What clinical research can and cannot tell you about ketamine and esketamine for depression.
What the evidence shows
Ketamine has been studied for adults with treatment-resistant depression. A randomized trial comparing IV ketamine with electroconvulsive therapy in adults with nonpsychotic treatment-resistant major depression found ketamine noninferior on the trial's primary response outcome. This does not establish that all patients, diagnoses or routes have the same results, or that benefits persist without follow-up. Read the 2023 trial.
Ketamine and Spravato are not interchangeable
Ketamine used for psychiatric conditions is off-label. Spravato is esketamine, an FDA-approved nasal spray with specific adult depression indications. Its administration requires a certified healthcare setting and monitoring. Neither is a guaranteed cure, and neither replaces emergency care. Official Spravato information.
Safety, assessment and follow-up
Discuss previous treatment, medications, cardiovascular history, psychiatric history and substance-use risks with a licensed clinician. Sedation, dissociation and changes in blood pressure require appropriate monitoring. Spravato patients remain under observation for at least two hours and must not drive until the next day after restful sleep; other routes follow their clinician's discharge guidance. The FDA warns about risks from compounded ketamine without on-site monitoring. Read the FDA warning.
Finding care in Indiana
Compare local clinic locations, treatment options and the research library. Confirm the practice's services, clinical assessment process, written costs and your individual coverage before booking. Request help connecting to a local provider.
For crisis support call or text 988; for an immediate medical emergency call 911. Official state resources are separate from directory inquiries.
Educational information, not medical advice. Sources checked November 4, 2026; not a clinician review.
This report is educational and is not medical advice. Coverage, availability and eligibility can change; verify details with the named source or your care team.