Professor Dr. Michael Drescher and Dr. Stuart Seidman from KetaMind Israel have extensive experience in ketamine treatment for clinical depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The treatment of clinical depression and post-traumatic stress disorder has advanced dramatically in recent years, and the range of treatments, including drug treatments and psychotherapy, has expanded. Nevertheless, a significant percentage of sufferers do not respond adequately to the treatments offered to them.

The inadequate responses to treatment cause great suffering and decreased quality of life. This issue worries researchers and therapists, and there is a constant search for more effective methods of treating depression and PTSD. In recent years, Ketamine and Esketamine have been approved as a treatment for resistant clinical depression and Ketamine for complex PTSD.

What is Ketamine?
Ketamine is an anesthetic used in most cases for short anesthesia and has been used for about 50 years. It is considered the most effective anesthetic for the treatment of chronic pain. More than a decade ago, it was discovered that low-dose ketamine treatment could rapidly improve clinical depression and loss measures. The patients who underwent this treatment suffered from depression resistant to drug treatment and bipolar depression or manic depression. After treatment, they reported a significant improvement in depression scores. The first articles on the treatment of Ketamine opened the door to treating clinical depression and post-traumatic PTSD with Ketamine.

Clinical use of Ketamine Infusion Therapy
To test the initial effectiveness of Ketamine, a single infusion was performed. The researchers found that the clinical improvement was impressive, but the effect of Ketamine only lasted for 4-7 days. To deal with this limitation, they decided to repeat ketamine treatment twice a week for 4-6 weeks. If it is necessary to prevent the recurrence of depression, it will be possible to restore the treatment with Ketamine. Antidepressant treatment is often used in combination with Ketamine. Repeated infusions improve the effectiveness of the treatment and extend the recovery time from depression up to several weeks or months.

The discovery that patients with depression respond quickly to an infusion of Ketamine provoked an immediate reaction in the community treating depression. Over time, more evidence emerged that patients with other clinical conditions such as PTSD (especially the symptoms of anxiety, low mood, and sleep disturbances) and the depressive phase of manic depression also improve with ketamine treatment.

How does Ketamine Work?
Led by Prof. Dr. Michael Drescher and Dr. Stuart Seidman, Kata-Mind Israel is a treatment center that offers the most innovative treatments in an accessible, welcoming, and relaxed setting. The right approach to human health is based on a personal and holistic view of the patient. We offer an innovative, proven, and beneficial solution, which until recently was not available in Israel.

Ketamine's mechanism of action is different from that of regular antidepressants. Common antidepressants affect the chemical transmitters in the brain called serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. In contrast, Ketamine affects a transmitter system called glutamate (glutamate). The glutamate system has many sub-mechanisms when their activation or silencing causes the normalization of many chemical actions in the brain. The activity of the glutamate receptors activates molecular processes in the cells that lead to the change in the clinical symptoms, which is why Ketamine has an immediate effect on depression or post-trauma.

The discovery of Ketamine's action through the glutamate system caused a new scientific development regarding the brain circumstances that cause depression and PTSD. Experimental drugs are already working in this way and are being investigated for their effectiveness.

Ketamine infusion therapy is approved for drug-resistant depression and post-traumatic PTSD by the Ministry of Health in Israel, according to the Pharmacy Law Regulation 29'. The approval was given due to the proven effectiveness of the treatment. Prof. Dr. Michael Drescher is the founder. He is an international expert in emergency medicine. He has extensive experience in the use of ketamine infusion, with more than 30 years of experience in the use of Ketamine as part of his role as director of emergency medicine departments. Dr. Stuart Seidman, MD, is a psychiatrist at a psychiatric clinic in Manhattan and teaches psycho-pharmacology at Sheba Hospital. He is a partner in Negev Capital - a fund that invests in psychedelic drugs for neuropsychiatric indications. He has more than ten years of experience providing ketamine treatment to patients resistant to other therapies.

How to start Ketamine Therapy and What to expect?
Here are the three easy steps to start Ketamine Therapy with Ketamind Israel:
Depression, anxiety, post-trauma, mood swings, and chronic pain are severe health conditions. The staff working in ketamine medical centers include psychologists, therapists, and a professional doctor responsible for a comprehensive initial assessment.
Our team is by your side every step of the way. We will be happy to help and be at your disposal for any questions.

Step 1: Intake Forms
● Complete the Patient Intake Form. With this information, we can perform a thorough medical and psychological evaluation to determine whether Ketamine Therapy suits you.
● Complete the Depression Index. This evaluation assists in directing your treatment plan and assessing your advancement.

After finishing the intake forms, please wait, as a KetaMind Patient Liaison will contact you soon to schedule your screening.

