Latest medical review on: October 14th, 2026. Medically reviewed by Instructor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and Lumin Health Co-founder, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ben Yudkoff.
Can Ketamine Treat Depression?
Ketamine for depression is an off-label, psychiatrist-supervised treatment that may ease depressive symptoms within hours to days, and depression is the condition where ketamine has been studied most.
At Lumin Health, ketamine is provided as an intramuscular (IM) injection, given by psychiatric clinicians in a private, calm setting. Esketamine (Spravato), a related medication, is FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression and for major depressive disorder with acute suicidal ideation, and is often covered by insurance.
If you're living with depression that hasn't responded to standard treatments, you're not out of options. This page walks through what the research shows, how treatment works, and what it costs, so you can decide whether IM ketamine or esketamine (Spravato) may be a fit.
Does Ketamine Work for Depression? What the Research Shows
Ketamine for depression has the deepest research base of any condition studied. In the first randomized controlled trial (Archives of General Psychiatry, 2006), a single dose of intravenous ketamine produced rapid antidepressant effects in treatment-resistant major depression compared with placebo, with effects visible within hours and lasting days. Trials of repeated dosing (Biological Psychiatry, 2013; American Journal of Psychiatry, 2016) found that a series of treatments extended the benefit beyond a single dose. A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis in JAMA Psychiatry pooled the available evidence and found ketamine infusions rapidly reduced both depressive and suicidal symptoms in major depressive episodes — though, as with any treatment, it doesn't work for everyone.
Most of this research used intravenous (IV) ketamine. Lumin Health provides the same medicine as an intramuscular (IM) injection — a faster, more comfortable route than a long IV session.
Most of this research used intravenous (IV) ketamine. Lumin Health provides the same medicine as an intramuscular (IM) injection — a faster, more comfortable route than a long IV session.
Which Types of Depression Ketamine May Help
Ketamine is studied and used across a range of depression, not only treatment-resistant depression (TRD). TRD refers to depression that hasn't adequately responded to two or more standard antidepressants. Ketamine's strongest research base is in TRD, and clinicians also use it for major depressive disorder more broadly, including for patients experiencing acute suicidal ideation. Ketamine for depression is prescribed off-label: ketamine's only FDA-approved use is anesthesia. Esketamine (Spravato), a related medication, is FDA-approved specifically for TRD and for major depressive disorder with acute suicidal ideation — and is often covered by insurance.
How Ketamine Works for Depression
Neuroplasticity: helping the brain form new connections
Ketamine acts on the brain's NMDA receptors, part of the glutamate system — the chemistry the brain uses for learning and change. This triggers a period of heightened neuroplasticity: a window in which the brain can more easily form new connections. Your brain isn't broken — it may be stuck, replaying patterns that keep depression locked in place. Ketamine may help loosen those patterns so new ones can form. Read more about ketamine and neuroplasticity.
Ketamine acts on the brain's NMDA receptors, part of the glutamate system — the chemistry the brain uses for learning and change. This triggers a period of heightened neuroplasticity: a window in which the brain can more easily form new connections. Your brain isn't broken — it may be stuck, replaying patterns that keep depression locked in place. Ketamine may help loosen those patterns so new ones can form. Read more about ketamine and neuroplasticity.
Glutamate, mood, and the depression cycle
By modulating glutamate signaling, ketamine may quiet the circuitry that keeps depressive episodes locked in and support mood regulation. This is part of why relief, when it comes, often arrives fast — the mechanism differs from standard antidepressants, which act gradually on serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.
By modulating glutamate signaling, ketamine may quiet the circuitry that keeps depressive episodes locked in and support mood regulation. This is part of why relief, when it comes, often arrives fast — the mechanism differs from standard antidepressants, which act gradually on serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.
IM Ketamine vs. Esketamine (Spravato) for Depression
For depression, Lumin Health offers two distinct but related treatments, and both are legitimate options:
• Intramuscular (IM) ketamine — an off-label application of a medicine that's been in use for over 50 years, supported by the strongest research base of any condition studied. IM ketamine at Lumin Health is $500 per session and is typically not covered by insurance, though we provide a Superbill for potential out-of-network reimbursement.
