The Avesta Blog
New to ketamine care? Read these first
Three guides that answer the questions most patients ask before their first visit.
Guides
What is Ketamine and How Does it Work?
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic used in surgery and pain management since the 1960s. At clinical doses it is an effective therapy for treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, anxiety and suicidality, and it can relieve chronic pain.
Guides
Is Ketamine Therapy Safe?
The article says ketamine IV infusions for mood disorders and chronic pain are very safe when given by highly trained, board-certified anesthesia providers, and notes the World Health Organization lists ketamine as an essential medicine. The ideal candidate has usually tried other treatments without success.
Pricing
How to Pay for Ketamine Therapy and Reduce Out-of-Pocket Costs
Most patients lower ketamine costs through insurance-based Spravato treatment or IV ketamine supported by reimbursement and other payment tools. Spravato often provides the lowest out-of-pocket cost for patients who qualify.
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Safety
Dose-dependent Psychedelic Effects of Ketamine
Ketamine's dissociative effects depend on dose: high anesthetic doses shut down sensory processing for surgery, while the lower doses used in therapy produce milder, controlled effects. The article explains what to expect and how clinics manage them.
Conditions
Ketamine vs. Opioids: Debunking the Myths
Ketamine and opioids are different drugs. Ketamine blocks NMDA receptors and affects glutamate, while opioids bind opioid receptors to relieve pain and produce euphoria. Opioids carry a serious risk of addiction and overdose. Ketamine given under medical supervision has a lower addiction potential.
Guides
Who is Not a Good Candidate for Ketamine Therapy?
Ketamine is not practical for everyone. People with certain conditions, including thyroid problems and active addictions, should talk with their physician and a ketamine expert first, and seniors and people with bipolar disorder or psychosis may not benefit.
Safety
Understanding Ketamine and Disassociation
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that creates a feeling of detachment from the body and surroundings, and dissociation is a regular part of ketamine therapy that can support healing. The article also explains dissociation as a natural experience and how it appears in mental health disorders.
Conditions
Can Ketamine Treat Anxiety? Here’s What the Latest Research Says
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that can relieve anxiety and, by increasing neuroplasticity, may help "rewire" the brain. Research suggests around 50% of people in therapy for generalized anxiety disorder are treatment-resistant to standard medications.
Treatments
Why Choose Avesta as Your Ketamine Infusion Clinic
Avesta offers ketamine infusion therapy led by Dr. Ladan Eshkevari, supported by a team of board-certified advanced practitioners. The article explains its patient-centered approach for people whose traditional treatments have not worked.
Safety
How Long Does Ketamine Stay In The System?
After a single dose, ketamine can be detected in urine for 3 to 10 days, and longer with high doses or chronic use. Its byproduct, norketamine, can linger longer, and hair tests can detect it for several months.
Guides
What is Ketamine and How Does it Work?
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic used in surgery and pain management since the 1960s. At clinical doses it is an effective therapy for treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, anxiety and suicidality, and it can relieve chronic pain.
Wellness
How Vitamin Deficiencies Can Affect Your Health
Vitamins are needed for physical and mental health, and a deficiency can cause a wide variety of symptoms that may take months to show. The article explains common deficiencies and their symptoms.
Conditions
Trauma and PTSD: An Overlooked Epidemic
Trauma and PTSD can affect anyone at any age, from traumatic injury or emotionally traumatic experiences, and can severely affect daily life. The article explains trauma, PTSD and how treatment can help.
Community
Mental Health Challenges of LGBTQ+ Individuals
Many LGBTQ+ people face mental health challenges, including chronic stress from stigma and discrimination. The article explains these challenges and encourages seeking care that fits your needs.
Wellness
Self-Care Tips for New Moms and Parents
Caring for a child can be stressful and lonely, and about one in seven women experience peripartum depression, according to the American Psychiatric Association. The article shares self-care tips for new moms and parents.
The Avesta blog shares general education and is not a substitute for medical advice. Talk to a qualified clinician about your own situation.
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