Ketamine for mental health - A naturalistic inventory of prescribing practices, safety, and adverse effects
PLOS mental health. April 2, 2025 Marta Stuart, Ian Stefanuk, Rebecca Comeau et al. 1 citation
Ketamine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, is increasingly used for depression and other psychiatric conditions, with growing interest in non-intravenous routes. A survey of 45 psychiatric care providers with over 1,000 patient encounters across two countries found that non-IV ketamine (intranasal, oral, sublingual, intramuscular, subcutaneous) was commonly prescribed. The survey reported a favorable safety profile, with non-IV use occurring in clinics with minimal monitoring or at home. The authors argue that safety depends on dose and route, and that strict universal regulations based on IV data may unnecessarily limit patient access, though they acknowledge the survey's limitations.