total. It is used for mental health conditions only at our clinic. The format is simpler and requires no IV access, which some patients prefer.
Ketamine troches are dissolvable oral lozenges administered in our clinic under the supervision of our clinical team. They represent our most accessible entry point, starting at $100, and may be used as an initial option or as a maintenance phase following IV or IM treatment.
None of these experiences involves sedation in the way a surgical anesthetic does. You are conscious throughout. You will be aware of your surroundings, though your perception may be altered during IV and IM sessions. You will not be asked to do anything during treatment. You arrive, you receive care, and you leave — typically within a few hours, with no ongoing impairment once the session effects resolve.
Who Provides the Care — and Why That Matters
We are physician-led, which means a licensed physician oversees all clinical decisions at KetaMed. Dr. Mirza Umair Baig’s background in emergency medicine — a specialty that demands rapid assessment, precise medication management, and real-time clinical judgment — directly informs how we administer and monitor ketamine. Michelle Ridgeway, our board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, brings more than two decades of nursing experience and advanced specialization in psychiatric care. Between them, our clinical team has the background to manage the medical dimensions of ketamine treatment and the psychiatric dimensions of the conditions that bring patients to us.
We are also veteran-owned. Chip Orem, our office manager, served in the U.S. Army and has witnessed firsthand what ketamine therapy can do for people who have run out of other options. That perspective shapes the culture of our clinic — grounded, no-frills, honest about what we offer and what we do not.
Addressing What Holds People Back
Fear of the experience itself is one of the most common reasons people delay pursuing ketamine therapy. That fear is legitimate, and we do not minimize it. The honest response is that every patient receives a thorough pre-treatment explanation of exactly what to expect: the sensations, the duration, the monitoring process, and the plan for any side effects that arise. Nothing about your first session should be a surprise. If after that explanation you decide that ketamine therapy is not right for you, that is a fully informed decision — and that is what we want.
Cost is the other barrier we hear consistently. We do not accept insurance. Ketamine troches start at $100. Pricing for IV and IM treatment is individualized — based on your condition, goals, and the number of sessions recommended — and is discussed openly during your free consultation before any commitment is made. We do not attach hidden fees, and we do not ask you to decide anything financial before you have a clear picture of what treatment would actually involve for you specifically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ketamine therapy the same as taking a recreational drug? No. Clinical ketamine therapy uses pharmaceutical-grade ketamine at doses calibrated to produce therapeutic effects, administered by licensed medical professionals in a monitored environment. The dose, route of administration, clinical context, and medical oversight are all entirely distinct from recreational use. The FDA-approved history of ketamine as a surgical anesthetic spans more than 50 years, and its mental health applications are backed by a growing body of peer-reviewed research.
Will I be unconscious during ketamine treatment? No. Ketamine at therapeutic antidepressant doses does not produce general anesthesia or unconsciousness. You will be aware of your surroundings throughout the session, though IV and IM ketamine may produce temporary perceptual changes or a dissociative state — a sense of altered perception or detachment that resolves within the session. Your clinical team monitors you continuously and will explain exactly what to expect before your first treatment.
How quickly does ketamine therapy work? One of the most clinically significant features of IV ketamine is its speed of action. Research documents antidepressant effects within hours for some patients — a response time that is meaningfully faster than SSRIs and SNRIs, which typically require weeks. Results vary by individual, and not every patient experiences the same degree or speed of response. Your provider will track your progress closely and adjust your plan based on how you respond.
What conditions does KetaMed treat with ketamine? At KetaMed, we offer ketamine therapy for a range of conditions we treat, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, bipolar disorder, suicidal ideation, and chronic pain conditions including neuropathic pain and spinal pain. Each modality is not used for every condition — your provider will discuss which approach is appropriate based on your specific presentation and history. IV ketamine is the only modality we use for chronic pain.
Is there anything I need to do to prepare for a ketamine session? Your provider will give you specific preparation instructions during your consultation, tailored to the modality you will be receiving. Generally, patients are asked not to eat or drink for a period before IV or IM sessions, to arrange transportation home, and to clear their schedule for the remainder of the day following treatment. You should inform your provider of all current medications, supplements, and any relevant medical history before treatment begins.
Key Takeaways
- Ketamine has been an FDA-approved clinical medication since 1970, with a well-established safety record in surgical and emergency medicine before its mental health applications emerged.
- IV ketamine works through the glutamate system via NMDA receptor antagonism — a mechanism entirely distinct from SSRIs and SNRIs, which is why it may help patients who have not responded to those medications.
- Side effects from a clinical antidepressant dose of IV ketamine are mild and brief, monitored in real time by clinical staff, and resolve within or shortly after the session.
- At KetaMed, three modalities are available — IV, IM, and troches — each with a different format and indication; IV is the only modality used for chronic pain.
- Results vary by individual; pricing is discussed transparently during a free consultation with no commitment required.
If assumptions about ketamine therapy have been standing between you and care you might genuinely benefit from, we hope this has given you a clearer picture of what treatment at KetaMed actually involves. We are in Salisbury, Maryland, serving patients across the Delmarva Peninsula, and we are happy to answer every question you have before you decide anything at all. Call us at 877-247-2949, email info@ketamedinfusions.com, or schedule a free consultation through our website.
References
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. (2024). What to know about ketamine. https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2024/what-to-know-about-ketamine
- National Institutes of Health. Side effects mild, brief from single antidepressant dose of intravenous ketamine. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/side-effects-mild-brief-single-antidepressant-dose-intravenous-ketamine
- PMC. Ketamine mechanism of action — NMDA receptor / glutamate system. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5148235/
Medical Disclaimer
The information in this blog is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Ketamine therapy should only be considered under the supervision of a licensed medical provider who is familiar with your full medical and psychiatric history. Individual results vary, and no specific outcomes are guaranteed. KetaMed Infusions does not diagnose or treat any condition without a thorough clinical evaluation. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or thoughts of self-harm, please call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or go to your nearest emergency room.