Ketamine Clinics Canada

Ketamine Clinics Canada

What are ketamine clinics Canada?

Ketamine is most well-known as a dissociative medication used by anesthesiologists before and after the surgery. However, it can also be used off-label for mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, chronic pain, and addictions. Today, Ketamine is prescribed in the United States, where Esketamine Spravato, a nasal spray, has also been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for depression treatment in adults.

When it comes to Canada however, the use of this anesthetic is not so widely popular, although  practitioners have started using it for treating depression. In Canada, Ketamine is regulated under Schedule I of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and is not yet approved for psychiatric use. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto is believed to be one of the first clinics in the country using low doses of Ketamine to treat mental health conditions. In 2020, the first psychedelic-enhanced psychotherapy center in Canada using anesthetic in microdoses opened its doors to the public.

Ketamine clinics in Canada are typically run by anesthesiologists and staffed by therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, and registered nurses who have been previously trained and certified to provide Ketamine treatment in Canada. The administration of anesthetic in Canada does not differ much from the one in the US. It may be administered through IV, IM, PO infusions as well as with a lozenge. Starting from 2019, Health Canada began investigating the applicability of FDA-approved Esketamine Spravato for treatment-resistant depression and navigating the establishment of a series of Ketamine clinics in Canada. 

Is ketamine therapy legal in Canada?

The anesthetic has legitimate uses in Canadian medicine, mainly as an anesthetic used before and after surgery. It is controlled under Schedule I of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Only a few Ketamine clinics in Canada are currently open to providing the therapy legally.

What is meant by ketamine therapy or ketamine-assisted psychotherapy? (KAP)

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) is the administration of anesthetic followed by psychotherapy. KAP in Canada typically takes 8 to 10 sessions accompanied by 4 to 6 doses of anesthetic. The duration of each session may vary, however, one session usually lasts for 2 hours. Currently, Ketamine treatment is offered only for mental health conditions including depression, OCD, PTSD, or severe anxiety. There is no KAP for chronic pain or addictions in Canada. 

What are the Best Ketamine Clinics in Canada? 

There are two Ketamine clinics in Canada which individuals may refer to for treating their mental health conditions.

Field Trip Health

• Managed by Dr. Michael Verbora, Medical Director.
• This Ketamine clinic offers IM infusions and oral anesthetic for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), anxiety, OCD, and PTSD. 
• They also offer KAP.
• The cost per infusion and oral anesthetic is $400 each plus $200 per psychotherapy session.
• Servicing Toronto.

The Linden Medical Center

• Managed by Dr. Monika Hooper, Medical Director.
• Their Ketamine clinic offers IV infusions for depression. 
• They also offer cosmetic injections, independent psychiatric exams, immigration medical exams, and counseling.
• The cost per their individual Ketamine treatment in Canada is $475. A full treatment course which consists of 6 treatments over 3 weeks is $2850.
• Servicing Saskatoon.

How is this list of ketamine clinics chosen? 

These Ketamine clinics Canada are verified and recommended by the American Society of Ketamine Physicians.

What treatments do Ketamine Clinics provide in 2020? 

Ketamine clinics in Canada only provide treatments for mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD.

Ketamine for depression 

The following studies have been conducted:

• Behind the Buzz: How Ketamine Changes the Depressed Patient's Brain, 2019
• Ketamine Stirs Up Hope—and Controversy—as a Depression Drug, 2018

Ketamine for anxiety 

The following studies have been conducted:

• Improvement in suicidal ideation after ketamine infusion: Relationship to reductions in depression and anxiety, 2014
• Safety and efficacy of maintenance ketamine treatment in patients with treatment-refractory generalised anxiety and social anxiety disorders, 2018

Ketamine for PTSD

The following study has been conducted:

• Synaptic Loss and the Pathophysiology of PTSD: Implications for Ketamine as a Prototype Novel Therapeutic, 2017

Ketamine for OCD 

The following studies have been conducted:

• Effects of ketamine in treatment-refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder, 2012
• Glutamatergic agents for OCD and related disorders, 2015

