Ketamine therapy​

Mechanisms of action of ketamine on the brain and psyche

Studies show that ketamine increases the brain's neuroplasticity, helping to regenerate synaptic connections between brain cells damaged by stress and depression. The drug affects a completely different level of the neurotransmitter system compared to currently available antidepressants. Therefore, more and more clinics are emerging abroad that use ketamine to treat patients with depression who have not been helped by standard medications - after all, about 75% of patients aged 15 to 55 respond to this anesthetic.

It is especially important that during treatment, patients, whose ability to intellectual activity and learning in depression is often reduced, become more receptive to psychotherapy. There is an important period during which it is possible to effectively work with the patient to achieve long-term remission. By varying the dosage, it is possible to achieve a psychedelic state of consciousness with an expanded spatio-temporal perception, which has a profound transpersonal and transformative effect. This leads to a revision of the system of internal values, stable and positive psychological changes.

Patients become more confident in themselves, their capabilities and the future, less anxious and neurotic, more balanced, emotionally open and self-sufficient. They experience a decrease in the level of internal tension, discomfort, emotional isolation, increased self-esteem, a tendency to overcome a passive position, and increased creative activity.

A person's understanding of the meaning of life and views on their own "I" and the world around them, life and death, change, their spiritual horizons expand, relationships with other people improve, and personal growth and self-knowledge begin.

How is the treatment carried out?

Before your session, you will be interviewed by a psychiatrist to determine if you are a good candidate for ketamine treatment. This includes discussing your medical and psychological history, diagnosing your mental health condition, and completing a series of psychological tests.

A ketamine therapy session is administered as an intravenous drip. You will be in an altered state of consciousness for 40 minutes to an hour and a half after the ketamine is administered. The anesthesiologist's job is to monitor your physical and mental health, and the clinical psychologist's job is to help you address the psychological issues that are at the root of your health problems.

After the session, your experience and understanding of the therapy process is discussed and the completeness of your mental recovery is tested, after which you can leave the clinic. Some minor changes in sensory perception, speech and spatial orientation may last up to 5 hours.

Повний курс терапії складається з трьох блоків: основного, закріплюючого і підтримуючого.

The main block depends on the severity of the disease and may include 6-10 microdose ketamine drips administered over 40 minutes 2 times a week, with concurrent psychotherapy, and an intermediate session of integrative (analytical) psychotherapy, during which the results achieved in the previous session are clarified and developed.

Для того, щоб досягти найкращого результату, необхідно пройти консолідуючий курс після основного курсу лікування – один сеанс на місяць протягом трьох місяців (тобто три сеанси), а потім підтримуючий курс – один сеанс у кварталі протягом року (тобто 4 сеанси на рік).

It is also important to remember that relapse of mental illness usually occurs as a result of severe stress. Therefore, we recommend conducting a preventive session in the coming days after such a stressful situation.

The duration of the therapeutic effect depends on the method of use of ketamine. If we are talking exclusively about the infusion of the drug without psychotherapy, the effect of the session usually lasts from one to several weeks. But if ketamine is used with simultaneous psychotherapy, we most often achieve quite stable remission.

What will you feel during the session?

Most often, patients during the session note a state of calm, the disappearance of fear, mental balance or elation. Ketamine has practically no side effects, as it has negligible toxicity. Sometimes there are feelings of warmth, mild intoxication or anxiety, temporary headaches or dry mouth, minor fluctuations in blood pressure or visual disturbances, which disappear soon after the dropper is stopped. Therefore, we carefully monitor the patient's reactions, and do not recommend driving a car or operating dangerous machinery for 24 hours. It is recommended to return home with an accompanying person.

Why is it worth taking a course of ketamine therapy at the Expio Center?

We are pioneers of ketamine therapy in Ukraine (since 2018). By 2025, we had conducted over 1,000 treatment sessions and gained vast experience in this area. Our specialists know the ketamine therapy technique better than anyone else in Eastern Europe, which was reflected in publications by leading media outlets. The director and founder of the Expio center, V. L. Matrenytsky, in 2021-2022 completed a training course at the American ketamine therapy training center Polaris Insight Center, and in 2024 took part in an international seminar on ketamine therapy in Barcelona.

We are often asked why this method is not widespread in Ukraine? The fact is that most of our citizens (including, unfortunately, psychiatrists and psychologists) still do not understand the difference between psychedelics and drugs, so they approach ketamine therapy with trepidation. Few psychiatrists and psychotherapists have the necessary knowledge and experience in psychedelic medicine.

Unfortunately, unscrupulous competitors have recently begun to appear who, lacking proper knowledge and experience, copy information from our site and even our name, hoping to at least attract customers in this way.

Будьте обережні! Адже робота із зміненими станами свідомості, які викликає кетамін, потребує особливої кваліфікації. Важливо правильно вивести людину зі стану дисоціації, не допустити негативних психологічних наслідків цього стану, що може виникати у разі некомпетентності лікаря чи психолога.

Для отримання додаткової інформації, будь ласка, відвідайте наш спеціалізований сайт присвячений кетмінової терапії.