Ketamine therapy: the complete guide
Ketamine therapy for depression is an off-label use at roughly a tenth of the anesthetic dose, most often a 40-minute IV infusion at 0.5 mg/kg. A common start is six infusions over two to three weeks, with boosters every two to six weeks if symptoms improve. Plans usually leave it as cash pay, often $350 to $850 per infusion.
Updated · Checked by the Covered Mind editorial team against cited sources
How IV, IM and oral ketamine are used for depression, who it helps, what a series looks like, why insurance rarely pays, and what it costs.
Key facts
- Last checked:
- Sources listed: 2
- Reading time: About 3 minutes
- Induction: six infusions over two to three weeks
- Infusion: 40 minutes at 0.5 mg/kg
- Cash price: $350 to $850 per infusion
- Series price: $2,100 and $4,800
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Last checked | |
| Sources listed | 2 |
| Reading time | About 3 minutes |
| Induction | six infusions over two to three weeks |
| Infusion | 40 minutes at 0.5 mg/kg |
| Cash price | $350 to $850 per infusion |
| Series price | $2,100 and $4,800 |
What it is
Ketamine is a generic anesthetic that, at roughly a tenth of the anesthetic dose, produces a rapid antidepressant effect in many people who have not responded to standard medications. It is given in clinics by intravenous infusion (the most studied route), intramuscular injection, or as a lozenge or nasal spray compounded by a pharmacy. Its use for depression is off label, which is the single fact that drives everything about cost and coverage. Check your plan in the coverage checker and read ketamine coverage by insurer. See the ketamine therapy overview for the treatment schedule and answers to common questions.
Who does ketamine therapy help?
The best evidence is for major depressive disorder that has not responded to two or more antidepressants. Smaller studies support use in bipolar depression (with a mood stabilizer), PTSD, and suicidal thinking. Response rates in clinical series run 50 to 70 percent for an initial course, with effects that fade over days to weeks without maintenance.
Ketamine is not appropriate with uncontrolled high blood pressure, active psychosis, a history of ketamine or other dissociative misuse, pregnancy, or certain heart conditions. A reputable clinic screens for all of these before the first dose.
Read Ketamine therapy for treatment-resistant depression, Ketamine therapy for bipolar depression, Ketamine therapy for PTSD and Ketamine therapy for depression.
What a series looks like
- Induction: six infusions over two to three weeks, each 40 minutes at 0.5 mg/kg, with about an hour of recovery.
- Assessment: a rating scale (PHQ-9 or MADRS) at baseline and after the series. No response after three or four sessions usually means stopping.
- Maintenance: boosters every two to six weeks for responders, tapering as symptoms allow.
During an infusion you feel detached, floaty, and sometimes anxious for 30 to 45 minutes. Nausea, a brief rise in blood pressure, and dizziness are common. You cannot drive afterward.
Read What to expect at your first ketamine infusion and Side effects and safety: Spravato, ketamine and TMS.
Why does insurance rarely pay for ketamine?
Insurers classify ketamine for depression as experimental because it lacks an FDA indication. Read the FDA label for ketamine hydrochloride injection. A few plans reimburse the infusion or monitoring codes (96365, 96374) when a clinic submits them, and PPO out-of-network benefits sometimes pay a share of a superbill. The drug and the psychiatric supervision are almost always cash.
Read Spravato: the complete guide. It covers the esketamine nasal spray, which is FDA approved and covered. If your plan covers it and you meet its criteria, it is the insured route to the same mechanism. See Spravato vs ketamine: which is right for you?, Ketamine vs esketamine: how they differ, and IV ketamine vs at-home ketamine.
What does ketamine therapy cost?
Published cash prices run $350 to $850 per infusion, with a six-infusion series between $2,100 and $4,800. See ketamine therapy cost for current ranges by metro.
What should you ask a ketamine clinic?
- Who administers the infusion and who is present for the whole session?
- What is the dosing protocol, and how is response measured?
- What is the full-course price, and is the consultation included?
- Do you provide a superbill, and do you also offer Spravato (esketamine)?
Sources
Related
Checked by the Covered Mind editorial team · · Editorial policy
Cite this
Covered Mind. "Ketamine therapy: the complete guide." https://www.coveredmind.com/guides/ketamine-therapy-complete-guide. Last checked Sep 1, 2026.
This site provides general information about insurance coverage and treatment options. It is not medical advice, not a guarantee of coverage, and not a substitute for talking with a clinician or your health plan.