Ketamine for Depression: Quick Facts

Ketamine is a rapid-acting treatment for depression that can work when standard antidepressants have not. In controlled trials, roughly 60-70% of patients with treatment-resistant depression respond to ketamine, often within hours to a day rather than the weeks SSRIs require. At Discreet Ketamine, it is prescribed by board-certified physicians and taken as an oral (sublingual) tablet at home in Florida, New Jersey, and California.

• Response rate: ~60-70% in treatment-resistant depression, versus ~28% for active placebo
• Onset: improvement often within 4-24 hours, not the 4-6 weeks SSRIs typically need
• Mechanism: NMDA/glutamate modulation and BDNF-driven neuroplasticity, not serotonin
• Format: oral sublingual tablets, physician-prescribed and monitored for at-home use
• Candidate: adults who have tried at least one antidepressant without adequate relief
• Cost: from $250/month, physician-led; not billed to insurance, HSA/FSA eligible

Why Ketamine for Depression?

Major depressive disorder affects over 21 million adults in the U.S. While SSRIs and SNRIs help many, roughly one-third of patients don't respond adequately to conventional antidepressants. Ketamine works through an entirely different mechanism—targeting glutamate and NMDA receptors—offering hope for those with treatment-resistant depression.

• Rapid onset: many patients feel improvement within hours, not weeks
• Works when SSRIs, SNRIs, and other antidepressants haven't helped
• Promotes neuroplasticity and new neural connections
• Can reduce suicidal ideation quickly in monitored settings
• FDA breakthrough therapy designation for treatment-resistant depression

How Ketamine Treats Depression

Unlike traditional antidepressants that target serotonin or norepinephrine, ketamine modulates the glutamate system—the brain's most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter. By blocking NMDA receptors and triggering a cascade of downstream effects, ketamine rapidly promotes synaptogenesis (the formation of new synaptic connections) in brain regions affected by depression.

• Blocks NMDA receptors to trigger rapid neuroplasticity
• Increases BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) production
• Restores synaptic connections weakened by chronic depression
• Effects can be felt within hours rather than the 4-6 weeks typical of SSRIs
• Sublingual (oral) administration for safe at-home use

Who Is a Good Candidate?

Ketamine therapy for depression is designed for adults who have not found adequate relief from other treatments. Our board-certified physicians carefully evaluate each patient to ensure safety and appropriateness.

• Adults 18+ with major depressive disorder or persistent depressive disorder
• Tried at least one antidepressant without adequate improvement
• No uncontrolled hypertension or unstable cardiovascular conditions
• No active substance use disorder or psychotic disorders
• Able to have a trusted companion present during sessions

Your Treatment Journey

From your first assessment to ongoing support, our process is designed for safety, comfort, and effectiveness—all from the privacy of your home.

• Free online eligibility assessment (under 5 minutes)
• Video consultation with a board-certified physician
• Personalized treatment plan and dosing protocol
• Medication delivered discreetly to your door
• AI-guided sessions with real-time safety monitoring (KetAI)
• Integration support with journaling and reflection tools
• Follow-up visits to track progress and adjust treatment