Ketamine Therapy – frequently asked questions
We are one of the few clinics to offer a special Ketamine therapy, combined with other state-of-the-art therapies like rTMS, hypnosis and neurofeedback, amongst others. This makes our treatment much more effective that common Ketamine treatments.
Here are some of the frequently asked questions concerning Ketamine and our therapy:
Is Ketamine addictive?
At the dosage used for treatment of depression and other illnesses there is no risk of addiction.
Is Ketamine a drug?
Ketamine is indeed used in the drug scene, but in much higher doses and not as a continuous infusion but as a one-off dose. This means it is not easy to control the depth of the trance. If high doses are used over a long period of time it can lead to chronic bladder inflammation.
Is treatment with Ketamine legal?
Ketamine has been a licensed medicinal product since 1970. When it is used for depression, compulsion and similar disorders this is referred to as “off-label” treatment. These therapies are common and legal, but health insurance companies will not always bear the costs.
Is my health insurance obliged to pay for this treatment?
Provided their contract allows for it, privately insured patients will normally have their treatment covered by their insurance company.** Patients with statutory health insurance are often subject to a case-by-case decision. If several frustrating attempts have already been made to treat depression it is referred to as therapy-resistant depression. In these cases there is a better chance that the insurance company will pay the costs; or at least a part of them. We are probably the only centre in Europe offering ketamine therapy, rTMS and intensive psychotherapy at the same time. You can find more information under https://www.eu-patienten.de/de/rechtsquellen/rechtsquellen.jsp
**Ketamine treatment on the NHS in the UK does not yet have full approval from NICE. (As of January 2020)