Ketamine Infusions for Depression

Ketamine Infusions at DCIM

The Delray Center for Integrative Medicine has pioneered the use of Ketamine in South Florida for the treatment of depression. Our Ketamine infusion program is specifically designed for cases of depression that do not respond to antidepressants or talk therapy alone. Over the past seven years, Dr. Raul Rodriguez, Founder & Medical Director of the Delray Center for Integrative Medicine, has overseen hundreds of Ketamine infusion therapies, with a response rate that is otherwise unheard of in mental health treatment.

How IV Ketamine Infusions for Depression Work

Ketamine is a well-established medication traditionally used as an anesthetic since its development in the 1960s. Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated that when administered at lower doses, the drug has a powerful antidepressant effect not found in other medications and therapies. Ketamine works similarly to conventional antidepressants on the brain, clearing the build-up of certain proteins that inhibit normal brain activity. Unlike other medications, the effects of Ketamine are immediate, especially when administered in an intravenous infusion. It essentially serves as a reset button, returning the brain to its functionality pre-depression. A single IV Ketamine infusion can provide sustained depression relief for weeks or even months.

At the Delray Center for Integrative Medicine, we have developed specific treatment protocols using IV Ketamine therapy, to provide a long-term reduction or cessation of even the most severe depression symptoms. Patients participating in our Ketamine infusion for depression treatment are assessed by one of our doctors to determine if they are an appropriate candidate for the therapy. Based on that evaluation, a specific micro-dosage of Ketamine is calculated for each patient based on multiple factors. The Ketamine infusions are administered intravenously, either in a drip or pump mechanism, to maximize the effectiveness of the medication and its antidepressant properties. Infusions are performed under the watch of DCIM medical staff, and specific dosing is adjusted over time based on the patient’s response in order to achieve the best therapeutic results.

Starting Ketamine Infusions

Any patient interested in participating in IV Ketamine therapy must receive a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation by one of our doctors, to determine whether they are an appropriate candidate for the treatment. The number of infusions varies from person to person, with the typical induction consisting of six infusions. Infusions are spaced so as to get the greatest long-term benefit. For some patients, completion of the initial treatment means lasting depression symptom relief. Others may occasionally receive refresher infusions as needed. The ultimate goal at the Delray Center for Integrative Medicine is the complete elimination of depression.