Why IV ketamine has the best results

There are many ways that ketamine can be provided to patients, including oral lozenge, intranasal injection, intramuscular injection, or by intravenous route (IV) .There are pros and cons to each type of medication administration, and it is important to consider what will be the best experience for you.

When medication is being absorbed through the nasal mucosa, mouth, or muscle, each patient can have a different amount of medication absorbed, making the time to treatment effect variable. This could mean that some people experience a very fast or slow onset of medication effect, which can be unsettling. With IV dosing, we can cater specifically to your needs by slowing down or speeding up the infusion rate as needed.

IV treatment allows the medication administration to be stopped, if needed. When a patient has had an intramuscular injection, there is no way to “take the medicine back”, as it was already injected in a muscle. Additionally, if a patient needs a higher dose of ketamine, the IV infusion allows for a cleaner titration.

From an evidence based standpoint, approximately 90% of the scientific studies involving ketamine have used the IV route. In this way, IV ketamine is essentially the ‘gold standard’ for treatment.

Some people worry that having an IV may feel uncomfortable. We use an ultrasound guided technique to efficiently and easily place the IV so that we can help you focus on the primary goal – treating your symptoms. 

IV ketamine has the best established safety, allows the the most accurate medication delivery, and ultimately allows us to provide you with a patient-focused experience. Contact us to learn more about the different options for ketamine treatment.