KETAMINE FOR DEPRESSION
Ketamine Therapy for Depression in Scottsdale
For many people living with depression, standard treatments provide only partial relief — or none at all. Ketamine offers a different mechanism, a faster response, and a meaningful path forward.
What Is Treatment-Resistant Depression?
Research consistently shows that 30–40% of people with major depressive disorder don't achieve adequate relief from antidepressants, even after multiple medication trials (Rush et al., STAR*D, NEJM 2006). This is treatment-resistant depression (TRD) — not a failure of character, but a biological reality that reflects the limits of medications targeting only the serotonin and norepinephrine systems.
Ketamine bypasses the serotonin system entirely and acts on glutamate receptors involved in synaptic plasticity — the brain's ability to rewire itself. This is why ketamine can produce results when antidepressants have not.
How Ketamine Works Differently
Traditional antidepressants modulate serotonin or norepinephrine and take weeks to work. Ketamine acts as an NMDA receptor antagonist, triggering rapid upregulation of BDNF and activation of the mTOR pathway — both of which drive neuroplasticity and the regrowth of synaptic connections atrophied by chronic depression.
In published clinical trials, ketamine has produced rapid improvements in mood, motivation, and cognitive flexibility — often within hours of infusion (Murrough et al., Am J Psychiatry 2013). A full induction series of 4–6 sessions is designed to build and sustain those effects. Some patients also explore Spravato (esketamine), the FDA-approved nasal spray for treatment-resistant depression.
What to Expect at Innerbloom
Every patient begins with a free physician intake — a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Andrew Zabel to review your history, assess medications, and determine whether ketamine is appropriate. If you're a candidate, the standard protocol is an induction series of 4–6 IV infusions over 2–3 weeks, each supervised by Dr. Zabel throughout.
Following the series, many patients benefit from integration support and optional maintenance sessions. Induction pricing ranges from $2,200–$3,000; single sessions are $625. See our pricing page.
Why Physician-Led Care Matters
Ketamine is a controlled dissociative anesthetic requiring careful patient selection, individualized dosing, and real-time clinical judgment. Dr. Zabel's background in board-certified Emergency Medicine means every infusion at Innerbloom is physician-supervised from start to finish — not delegated to nursing staff. We also treat conditions that frequently co-occur with depression, including PTSD and anxiety.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ketamine safe for depression?↓
IV ketamine has a well-established safety profile from decades of anesthetic use. At sub-anesthetic doses, it is administered by a board-certified physician who monitors you throughout. Careful patient selection significantly reduces the risk of adverse events.
How quickly does ketamine work?↓
In published ketamine research, patients have reported improvements in mood, energy, and cognition within hours of infusion — far faster than oral antidepressants, which typically take 4–6 weeks. Individual results vary.
How many sessions do I need?↓
The standard induction is 4–6 infusions over 2–3 weeks. Some patients respond strongly after three sessions; others benefit from the full six. Maintenance sessions are available afterward.
What makes Innerbloom different?↓
Every session is supervised by Dr. Zabel — a board-certified EM physician and Army veteran — not nursing staff alone. We offer transparent pricing, a free intake, and a full range of services including IV ketamine, Spravato, couples, group, and integration support.
Begin with a free physician intake. No commitment required.
Book Free Physician Intake