Bright Horizons Psychiatry "*" indicates required fields
Speak with an expert member of our care team to see if IM ketamine is right for you.
1-hour mental health evaluation with provider covered by insurance, creating a personalized treatment plan
Alleviation of depressive, PTSD, anxiety, bipolar depression symptoms within the first few weeks!
IM ketamine is a fast-acting treatment that involves administering ketamine via intramuscular injection. It’s used to treat certain types of depression—especially when other medications failed. It also helps with several diagnoses like depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar depression and more. Unlike traditional antidepressants that can take weeks to work, IM ketamine often begins to relieve symptoms within hours or days. All our treatments are supervised by mental health providers.
You’ll meet with one of our providers to see if IM ketamine is the right option for you. If approved, we’ll help coordinate your treatment plan and schedule your sessions. To prepare, don’t eat for 2 hours or drink for 30 minutes before your appointment. Since you won’t be able to drive afterward, please arrange a ride home.
Your session will take place in a private, spa-like room at our clinic. A trained provider will administer the injection, and you’ll remain in the room while we monitor you for about 1 to 2 hours. It’s normal to feel relaxed, detached, or lightheaded during and after the treatment—these effects are usually temporary.
Once you’re stable and alert enough, you’ll be discharged to go home with your designated ride. You may feel tired or mentally foggy for the rest of the day, so it’s best to take it easy and avoid working, driving, or making major decisions. IM ketamine is typically given 1–2 times per week to start, with frequency adjusted as symptoms improve.
Break free from the cycle of trauma and PTSD symptoms. With an 83% success rate, IM Ketamine offers rapid relief, even when other treatments haven’t worked.
Backed by science and most major health insurances cover consultation with our mental health provider
and many more
Dr. Amir Etesam, MD, is a Johns Hopkins–trained, Board-Certified, psychiatrist and the founder of Bright Horizons Psychiatry in North Bethesda, Maryland. He is a distinguished member of Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA), the nation’s most respected medical honor society, recognizing excellence in scholarship and integrity in medicine.
Dr. Etesam’s clinical work is exclusively focused on patients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (TRD)—those who have not improved despite multiple trials of medication and therapy. His practice centers on advanced neuromodulation therapies, including Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Intranasal Esketamine (Spravato®), provided in a private, state-of-the-art setting designed for comfort and healing.
He no longer accepts new patients for other psychiatric conditions such as anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, or OCD.
For patients seeking care for other psychiatric conditions—such as anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and general mood or behavioral concerns—a highly trained team of psychiatric nurse practitioners works side-by-side with, and under the close supervision of Dr. Etesam. This collaborative model ensures that every patient receives the same standard of thoughtful, evidence-based care that defines Bright Horizons Psychiatry.
We’re not just healthcare providers. We’re real people who care deeply about your journey.
Led by Dr. Amir Etesam, our compassionate team includes nurse practitioners, mental health coordinators, and neuromodulation specialists—all focused on one thing: helping you heal.
As a cash-based treatment, IM ketamine bypasses the delays and denials that often come with insurance. Our team will walk you through costs, expectations, and a personalized care plan.
IM ketamine is helping people nationwide find relief from treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD, and bipolar depression. Administered under the guidance of licensed mental health professionals, this treatment takes place in a peaceful, spa-like room designed for your comfort and safety.
Many patients notice an improvement in mood within days, not weeks. Side effects are typically mild and short-lived, such as a relaxed feeling or a light, dreamy sensation.
IM ketamine works by targeting a different brain pathway than traditional antidepressants, helping to quickly reset mood and thought patterns. It’s used to treat conditions like treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, bipolar depression, and PTSD—especially when other treatments haven’t worked.
If you’ve tried several antidepressants without meaningful relief, you may be experiencing treatment-resistant depression. Intramuscular (IM) ketamine offers a different approach by acting on alternative pathways in the brain, often delivering faster symptom improvement than traditional medications. It can be especially helpful for individuals with persistent, severe depression who need a more effective option. At Bright Horizons Psychiatry, we incorporate IM ketamine into customized treatment plans—providing a renewed path toward healing when other treatments haven’t worked.
IM ketamine is a cash-based treatment and is not typically covered by insurance. Our team will guide you through pricing options and help ensure you have clear expectations and payment plans to make your treatment accessible.
IM ketamine is generally well-tolerated, and most side effects are mild and temporary. Some people may feel a bit “dreamy” or disconnected during treatment, which usually fades within an hour. Other possible effects include lightheadedness, mild nausea, or a temporary rise in blood pressure or heart rate—all of which we monitor closely. You may also feel tired or foggy afterward, so we recommend taking it easy for the rest of the day. Our team is here to ensure your experience is safe and as comfortable as possible.
Yes, IM ketamine is considered safe when administered under the supervision of trained mental healthcare professionals. It has shown significant effectiveness in treating treatment-resistant depression, providing relief much faster than traditional antidepressants. Additionally, it is a great option for anxiety, PTSD, and bipolar depression. At Bright Horizons Psychiatry, your well-being is our priority, and we monitor your treatment closely to ensure both safety and optimal results.
⚠️ Disclaimer on FDA Status, Off-Label Use, and Evidence Base for Ketamine in Psychiatry
Important Notice
Intramuscular (IM) ketamine treatment for depression and other mental health conditions is an off-label use. While ketamine is FDA-approved as an anesthetic, its use for psychiatric disorders—such as treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and anxiety—is not FDA-approved.
However, off-label prescribing is both legal and common in psychiatry, especially when supported by peer-reviewed evidence and clinical expertise. Our IM ketamine protocols are informed by the growing body of psychiatric research and are delivered under close medical supervision.
Ketamine has been extensively studied in psychiatry and consistently shown to be safe and effective in controlled settings when administered appropriately:
Ahuja et al. discusses that IM ketamine is being utilized to treat psychiatric outpatients with multiple mental illnesses not limited to depression. Average depression and anxiety levels significantly improve throughout IM ketamine treatment and do not regress to baseline during patients’ maintenance treatment phase.
Hietamies et al. discusses Patients treated with ketamine exhibited significant and concordant reduction in both anxiety and depression symptoms after induction. patients experienced a significantly greater reduction in depression symptoms at eight weeks.
These and many subsequent studies have shown that when administered in controlled, medically supervised environments, ketamine is well-tolerated and safe for psychiatric use. IM ketamine, like IV, is used to harness these effects through a different route of administration.
Our clinic follows best-practice safety protocols, including medical screening, informed consent, and structured monitoring. Treatment is individualized and monitored closely for efficacy and tolerability.
References:
1-Ahuja S, Brendle M, Smart L, Moore C, Thielking P, Robison R. Real-world depression, anxiety and safety outcomes of intramuscular ketamine treatment: a retrospective descriptive cohort study. BMC Psychiatry. 2022 Oct 3;22(1):634. doi: 10.1186/s12888-022-04268-5. PMID: 36192794; PMCID: PMC9528178.
2-Hietamies TM, McInnes LA, Klise AJ, Worley MJ, Qian JJ, Williams LM, Heifets BD, Levine SP. The effects of ketamine on symptoms of depression and anxiety in real-world care settings: A retrospective controlled analysis. J Affect Disord. 2023 Aug 15;335:484-492. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.04.141. Epub 2023 May 16. PMID: 37201900.
We are here to support you in the healing journey
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