Ketamine Therapy Gains Ground for Treatment-Resistant Depression in South Florida

As traditional antidepressant medications fail to provide adequate relief for an estimated 30 percent of depression patients, ketamine-based therapies are gaining traction as a viable alternative across South Florida. Several clinics in Palm Beach County now offer supervised ketamine infusions and the FDA-approved nasal spray esketamine (Spravato) for treatment-resistant depression.

Unlike conventional antidepressants that target serotonin or norepinephrine and can take weeks to show effects, ketamine works through the glutamate system and can produce rapid improvements in depressive symptoms, sometimes within hours of the first treatment.

Clinical Evidence

Research published in the American Journal of Psychiatry has shown that a series of six ketamine infusions over two to three weeks can produce significant symptom improvement in approximately 70 percent of patients who have failed to respond to at least two traditional antidepressant trials. The effects typically last two to four weeks, with maintenance treatments helping sustain remission.

"For patients who have been suffering for years without relief, ketamine can feel like a genuine breakthrough," said Dr. Michael Torres, a psychiatrist specializing in treatment-resistant mood disorders in Delray Beach. "The rapid onset of action is particularly important for patients in acute crisis."

What to Expect

Ketamine treatments are administered in clinical settings under medical supervision. During an infusion session, patients may experience temporary dissociative effects, changes in perception, and mild blood pressure elevation. Sessions typically last 40 to 60 minutes, followed by a monitoring period.

Insurance coverage for esketamine (Spravato) has improved significantly, with most major insurers now covering the treatment when prescribed for treatment-resistant depression. IV ketamine infusions, which are used off-label, are generally not covered by insurance and typically cost between $400 and $600 per session.