Ketamine has quickly become one of the most talked-about treatments for depression. Videos online describe it as life-changing. Clinics advertise it as a “reset button.” And many people who have struggled for years with treatment-resistant depression report feeling better within hours after a session.

It sounds almost too good to be true.

But when you step away from the excitement and look closely at what high-quality studies are actually showing, a more honest and balanced picture emerges. Ketamine does have real benefits—but it also has very real limitations. Understanding both sides is essential before considering it as a treatment option.

This article walks you through what ketamine can do, where it falls short, and why the science urges us to stay hopeful but cautious.

Why Ketamine Became So Popular

For decades, we only had antidepressants that take weeks to work. For someone sinking into severe depression, waiting for medicines to “kick in” can feel unbearable. Ketamine changed that narrative. Many people feel relief within a few hours or days, and this rapid action has understandably created excitement.

In medical studies, patients who had not responded to multiple antidepressants did show early improvement with ketamine. This early lift—especially in individuals with severe symptoms—offered something antidepressants could never match: speed.

This rapid improvement is real, and it matters. But it is only half the story.

What the Research Shows About How Long Ketamine Works

One of the most important findings from newer studies is that ketamine’s benefits fade quickly. The early days often show the strongest effect. But around the one-month mark, ketamine performs no better than a placebo in reducing overall depression severity.

This means:

• Ketamine can help you feel better fast

• But it does not create a lasting antidepressant effect

• Without repeated doses, the benefits decline sharply

This is a major limitation—and something advertisements rarely mention.

In other words, ketamine works like a “boost,” not a long-term fix. It opens a window—but you must still work through that window with therapy, lifestyle change, and ongoing care.

Does Ketamine’s Dissociation Cause the Improvement? Surprisingly, No.

Many people believe ketamine’s dream-like or out-of-body sensations are part of how it heals the brain. But research shows something important:

People who had dissociation did not necessarily improve more than those who didn’t.

This tells us two things:

1. The psychedelic-like experience is not the therapeutic ingredient

2. Chasing the dissociative feeling is unnecessary—and potentially risky

This also raises questions about offering ketamine in wellness centers or non-medical environments where the focus is on “the experience” rather than the clinical benefit.

Safety: Short-Term Seems Fine, Long-Term Is Unknown

In short research trials, side effects were usually mild—nausea, dizziness, or feeling disconnected for a short time. But these trials were brief, often only four weeks. They simply cannot answer the big questions:

• What happens after months of use?

• Can cognitive problems develop?

• Is bladder damage a real risk?

• Does tolerance build?

• Can emotional dependency occur?

In the real world, we already see signals of concern:

• Memory issues

• Urinary problems

• Worsening mood between sessions

• Craving or psychological reliance

The science is clear on this: we do not have long-term safety data, and repeated unsupervised use is risky.

The Biggest Gap in the Science

Despite all the excitement, research has not shown that ketamine:

• Repairs underlying depression mechanisms

• Produces sustained brain changes

• Works reliably beyond a few weeks

• Is effective without repeated dosing

• Can replace antidepressants or therapy

This doesn’t mean ketamine is useless—it just means it is a tool, not a cure.

So, Should You Consider Ketamine?

Yes—but with the right expectations.

Ketamine can make a meaningful difference when:

• Depression has not responded to multiple treatments

• Rapid relief is needed

• Sessions are supervised by a qualified psychiatrist

• Therapy and follow-up are continued

• Safety monitoring is taken seriously

But ketamine is not recommended when:

• You are expecting a miracle

• You want a permanent fix

• You are considering clinics without proper medical oversight

• You are looking to “self-administer” or experiment

Used wisely, ketamine can be a bridge: it lifts you enough so you can engage in therapy, restart healthy routines, and regain control of your life. But it cannot, by itself, hold you there.

The Balanced Truth

Ketamine is neither overrated nor magical. It is a promising, fast-acting option for a very specific group of people—yet also a treatment with clear limitations. The most responsible approach is to use ketamine as one component of a larger recovery plan, not as the foundation of treatment.

True healing still requires structure, therapy, consistency, and compassionate psychiatric care. Ketamine can open the door, but what you do afterward determines your long-term recovery.

For Appointments or Guidance

Dr. Srinivas Rajkumar T, MD (AIIMS), DNB, MBA (BITS Pilani)
Consultant Psychiatrist & Neurofeedback Specialist
Mind & Memory Clinic, Apollo Clinic Velachery (Opp. Phoenix Mall)
✉ srinivasaiims@gmail.com 📞 +91-8595155808