• Esketamine (Spravato) — FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression and for major depressive disorder with acute suicidal ideation, and often covered by insurance. Spravato is a nasal spray administered in-office under medical supervision.
Which pathway fits depends on your diagnosis, insurance, and preferences. Our clinicians will walk you through both options during your free consultation. Learn more about the differences between ketamine and esketamine.
• Intramuscular (IM) ketamine — an off-label application of a medicine that's been in use for over 50 years, supported by the strongest research base of any condition studied. IM ketamine at Lumin Health is $500 per session and is typically not covered by insurance, though we provide a Superbill for potential out-of-network reimbursement.
• Esketamine (Spravato) — FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression and for major depressive disorder with acute suicidal ideation, and often covered by insurance. Spravato is a nasal spray administered in-office under medical supervision.
Which pathway fits depends on your diagnosis, insurance, and preferences. Our clinicians will walk you through both options during your free consultation. Learn more about the differences between ketamine and esketamine.
Scientific literature supporting the use of ketamine for depression
- Zarate et al., A randomized trial of an N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist in treatment-resistant major depression — Arch Gen Psychiatry, 2006.
- Murrough et al., Rapid and longer-term antidepressant effects of repeated ketamine infusions in treatment-resistant major depression — Biol Psychiatry, 2013.
- Singh et al., A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Dose-Frequency Study of Intravenous Ketamine in Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression — Am J Psychiatry, 2016.
- Shim et al., Ketamine Infusions and Rapid Reduction of Suicidal and Depressive Symptoms in Major Depressive Episode: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis — JAMA Psychiatry, 2026.
Is ketamine covered by insurance?
Why coverage for IM ketamine is limited
Because ketamine's only FDA-approved indication is anesthesia, most commercial insurers don't cover IM ketamine for depression. We're transparent about this up front: IM ketamine at Lumin Health is $500 per session, and we provide a Superbill — an itemized receipt — that patients with out-of-network PPO benefits can submit for potential partial reimbursement. Full details on our ketamine treatment cost page.
Because ketamine's only FDA-approved indication is anesthesia, most commercial insurers don't cover IM ketamine for depression. We're transparent about this up front: IM ketamine at Lumin Health is $500 per session, and we provide a Superbill — an itemized receipt — that patients with out-of-network PPO benefits can submit for potential partial reimbursement. Full details on our ketamine treatment cost page.
Making treatment accessible
We offer payment structures designed to minimize out-of-pocket spend while maximizing the chance treatment succeeds. And because esketamine (Spravato) is FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder with acute suicidal ideation, it is often covered by the major insurers we work with — for many patients, Spravato is the more accessible pathway. Check your plan on our insurance page or ask during your free consultation.
We offer payment structures designed to minimize out-of-pocket spend while maximizing the chance treatment succeeds. And because esketamine (Spravato) is FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder with acute suicidal ideation, it is often covered by the major insurers we work with — for many patients, Spravato is the more accessible pathway. Check your plan on our insurance page or ask during your free consultation.
What Ketamine Treatment for Depression Looks Like
Personalized Treatment Plans
It starts with a free consultation. Our psychiatric team — psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners, specifically trained in ketamine and esketamine — will review your symptoms, history, and goals, and build a plan around you. For most people, a course of 6-10 sessions over 3-5 weeks is enough to see meaningful results.
It starts with a free consultation. Our psychiatric team — psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners, specifically trained in ketamine and esketamine — will review your symptoms, history, and goals, and build a plan around you. For most people, a course of 6-10 sessions over 3-5 weeks is enough to see meaningful results.
Safe and Comfortable Environment
Every session takes place in a private room with psychiatric care throughout. You'll be monitored the entire time, and our staff will make sure you feel settled, safe, and unhurried.
Every session takes place in a private room with psychiatric care throughout. You'll be monitored the entire time, and our staff will make sure you feel settled, safe, and unhurried.
Positive Effects and Follow-Up
After the initial sessions, many patients describe a lifting of the depressive weight — more energy, more room to engage with life, a steadier mood. We track your progress together and adjust the plan as needed, with lasting relief as the goal.
After the initial sessions, many patients describe a lifting of the depressive weight — more energy, more room to engage with life, a steadier mood. We track your progress together and adjust the plan as needed, with lasting relief as the goal.
