Ketamine is an anesthetic and analgesic used widely around the world  that also has antidepressant and psychedelic effects. International research has increasingly demonstrated that the combination of ketamine with or without structured psychotherapy can have benefits for a range of mental health conditions, though research has most commonly focused on depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and addictive disorder treatments (Kohtala et al., 2021 and Dore et al., 2019). 

In the ketamine-assisted therapy (KAT) approach, the known biological benefits of ketamine combine with it’s psychedelic effects, which act as a catalyst for the psychotherapy sessions by promoting openness to the expansiveness of the mind and enhancing the patient’s ability to meaningfully engage in psychotherapy during the medicine administration (Dore et al. 2019). Psychotherapy is an important part of the patient’s journey, and it should be recommended in combination with psychedelic administration.   

Ketamine has over 50 years of data recorded supporting its safety and efficacy as an anaesthetic agent. The purpose of ketamine, in the context of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, is to facilitate a state of mind that may be highly open to new insights, psychotherapy, and healing. Past research has suggested that this experience can improve many patients’ emotional states and reduce symptoms related to depression, anxiety, addictive behaviours, and post-traumatic stress disorder. While many people appear to benefit from ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, as with other health care interventions that have a proven benefit, not all patients will respond in the same way and not everyone will benefit to the same extent.  

Most common physical effects during treatment include temporary increase in pulse rate and blood pressure, while reported adverse effects most commonly are nausea and headache (Ceban et al., 2021). Medical monitoring and intervention as required by a healthcare professional is an important part of treatment.  

Conditions that may make ketamine-assisted therapy contraindicated include, but are not limited to, a history of psychosis (e.g., hallucinations), mania, cerebrovascular or cardiovascular disease, seizure, and severe liver disease. At present, youth, and pregnant individuals are not eligible for ketamine-assisted therapy.  The full list of contraindications can be found in the patient referral form. 

Yes. In the ketamine-assisted therapy context, ketamine is approved as an off-label treatment for certain mental health conditions. The ketamine-assisted therapy provided by Numinus is available to adult residents of Canada in jurisdictions where we operate to address treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD, addictive disorder and other mental health conditions.