This study looked at whether ketamine could help people struggling with long-term post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Thirty participants received either six ketamine infusions or a placebo over two weeks. The results were striking—about two-thirds of those who received ketamine had a major reduction in their PTSD symptoms, compared to only one in five in the placebo group. On average, improvements lasted close to a month after treatment. Ketamine was also found to be safe and well-tolerated.
This is the first controlled trial showing that repeated ketamine treatments can bring meaningful relief for people living with chronic PTSD, though more research is needed to figure out how to make the benefits last longer.
I didn’t walk into the clinic that morning feeling brave. In fact, I almost didn’t walk in at all.
For weeks, I had been researching ketamine treatment. I read medical journals, Reddit threads, personal blogs, anything that could either reassure me or give me an in-depth, personal look at what I’d be feeling. I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety for years, and while I’ve tried everything from traditional SSRIs to therapy to EMDR, nothing ever quite stuck. My therapist had gently brought up ketamine as a possibility, and at first, I brushed it off. It sounded too intense. Too experimental. Too… scary.
But the more I learned, the more I realized this wasn’t some fringe treatment happening in someone’s basement. It was controlled, studied, and supervised by professionals. Eventually, I agreed to try it, still skeptical, still scared, but quietly hopeful.
The Intake
When I arrived at Charleston Ketamine Center, I was shaking. Laird, the office manager, offered me water, and I clutched it like a security blanket. The space was calming, warm lighting, soft colors, not cold or clinical like I’d feared. I met with Dr. Bowen who explained the process again: low-dose ketamine via IV, administered slowly over about an hour, followed by a period of recovery and reflection. A healthcare provider would be monitoring me the whole time. They weren’t rushing me. They wanted me to understand and feel safe.
Despite the kindness, I could feel my heart pounding. What if I freaked out? What if I lost control?
The Treatment Room
The treatment room looked like a high-end therapy office with a recliner, cozy blanket, tv and light displays. It didn’t feel like a hospital at all. I sat down, and the nurse gently inserted the IV while talking me through what to expect. She said I might feel like I was floating or dissociating, but I could always speak up if I felt uncomfortable. My vitals would be monitored the whole time.
As the ketamine drip began, I remember thinking, Okay, here we go. No turning back now.
The Experience
Within minutes, I felt… different. Not in a bad way, just altered. My body felt heavy and light at the same time, like I was melting into the chair but also lifting above it. Thoughts became fluid, almost dreamlike. I wasn’t asleep, but I wasn’t fully awake either. I lost track of time, and for someone with anxiety, that was terrifying at first.
But then something unexpected happened.
I let go.
For the first time in what felt like forever, my brain wasn’t spinning in loops. The constant inner critic, the one who overanalyzes, catastrophizes, and self-sabotages, went quiet. There was space. Peace. A sense of perspective I hadn’t felt in years.
I had what some people call a “moment of clarity,” though it didn’t come with booming voices or wild visuals. It was more like remembering something important that I had forgotten, like I am not my thoughts. I am not broken. I am still here. I could actually feel my body again, for what felt like the first time in forever. And I was listening.
Afterward
Coming back to reality was gentle. A bit like waking up from a vivid dream. I felt emotional, but calm. The nurse sat with me for a bit, offering juice and checking my vitals. Dr. Bowen came in to talk about what I experienced. I shivered a little, not because it was scary, but because it had somehow been… profound. And deeply glorious.
Later that day, I was tired, but not in a bad way. I journaled everything I could remember, trying to hold onto the feeling. Over the next few days, I noticed subtle shifts: my thoughts felt lighter, my anxiety less consuming. It wasn’t a miracle cure, but it was a crack in the armor, a place to start healing.
Final Thoughts
I won’t pretend that ketamine is right for everyone. It’s not a magic fix. It’s a tool, and a powerful one when used responsibly under medical care. I’m still on my journey. I still have bad days. But after that first session, I finally felt like maybe, just maybe, I could move forward instead of staying stuck. For the first time in a long time, I finally have hope for the future. I can’t begin to tell you how much I’m looking forward to going back and completing the full series of treatments.
