Treatment7
IV vs. Sublingual Ketamine: Understanding the Differences
A comparative look at intravenous and sublingual ketamine — pharmacology, benefits, side effects, and how to choose the right route for your needs.
Dr. Ben Soffer
Ketamine Therapy Blog
Expert insights on ketamine therapy, mental health, and healing from Dr. Ben Soffer
Latest Articles
Treatment8
How Does Ketamine Work for Treatment-Resistant Depression and Anxiety
Understanding how ketamine stimulates neuroplasticity through BDNF production and provides rapid mood improvement for treatment-resistant conditions.
Dr. Ben Soffer
Science7
Ketamine History: Its Origin and Science
From battlefield anesthetic to mental health breakthrough — the remarkable journey of ketamine through six decades of medicine.
Dr. Ben Soffer
All Articles
Treatment9 min read
Can Ketamine Help Anxiety When Benzodiazepines No Longer Work?
Long-term benzodiazepine use often leads to tolerance, dependence, and diminishing relief. Ketamine offers a fundamentally different approach to anxiety — targeting the glutamate system instead of GABA to promote lasting neural change.
Safety8 min read
Ketamine for Suicidal Ideation: Can It Provide Rapid Relief in Crisis?
Research shows ketamine can reduce suicidal thoughts within hours, not weeks. Learn how this rapid-acting treatment works differently from traditional antidepressants and what role it plays in comprehensive mental health care.
Science8 min read
Understanding Treatment-Resistant Depression: Why Standard Antidepressants Fail
Up to one-third of people with depression don't respond to standard antidepressants. Learn what treatment-resistant depression is, why SSRIs and SNRIs fail for some patients, and what alternative mechanisms of action may offer new hope.
Treatment9 min read
Chronic Pain and Depression: Why They Occur Together and How Ketamine Addresses Both
Chronic pain and depression share overlapping brain pathways, and treating one without the other often leads to incomplete relief. Ketamine's unique mechanism of action targets both conditions simultaneously — offering hope for patients caught in this debilitating cycle.
Treatment8 min read
Moral Injury vs. PTSD: Can Ketamine Heal Both?
Moral injury and PTSD share overlapping symptoms but arise from fundamentally different wounds. Emerging evidence suggests ketamine's neuroplasticity effects may offer a unique pathway to healing both conditions — especially when traditional treatments fall short.
Science9 min read
PTSD and the Brain: How Ketamine Resets Trauma Pathways
PTSD physically reshapes the brain — hyperactivating the amygdala, suppressing the prefrontal cortex, and shrinking the hippocampus. Ketamine's unique ability to promote neuroplasticity may help rewire these trauma pathways and restore healthier brain function.
Treatment8 min read
Rapid Relief for Panic Attacks: Why Ketamine Offers Hope
Panic attacks can be debilitating and traditional treatments often fall short — SSRIs take weeks to work and benzodiazepines carry dependency risks. Ketamine therapy offers a fundamentally different approach with rapid-acting relief that may help break the cycle of panic.
Science9 min read
Why Ketamine Works When 2+ Antidepressants Have Failed
When SSRIs and SNRIs haven't worked, ketamine offers a fundamentally different approach — targeting the glutamate system to promote rapid neuroplasticity and symptom relief, often within hours instead of weeks.
About Us3
Why I Chose the Name "Discreet Ketamine"
The origin story of Discreet Ketamine — and why privacy is a fundamental right in mental health care, not something to apologize for.
Education5
Everyone's Taking Psychedelics—Should I?
A measured perspective on the psychedelic trend — who it's actually for, how to evaluate if it's right for you, and why "everyone's doing it" isn't a medical plan.
Treatment6
Nasal Ketamine: Relief for Chronic Pain and Depression
Understanding intranasal ketamine options — Spravato (esketamine), compounded nasal sprays, and how they compare to other routes.
