FAQs

Ketamine is highly effective in the treatment of a wide range of psychological and physical conditions:

• Depression
• Bipolar Depression
• Severe Anxiety
• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Fibromyalgia
• Neuropathic Pain Syndromes
• Acute Pain
• Severe Asthma

Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic first synthesized in 1962 and used on the battlefields of Vietnam to treat injured soldiers. For decades, it served as a trusted sedation agent in emergency medicine — particularly in pediatric care — valued for its unique safety profile and proven effectiveness.

Over time, researchers began uncovering something remarkable: ketamine’s potential to treat conditions far beyond physical pain. In the past two decades, clinical studies have demonstrated its effectiveness in addressing treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain — often producing results where traditional medications had failed. Today, ketamine therapy represents one of the most significant advancements in mental health treatment in a generation.

At Charleston Ketamine Center, we stay at the forefront of this evolving field — combining decades of clinical experience with a patient-first approach to care.

Ketamine works differently than traditional antidepressants. Rather than slowly building up in your system over weeks, ketamine stimulates neuron growth in the brain rapidly — a speed that sets it apart from nearly every other option in its class.

Much of the current research focuses on glutamate, a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in neural activation and brain plasticity. By acting on glutamate receptors, ketamine helps the brain form new connections — pathways that may have been dulled or disrupted by depression, trauma, or chronic pain. Ketamine has also shown strong anti-inflammatory properties, an area of growing scientific interest for its broader therapeutic effects.

Beyond the biology, many patients report that the dissociative state experienced during infusions opens the door to something equally powerful — personal insight, emotional perspective, and a profound sense of calm. For many, this aspect of the experience is as meaningful as the clinical results themselves.

Each patient has a slightly different experience with ketamine and even the same patient may experience different feelings during two separate infusions. This is all very normal. There is no singular experience we are seeking in order to have a good effect. Some patients may dwell on people or events from their past, some see colors, some describe interesting feelings in their bodies like tingling or increased size of arms or legs.

Intravenous (IV) infusion is the gold standard method of administration. Ketamine travels directly into the bloodstream, making it the most precise, controlled, and effective delivery method available.

Other methods of administration include:

• Intranasal
• Sublingual
• Intramuscular (IM)
• Oral
• Rectal

Yes. The World Health Organization classifies ketamine as an essential medicine and among the safest and most effective medications known to science.

Unlike other general anesthetics, ketamine does not suppress the respiratory reflex, meaning it will not cause a patient to stop breathing. This unique safety profile is a key reason ketamine is one of the most widely used sedation agents in the world for both children and adults.

At Charleston Ketamine Center, every infusion is administered and monitored by our clinical team in a controlled, comfortable environment, ensuring your safety from start to finish.

Results vary from patient to patient. While some patients notice early improvements during their treatment series, significant or maximum relief typically occurs after 4 to 6 sessions over the course of a few weeks. Our team monitors your progress throughout and works with you to determine the right path forward based on your individual response.

It is recommended that patients undergo 6 infusions over a two-week period in order to maximize the beneficial effects of the drug. It is not recommended to vary from this treatment protocol but we can make some adjustments to fit your personal schedule. After the initial series of infusions further “booster” treatments are determined on a case-by-case basis but are usually needed anywhere from every 2 weeks to 3 months.

The majority of medications have no interaction with Ketamine, allowing patients to receive an infusion without interfering with other on-going treatments. There are however a few drugs, both legal and illicit, that can reduce effectiveness. Make sure you inform us of all current medications so that we can account for these possible interactions.

Visit our contact page to schedule a consultation!

Visit our contact page to schedule a consultation or call our practice at (843) 480-2273!