Step 2: Schedule a medical & psychological screening
This step can be completed in person at your clinic of choice or conveniently via phone or a web conferencing system.
● An online psychological assessment.
● Psychological history review with a mental health professional.
● Medical history review with a clinical administrator.
Additionally, you will gain further knowledge about the treatment plan, infusion procedure, and anticipated results.
Michael Drescher, MD, and Stuart Seidman, MD, meticulously review Steps 1 and 2, and based on their assessment, our care team will create a personalized treatment plan for you. If Ketamine is deemed the suitable treatment, we will acquire the necessary Israeli government authorizations to procure the medication and communicate with your current physician to coordinate the treatment process.
There is a 300 NIS fee for this comprehensive screening.

Step 3: Prepare for treatment
Upon approval for treatment, a Patient Liaison will assist you in arranging your appointments. The several initial treatments, the Stabilization Period, are typically scheduled over 1-2 weeks. The succeeding therapies, known as the Maintenance Period, are scheduled as needed.

What effects to expect during the infusion?
The ketamine infusions are performed in our clinic. We recommend not eating for 4 hours before the treatment to avoid intestinal weakness. You can drink clear liquids up to two hours before the treatment.

Before the start of the infusion, there is time to relax and sit in a comfortable chair in a private room in the clinic. During this time, you will be connected to a device that monitors your blood pressure, oxygen, pulse, etc. Ketamine is a safe drug to use in the clinic setting, and we take every precaution to ensure your safety. After that, a suitable vein is found in the arm, wrist, or hand, and a thin needle connected to a thin tube is inserted. Most patients, including those afraid of needles, are surprised that the insertion is painless.

At this stage, we remove the needle, and in the place of the connection, only a thin and flexible tube remains that does not cause pain or discomfort. Then, a syringe attached to an infusion bag containing your dose of medication is attached to the tubing. If a larger or smaller dose is required during the treatment, we can increase, decrease or stop the flow of the substance. Our ability to adjust a personal and precise dosage for you positively affects the treatment and helps obtain successful results.
We determine the drug dose at the beginning of each infusion to ensure that our patients receive the right amount. The infusion duration is 50-55 minutes and is done while sitting. After rest and recovery, we will remove the connection from the vein and place a small bandage.

To Summarize:
You must come to the treatment fasting for 4 hours (you are allowed to drink clear liquids). During the treatment, you will have a flexible tube without a needle in your arm to ensure maximum comfort.
We use a digital infusion pump to return the Ketamine. We can control the pump during treatment and increase or decrease the required dose.
The duration of the infusion is 50-55 minutes, and it is performed while sitting on a comfortable chair.

What to expect during a ketamine infusion?
Many patients like to disconnect and listen to pleasant music during treatment or close their eyes and rest. To provide this, we provide you with headphones and a soft eye mask. Ketamine reaches the brain quickly and is felt very quickly within 7-10 minutes. Ketamine creates a dissociative state, in which some patients report an "out of body" feeling. Some may need clarification on this feeling, but most enjoy and are excited by it.
Anxious patients may experience mild anxiety at the beginning of treatment. But usually, this feeling goes away very quickly when the drug has an effect and brings relaxation to the nervous system. It is important to remember that the treatment is safe and is performed by professionals at the clinic, with a team that monitors the patient's condition at all times. The staff is trained to deal with a wide range of possible situations and, if necessary, can increase the dose of the medicine to ensure relaxation.
The treatment team will check your reaction to the medicine and make sure you are well.

How will I feel after the treatment?
Most patients feel well and return to themselves within 20-30 minutes of the end of the treatment. In severe cases, the side effects may appear several hours after the treatment.
Common mild side effects include fatigue, blurred vision, dizziness, nausea, and headache.
Fatigue is a common side effect that may last longer but also goes away after a good meal and a night's sleep. After the treatment, you should ask an escort to drive you back home. Patients are advised only to drive, work, operate heavy machinery, or sign legal documents the day after treatment.

Is there a risk of Ketamine Addiction due to frequent use of ketamine infusions?
When Ketamine IV Therapy is performed as recommended, there are no risks to be concerned about. It is known that Ketamine is also used as a "party drug," so patients often ask if there is a risk of ketamine addiction as a result of the infusions. When the ketamine treatment is carried out under the medical recommendations, there is no risk of addiction.

Why KetaMind Clinic Israel?
The experts in Ketamine are doctors and clinicians. Our clinic is the only clinic in the field of Ketamine that gathers under one roof the expertise and experience of mental health professionals, starting from the initial assessment phase to support after the end of treatment. The combination of guidance from mental health professionals, on the one hand, and our medical expertise, on the other hand, allows us to tailor a personalized treatment plan for each patient. The clinic is headed by a medical director and emergency medicine physician - Michael Drescher, MD, and chief psychiatrist - Stuart Seidman, MD.

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The KetaMind team is always available to you. Please get in touch with us via phone, email, or the attached form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Contact Us:
Website: https://ketamindclinic.com
Address: 5 Hayetzira St. Raanana Entrance B, 2nd floor
Phone: +972.55.6636600
Email: [email protected]