How fast does ketamine work in treating depression?
Faster than most treatments you may have tried. In clinical trials, symptom relief often appeared within hours to days of a dose. How long relief lasts varies, which is why treatment is typically a series of sessions rather than one.
Faster than most treatments you may have tried. In clinical trials, symptom relief often appeared within hours to days of a dose. How long relief lasts varies, which is why treatment is typically a series of sessions rather than one.
Can ketamine treat treatment-resistant depression?
There is evidence in the scientific literature that, for some people, ketamine can meaningfully reduce treatment-resistant depression symptoms — including randomized controlled trials of both
single and repeated dosing, and a 2026 meta-analysis. It doesn't work for everyone. Our clinicians will be honest with you about whether it's a fit.
There is evidence in the scientific literature that, for some people, ketamine can meaningfully reduce treatment-resistant depression symptoms — including randomized controlled trials of both
single and repeated dosing, and a 2026 meta-analysis. It doesn't work for everyone. Our clinicians will be honest with you about whether it's a fit.
Is ketamine FDA-approved for depression?
Ketamine's only FDA-approved use is anesthesia; its use for depression is off-label, supported by randomized controlled trials and the deepest research base of any condition studied. Esketamine (Spravato), a related medication, is FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression and for major depressive disorder with acute suicidal ideation — and is often covered by insurance.
Ketamine's only FDA-approved use is anesthesia; its use for depression is off-label, supported by randomized controlled trials and the deepest research base of any condition studied. Esketamine (Spravato), a related medication, is FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression and for major depressive disorder with acute suicidal ideation — and is often covered by insurance.
What about suicidal ideation (SI)? Can ketamine help with that?
Yes, ketamine has demonstrated potential in alleviating suicidal ideation, providing a lifeline to individuals experiencing the darkest moments of depression. However, if you are having active suicidal ideation, please do not wait - go to your nearest emergency room or call 911.
Yes, ketamine has demonstrated potential in alleviating suicidal ideation, providing a lifeline to individuals experiencing the darkest moments of depression. However, if you are having active suicidal ideation, please do not wait - go to your nearest emergency room or call 911.
How many ketamine sessions are needed for depression?
Most treatment plans involve 6-10 sessions over 3-5 weeks, personalized after your initial evaluation. Your clinician will adjust based on how you respond. If you're considering esketamine (Spravato) instead, that follows a different FDA-approved dosing schedule we'll explain during your consultation.
Most treatment plans involve 6-10 sessions over 3-5 weeks, personalized after your initial evaluation. Your clinician will adjust based on how you respond. If you're considering esketamine (Spravato) instead, that follows a different FDA-approved dosing schedule we'll explain during your consultation.
Ketamine treatment could begin in 7 days
Step 1
Book a free consultation through our online calendar or call us at 617-863-8810. Our team is ready to discuss how ketamine therapy or Spravato treatment can help you.
Step 2
Our clinical team will assess your needs and discuss treatment options. We’ll address any questions about ketamine treatment costs and insurance coverage, and will handle all insurance coordination.
Step 3
We’ll onboard you and make you comfortable with your plan. We’ll schedule your preferred times and locations, so you can access the best ketamine treatment near you.
If you’d like to explore how ketamine therapy or esketamine (Spravato) treatment could help you, book a complimentary consultation below. We look forward to speaking with you.
Lumin Health Locations
Newton Centre
10 Langley Road, Suite 200
Newton, MA 02459Cambridge (Harvard Square)
50 Church Street, 3rd Floor
Cambridge, MA 02138Woburn
300 Tradecenter Drive, Suite 3400
Woburn, MA 01801Brookline
1101 Beacon Street, Suite 4E
Brookline, MA 02446Bethesda
4825 Bethesda Avenue
Suite 200
Bethesda, MD 20814
10 Langley Road, Suite 200
Newton, MA 02459Cambridge (Harvard Square)
50 Church Street, 3rd Floor
Cambridge, MA 02138Woburn
300 Tradecenter Drive, Suite 3400
Woburn, MA 01801Brookline
1101 Beacon Street, Suite 4E
Brookline, MA 02446Bethesda
4825 Bethesda Avenue
Suite 200
Bethesda, MD 20814
Monday - Friday, 8am - 6pm
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