If you’re considering it and you’re nervous, I see you. I was you. And I’m glad I didn’t let fear keep me from trying something that might help.
You deserve to feel better.
You deserve to come back to yourself.
And sometimes, healing starts with one uncomfortable, uncertain, incredibly brave step into the unknown. Charleston Ketamine Center is the perfect first step into that healing journey.
At Charleston Ketamine Center, we often meet patients who have tried everything, yet still struggle with depression, PTSD, anxiety, or chronic pain such as migraines. For those who haven’t found relief through traditional treatments, ketamine therapy offers a new path toward healing.
But how does ketamine work? And why is it considered such a powerful option for treatment-resistant conditions? Let’s explore the science behind this therapy.
A Different Pathway in the Brain
Most antidepressants work by gradually increasing certain brain chemicals, like serotonin, which can take several weeks to have an effect. Ketamine works in a different, much faster way. Instead of focusing on serotonin, it targets another chemical in the brain called glutamate, which plays a major role in mood, memory, and brain cell communication.
When ketamine is given, it helps create a burst of activity in the brain that encourages new connections between brain cells. This process is thought to help “reset” parts of the brain affected by depression and stress,offering relief more quickly than traditional medications. It’s one of the reasons why ketamine can be so helpful for people who haven’t found success with other treatments.
An Impactful Therapy
One of the most remarkable aspects of ketamine is its speed. Many patients begin to feel relief within hours or days, rather than the weeks it typically takes with standard antidepressants. While ketamine is not a cure, it can create a powerful window of relief and allows patients to re-engage with therapy, relationships, and daily life.
When administered in a safe, clinical setting like Charleston Ketamine Center, treatment is closely monitored by trained medical professionals. For depression, anxiety, PTSD, or chronic pain, ketamine is typically given as a series of low-dose infusions over several weeks, with maintenance options available based on individual response.
Is Ketamine Right for You?
If you or a loved one is living with treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, anxiety, or chronic pain, and traditional options haven’t worked, ketamine therapy may offer new hope. At Charleston Ketamine Center, we’re committed to providing compassionate, science-backed care in a safe and supportive environment.
Contact us today to learn more or schedule a consultation. The path to healing might be closer than you think.
We have been inundated with comments and questions regarding the safety of ketamine due to the tragic death of Matthew Perry. In my opinion, the coroner’s decision to list the immediate cause of death as, acute ketamine toxicity, was meant to sensationalize Perry’s history of addiction. Typically, in such a case, the immediate cause of death would be listed as drowning. This would then be followed by a line that reads, due to or as a consequence of: ____________ which is where the underlying cause would be listed. For example, drowning was listed as the immediate cause of Whitney Houston’s death, not her drug use. The same for Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys who drowned but had a very high blood alcohol content.
As CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta explained, the ketamine likely caused dissociation and lack of bodily awareness, which tragically led Mr. Perry to drown while in his hot tub… Dr. Gupta continues to say that ketamine …in and of itself, is not likely to lead to someone to die except for the fact that he was also in a pool… (Link to Dr. Gupta’s interview)
I know reports about ketamine deaths can raise concerns over the safety of this treatment. However, it’s important to understand Mr. Perry’s case in context. In addition to the last therapeutic ketamine infusion he received a week and a half before his death, he was obviously self-administering ketamine as a recreational drug. This is based on ketamine’s very short half-life and the fairly high levels found in his blood. The ketamine he received during his last infusion would have long been out of his system. Even though we do prescribe ketamine for use at home, the dose is far lower than what Mr. Perry would have consumed. In addition, the informed consent our patients sign specifically states another adult needs to be present when it is taken.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any other questions or concerns. When administered properly, ketamine therapy remains an extremely safe and effective treatment option. As always, our highest priority is the wellbeing, health, and safety of our patients.
Sincerely,
Richard L. Bowen, MD
