*The FDA has not approved intravenous ketamine or NAD+ for the treatment of any psychiatric or pain condition. These articles reference off-label use. Like all medical treatments, the discussed therapies carry risks and benefits. Speak with a doctor at Clarus Health to learn if these therapies may be right for you.
IV Ketamine Dose and Frequency with Stellate Ganglion Block
IV Ketamine Dose with the Stellate Ganglion Block depends on the patient and the doctor - learn the right approach to give you maximal symptom relief
IV Ketamine and the Stellate Ganglion Block are powerful strategies for healing PTSD and nervous system dysregulation. Combining these treatments provides synergy in uncovering your inner healing potential. Learn about the IV Ketamine dose and frequency when combined with the Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB).
IV Ketamine Dosing
IV Ketamine allows for the fastest acting and safest relief from depression, PTSD, and other conditions, compared to other forms of Ketamine. The dose of ketamine is highly dependent on the patient and their psychological and medical history. Most infusion centers use 0.5 mg per kilogram of IV Ketamine over 1 hour. However, this is often limited by the training of the doctor.
Most centers are restricted to specific doses of IV Ketamine because a board-certified anesthesiologist or emergency room physician is not supervising
IV Ketamine for mental health healing can range from 0.5 mg per kilogram to 1 mg per kilogram (or even higher).
IV Ketamine Dosing When Combined with the Stellate Ganglion Block
The Stellate Ganglion Block allows for reducing the "fight-flight" response, called the sympathetic nervous system. This deeply engrained safety mechanism often impedes patients from accessing deep, repressed traumas. Ketamine allows for uncovering these traumatic experiences, but the sympathetic nervous system may also be activated in the process.
IV Ketamine allows for accessing repressed memories, and the Stellate Ganglion Block can reduce the "fight-flight response" associated with those memories
Because the Stellate Ganglion Block can quiet the sympathetic nervous system, our observation is that lower doses of IV Ketamine are required. Sometimes, fewer infusions are needed, compared to our initial prediction.
How Many Ketamine Infusions are Needed with the SGB?
Most patients benefit from 6 IV Ketamine sessions, scheduled once or twice a week. There is no evidence that 3 infusions a week is more effective than 2 infusions a week. There is considerable patient variability in the number of sessions needed, however, and some patients benefit more with 10-12 sessions. Most individuals will experience greater improvements in mental health with two doses in the first week compared to one dose.
When the SGB addresses the sources of PTSD, we find that fewer infusions are needed to provide the same benefit. Put another way, IV Ketamine sessions appear more effective after the SGB has successfully provided symptom relief.
Learn More About IV Ketamine + SGB
IV Ketamine and SGB are safe procedures when under physician supervision. Learn more from our doctors if your depression, anxiety, or PTSD may benefit from the Stellate Ganglion Block and IV Ketamine with a consultation with Clarus Health.
Anthony Kaveh MD
Dr. Kaveh is a Stanford and Harvard-trained anesthesiologist and integrative medicine specialist. He has over 800,000 followers on social media and has guided hundreds of patients throughout transformative healing experiences. He is an authority on Ketamine, NAD, and SGB therapies. He is a registered continuing education lecturer in the Bay Area.
