CONTACT US
+1 (240) 387-9082
North Bethesda, MD
6000 Executive Blvd. # 101,
North Bethesda MD 28052
Monday – Friday
8am – 6pm
Feel Better Sooner with Injection Ketamine
- Rapid relief from treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, anxiety, bipolar depression symptoms
- Supervised by experienced mental health providers
- Cash-based—no waiting on insurance
- Consultation is covered by insurance
- Available NOW at Bright Horizons Psychiatry
TESTIMONIALS
What others are saying
Life-Changing Experience
A life-changing journey with Bright Horizons—after decades of depression, I’ve found joy, connection, and hope. Grateful for the care, support, and transformation this experience has brought me.
Finding Hope and Healing
Bright Horizons exceeded my expectations, guiding me from darkness to hope. With caring staff and effective treatment, I feel lighter, more positive, and on the path to recovery from depression.
My life changed forever
After years of ineffective medications, TMS at Bright Horizons transformed my outlook. With compassionate care and painless treatments, I feel lighter, think differently, and highly recommend this!
THE PROCESS
How Does It Work?
Pre-screening
Speak with an expert member of our care team to see if IM ketamine is right for you.
Office Visit
1-hour mental health evaluation with provider covered by insurance, creating a personalized treatment plan
Treatment
Alleviation of depressive, PTSD, anxiety, bipolar depression symptoms within the first few weeks!
TRY IM Ketamine, AS SEEN IN
and many more
NOT JUST ANOTHER PILL:
IM Ketamine FOR TREATMENT RESISTANT DEPrESSION
Backed by science and most major health insurances cover consultation with our mental health provider
*IM Ketamine injections are starting from $500 per treatment
Why IM Ketamine?
After treatment: 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.
What is IM ketamine?
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.
Before treatment:
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.
During treatment:
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.
Dr. Amir Etesam, MD
Dr. Amir Etesam, MD, is a Johns Hopkins-trained Psychiatrist at Bright Horizons Psychiatry in North Bethesda, Maryland. After receiving his medical degree, Dr. Etesam chose to focus his career on mood and anxiety disorders. He is a member of the well-respected Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA), the only medical honor society in the world. Diagnostic clarification and appropriately treating psychiatric disorders are the fundamentals of Dr. Etesam’s practice and his promise to his patients.
His particular interests include complex psychopharmacology, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), and Intranasal Ketamine Esketamine (Spravato®) treatment. Dr. Etesam is a National Institute of Mental Health (NIH) certified TMS provider. At present, he sees and treats patients with mild to moderate depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, OCD, and ADHD, including severe and treatment-resistant cases. He warmly welcomes all patients into Bright Horizons Psychiatry, and he looks forward to caring for them.
Meet The Team
Dr. Amir Etesam
Psychiatrist and Medical Director
Shelly Valliath
Nurse Practitioner
Anita Paudel
Nurse Practitioner
Sepideh Adl
Head of Administration
Hesam Etesam
Head of Neuromodulation
Nancy Vargas
Office Manager
Sianne Bell
Esketamine Coordinator
Mehjabeen Khalid
TMS Coordinator
Kendall Myers
IM Ketamine Coordinator
Isabella Kronau
Integrative Psychiatry Coordinator
Naomi Velez
Administrative Assistant
Clinically proven and provider-supervised
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.
No insurance hassles
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.
Fast relief with minimal side effects
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.
REVIEWS
What our patients are saying about Bright Horizons Psychiatry
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Common side effects include sedation, dissociation, nausea, and increased blood pressure.
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.
Ready To Leave Depression Behind?
We are here to support you in the healing journey
CONTACT US
+1 (240) 387-9082
North Bethesda, MD
6000 Executive Blvd. # 101,
North Bethesda MD 28052
Monday – Friday
8am – 6pm