Ketamine for bipolar disorder

The following study has been conducted:

• Rapid infusion of esketamine for unipolar and bipolar depression: a retrospective chart review, 2017

Ketamine for chronic pain 

The following study has been conducted:

• The Effect of Ketamine Infusion in the Treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: a Systemic Review and Meta-analysis, 2018

Ketamine assisted therapy or psychotherapy

KAP is available only in the Field Trip Health clinic. KAP typically takes 8 to 10 sessions which consist of the actual administration of anesthetic alongside psychotherapy. One session runs around 2 hours during which the patient discusses the goals and intentions for the treatment with the clinician, and then proceeds with the injection. The Field Trip Health’s KAP is only suitable for patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). They will also require a medical referral from the patient’s doctor or psychiatrist.

 Some Ketamine clinics in Canada may also provide additional mental health services, such as:

• Psychiatry
• EMDR
• TMS
• Holistic and alternative treatments

How are sessions in Ketamine Clinics Canada?

Ketamine treatment in Canada always starts after receiving the patient’s doctor referral which confirms their eligibility for therapy. If the patient meets the medical criteria at the clinic, they will be continuously assessed both physically and mentally before each session. Before the session, a therapist and/or a registered nurse checks the patient’s vitals and prepares the monitoring equipment.The patient is accommodated in the reclining armchair and relaxes into the experience. During the whole Ketamine treatment, the patient is monitored by the clinician who ensures the sessions are progressing well. If needed, the clinician may incorporate the changes to the treatment protocol, however, the patient always receives the lowest dosage of anesthetic.

After the session is over, the patient spends time recovering. Ketamine clinics in Canada may also incorporate mindfulness, self-care, and personalized integration activities to provide a holistic treatment protocol.

How long is a typical session for IV?

The IV sessions in Ketamine clinics in Canada usually take 2 to 3 hours, plus at least 20 minutes for recovery.

How long is a typical session for intramuscular?

The IM sessions in Ketamine clinics in Canada usually take 2 to 3 hours, plus at least 20 minutes for recovery.

What will I feel during the session

in Ketamine Clinics Canada?

How you feel during Ketamine treatment may vary from patient to patient. Some patients report a feeling of disconnection like they observe their bodies from outside, while some experience euphoria, changes in energy level, and relaxation. Furthermore, Ketamine treatment may be accompanied by hallucinations, heaviness in the limbs, and other unwanted sensations which are promptly addressed by the clinician.

Ketamine clinics in Canada always take the patient’s safety as their highest priority. If during the sessions, there are any side effects or fear and/or anxiety attacks, the clinician incorporates changes to the treatment protocol until the dosage of anesthetic provides only healing effects.

How much do Ketamine infusions cost in Canada 2020?

Ketamine treatment may differ in cost between clinics. The average price per infusion is $400. Contact the preferred Ketamine clinic Canada to learn the price per infusion.

How can I find it if I can be eligible for insurance coverage in Canada?

Ketamine treatment Canada is not typically covered by insurance plans. You may need to ask your insurance provider about coverage options.

Does Ketamine therapy intervene with my current treatment plan in Canada 2020? 

Ketamine treatment may intervene with your current treatment plan. Disclose the full list of medications, health supplements, and herbs to the clinician prior to starting the treatment. Patients who take MAIO’s are contraindicated for therapy.

What are the main risks of Ketamine treatment in Canada? 

Ketamine treatment may be accompanied by potential side effects, however, the clinicians work only with the lowest doses of anesthetic which are usually well-tolerated. 

The most common side effects of anesthetic include:

• impaired balance and coordination;
• drowsiness;
• blurred speech;
• anxiety;
• nausea.

These side effects are of short-term nature and may vanish within 10-15 minutes after the session is over. 

The clinician also restricts the patient from driving after the session. A friend or a relative should drive the patient back home, as anesthetic alters the driving ability and concentration.

What to look for in a good Ketamine clinic Canada?

Please refer to our in-depth article about Ketamine therapy for more information

Disclaimer: This website does not provide medical advice. It is intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on our Site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911