Ketamine may be considered for selected patients with difficult-to-treat depressive symptoms, but deciding whether it belongs in a treatment plan requires more than matching a diagnosis to a procedure.
Ask about your diagnosis and treatment history
Bring an accurate medication list and information about prior medication trials, psychotherapy and other treatments. Your clinician can use this history to discuss whether ketamine is reasonable and what alternatives remain.
Ask about safety and monitoring
Discuss cardiovascular history, substance-use history, psychiatric history, pregnancy or breastfeeding when relevant, and any other conditions that could affect treatment. Ask what is monitored during treatment and how side effects are managed.
Ask how progress will be measured
Response is individualized. Ask how symptoms will be tracked, when treatment will be reassessed, and what would lead the team to continue, modify or stop treatment.
Editorial note: Medical content should be reviewed by a licensed clinician before publication and updated as evidence or guidance changes.