Ketamine: The Differences Between Infusion, Spray, and Tablets

If you’re one of the millions of people who suffer from depression, you may be wondering if ketamine could help you. Ketamine is a medication that has been shown to be effective in treating depression, but it comes in different forms. Infusion, or intravenous ketamine, is the most common form used to treat depression. Spray and tablets are other forms of ketamine that are available, but they have not been studied as extensively for the treatment of depression.

Sublingual Tablets or Troches

• Ketamine troches are for sublingual (under the tongue) use.
• We suggest that you do not eat and only clear liquids 4 hours before using this medicine to minimize potential nausea side effects.
• Drinking warm water with lemon or hot tea before can help increase absorbability.
• We suggest having a trusted person sit with you when you use the medication at home.
• In two words set your intention for why you are doing this treatment.
• Place the troche under the tongue. Hold it under the tongue until it’s entirely dissolved. Continue to hold the dissolvent and any saliva that builds up for at least 15 min. Then spit it out. It’s safe to swallow but may upset your stomach. Holding the troche under the tongue increases the effectiveness versus swallowing.

IV Infusion or IM Injection

These are delivered intravenously in a hospital or clinic setting and typically last around 40 minutes. Ketamine IM injections are emerging as a promising way to support mental health. Its effects can be profound – beyond relieving symptoms, it has been shown to break long-term patterns of negative thought and spur emotional healing. With this powerful tool comes great responsibility: the need for medical oversight when using ketamine is paramount in ensuring safe
treatment outcomes.

Intramuscular

A single shot of ketamine is injected into one of your larger muscles (thigh or arm), and similarly to intravenous, the experience lasts around 40 minutes, and is administered in a hospital or an office setting.

Nasal Spray

• Read the instructions on the bottle from the pharmacy.
• We suggest that you do not eat and only clear liquids 4 hours before using this medicine to minimize potential nausea side effects.
• We suggest you have a trusted person sit with you when you use the medication at home.
• Ketamine nasal spray is for use only inside the nose. Do not get any of it into your eyes. If it does get in your eyes, rinse with water immediately.
• Gently blow your nose to clear the nostrils before you use the nasal spray.
• In two words set your intention for why you are doing this treatment.
• Hold the device upright between your thumb and first 2 fingers.
• While sitting upright, tilt your head back slightly and insert the device tip into the first nostril.
• Firmly press the plunger all the way down. Sniff gently after spraying and massage your nostril to help with absorption.
• Repeat the steps for the other nostril.
• If you need to use it again, wait 5 minutes after each spray to allow the medicine to be absorbed.
• If liquid drips down your nose, sniff gently and dab it with a tissue. Do not blow your nose.
• The goal with these steps is to increase the absorption rate as much as possible. If it’s dripping down the back of your throat, it’s reducing the medication’s effectiveness.
• If you need to take nasal steroid medicine or decongestant, take these at least 1 hour before/after using this medicine.

Ketamine is most commonly used as an intravenous infusion, but it can also be given as a nasal spray or taken in pill form. The method of delivery affects how long the ketamine lasts in your system and how quickly it begins to work. Ketamine treatment is effective for various conditions, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and chronic pain. If you’re considering ketamine treatment, contact us to learn more about which form would be best for you. We offer ketamine treatments here at Better U so that you can get back to your best self!