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Ketamine therapy
If you suffer from depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder or an addiction and are looking for treatment using state-of-the-art methods, we offer you sound knowledge and years of experience to help you lead a symptom-free and self-determined life.
What is ketamine therapy?
Ketamine therapy (esketamine) is a possible treatment method, especially for therapy-resistant illnesses. The treatment is characterized by high tolerability with only minor side effects. After the infusion, patients are not fit to drive and therefore accompanying persons are essential.
Ketamine is an anesthetic originally used for short anesthesia. It has been used successfully in pain therapy for many years. A particular side effect of ketamine is a rapid-onset antidepressant effect. This effect is particularly useful in the treatment of severe depression or suicidal patients. The so-called hit-and-go effect can be observed after a single administration. Even severe depression can be overcome quickly and effectively. This discovery is considered one of the groundbreaking findings in psychiatry in recent years.
Ketamine has a different mechanism of action than all other antidepressants and painkillers. While most antidepressants act on the concentration of neurotransmitters such as serotonin or dopamine and a few interfere with the melatonin balance, ketamine blocks the so-called NMDA receptors. The treatment is administered via an infusion machine, which administers a precisely calculated amount of the active ingredient to achieve the desired effect. During treatment, the patient is continuously monitored using measuring devices and their blood pressure is checked.
Are the costs covered by statutory health insurance? What are the costs?
This is an individual health service (so-called IGeL) or “self-payer service”, which is not covered by statutory health insurance companies. With private health insurance companies, a cost application can be submitted, which is decided on individually by the insurer.
The cost of ketamine therapy is 225 euros per session. For an effective therapy, 5 sessions in one week are recommended, followed by another 10 maintenance sessions with weekly application. However, there are also other therapy frequencies that we can carry out in the practice by individual arrangement, then also with a lower total number of therapy sessions and lower frequency depending on the individual case.