Ketamine for Depression
For some adults with depression, a licensed provider may consider ketamine as part of a structured, closely monitored care plan — never as a guaranteed fix.
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Depression is a serious, common condition that affects mood, energy, sleep, concentration, and quality of life. Standard treatments — psychotherapy and antidepressant medications — help many people, but not everyone responds adequately. For some adults, clinicians have explored ketamine as an additional option within a comprehensive care plan.
What the evidence suggests
Research and clinical experience suggest that, for some individuals, ketamine may be associated with improvements in depressive symptoms, sometimes sooner than with some traditional antidepressants. However, responses vary, results are not guaranteed, and ketamine is not appropriate for everyone. It is used as part of a structured plan, not as a stand-alone solution.
Why evaluation comes first
Bravely Balanced does not prescribe ketamine for depression without a thorough psychiatric evaluation. Your provider reviews your symptom history, prior treatments, current medications, and safety considerations before determining whether ketamine may be considered — or whether a different approach would be more appropriate.
Who may be considered
Ketamine for depression may be appropriate for certain adults whose symptoms have not responded adequately to standard approaches. Eligibility depends on your individual evaluation, safety screening, and clinical judgment. It is not a first-line or automatic choice.
What to expect
If your provider determines ketamine may be appropriate, you receive an individualized treatment plan. Treatment takes place through secure telehealth with at-home administration when appropriate, supported by a structured safety framework and required follow-up. Your provider monitors your response and adjusts care based on how you actually do.
Not a cure, and not for everyone
Ketamine is not a cure for depression, and individual results vary. Some patients benefit; others do not. Treatment decisions are made clinically and revisited at every follow-up. If ketamine is not appropriate for you, your provider will discuss alternatives and, when possible, referrals.
Related: treatment-resistant depression
If your depression has not responded to multiple adequate trials of standard treatment, see our page on ketamine for treatment-resistant depression.
Important context about ketamine. Ketamine is FDA-approved as an anesthetic. The use of compounded racemic ketamine for psychiatric conditions is off-label, and compounded medications are not FDA-approved products. Compounded ketamine nasal spray is not the same as FDA-approved esketamine (Spravato®).
Treatment is not appropriate for everyone. A licensed clinician independently determines whether prescribing is appropriate. No prescription is guaranteed, and completing an assessment does not equal clinical eligibility.
About this page
- Written by:
- Bravely Balanced Clinical Education Team
- Medical review:
- Pending — this content has not yet been reviewed by a licensed clinician.
- Last updated:
- 2026-08-27
This page is educational and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice. All treatment decisions are made by a licensed provider based on your individual evaluation.
Selected references for further reading
- Sanacora G, et al. A Consensus Statement on the Use of Ketamine in the Treatment of Mood Disorders. JAMA Psychiatry. 2017;74(4):399-405.
- American Psychiatric Association. Consensus Statement on the Use of Ketamine in Psychiatric Disorders. 2017.
References are provided for educational purposes and do not constitute an endorsement.