News4
At-Home Ketamine Therapy in New Jersey: A Homecoming
Dr. Ben Soffer brings Discreet Ketamine to New Jersey — combining clinical rigor with the comfort and privacy of at-home treatment.
Treatment5
Telemedicine: Transforming Mental Health Care
How digital technology is making evidence-based mental health treatment more accessible, affordable, and private.
Wellness5
Nurturing Your Mind: Natural Methods for Optimal Mental Health
Evidence-based lifestyle practices — exercise, nutrition, sleep, and mindfulness — that support mental wellbeing alongside (or independent of) ketamine therapy.
Experience8
Reclaiming the Sacred Self: Healing Religious Trauma Through Non-Ordinary States of Consciousness
A clinical and personal perspective on how non-ordinary states of consciousness can help restore self-belonging after growing up in rigid religious environments.
Experience9
Spirituality and Psychedelic Medicine: Understanding the Experience of Oneness
Exploring non-ordinary states of consciousness during ketamine therapy — and how practices like meditation, yoga, and breathwork support lasting change.
Treatment5
The Integration Process: Making the Most of Your Ketamine Experience
How to transform insights from ketamine therapy into lasting, meaningful change through reflection, grounding, and real-life application.
Treatment5
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy — KAP
How ketamine enhances psychotherapy by creating neurological flexibility that facilitates therapeutic breakthroughs.
Experience6
The Psychedelic Effects of Ketamine in Mental Health Treatment
What patients actually experience during ketamine therapy — dissociation, altered perception, emotional breakthroughs, and how these contribute to healing.
Experience7
The Clinical Relevance of the Ketamine-Induced Dissociative State ("K-Hole")
Understanding the therapeutic potential of ketamine-induced dissociation — what it feels like, why it matters, and how it supports healing.
Safety5
Ketamine Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Tips and Prevention
Why nausea happens during ketamine therapy and proven strategies to prevent and manage it — from fasting protocols to natural remedies.
Safety5
Is My Medication Safe to Take with Ketamine?
Important information about medication interactions — what's generally compatible, what requires caution, and what to discuss with your provider.
Safety6
Risks and Side Effects of Ketamine Treatment: What You Need to Know
A clear, honest overview of potential side effects and safety considerations for ketamine therapy — what to expect and when to seek help.
Safety6
When Ketamine Is Not Appropriate: Medical and Psychiatric Contraindications
Understanding when ketamine treatment should be avoided — medical, psychiatric, and practical contraindications that every patient should know.
Treatment6
How to Safely Take Ketamine: Best Practices for At-Home Ketamine Therapy
A practical guide to at-home ketamine therapy — preparation, environment, safety protocols, and aftercare.
Research6
Exploring the Efficacy of Oral Ketamine for Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD)
What the research shows about oral ketamine for treatment-resistant depression — response rates, clinical evidence, and how it compares to other routes.
Science6
R-Ketamine vs. S-Ketamine: What's the Difference and Why It Matters
Understanding the two mirror-image forms of ketamine — how they differ, why it matters, and what it means for your treatment.
Treatment5
ODT/RDT vs. Troche: Maximizing Oral Drug Absorption
Comparing rapidly dissolving tablets and troches — two sublingual ketamine formulations with different absorption profiles and patient experiences.
Treatment7
All the Ways Ketamine Can Be Given: Routes, Benefits, and Risks
A comprehensive guide to every ketamine delivery method — IV, intramuscular, subcutaneous, nasal, sublingual, oral, and more.
Treatment6
Ketamine vs. Traditional Antidepressants: A Comprehensive Comparison
How ketamine compares to SSRIs, SNRIs, and other traditional antidepressants — mechanisms, speed, efficacy, and side effects.
Research8 min read
How Does Ketamine Work for Treatment-Resistant Depression and Anxiety
Neuroplasticity mechanisms and BDNF production in ketamine efficacy. The science behind rapid antidepressant effects.