Ketamine is a licensed anaesthetic drug.\u00a0 It can also work as an antidepressant but has not been licensed for this use.\u00a0 A closely related version, nasal esketamine, does have a licence but has not been approved for routine NHS use, mainly because of cost.<\/p>\n
We provide a self-pay, ketamine treatment service for people who have depression which has not responded to other treatments.\u00a0 It is based at the Warneford Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7JX.<\/p>\n
Before offering you an assessment we assess your suitability for treatment by reviewing a referral letter from your GP or psychiatrist and other required documents.<\/p>\n
If we can offer you an assessment, you will complete several questionnaires before the assessment meeting.<\/p>\n
Assessment meetings are usually online, but we can meet face-to-face if you prefer.<\/p>\n
Initial treatment consists of three to six ketamine infusions over three to six weeks. We recommend that you join a preparatory session before treatment.<\/p>\n
About 50% respond well and want to continue treatment.\u00a0 The majority relapse at some point but then respond again with further treatment. As with conventional antidepressants, regular treatment over several years is usually needed.<\/p>\n
About 10% have an unpleasant experience with their first infusion.\u00a0 For the remainder it is pleasant or neutral.<\/p>\n
We provide this service at the lowest cost possible.\u00a0\u00a0 We do not recommend that you pursue ketamine treatment with us if you would not be able to afford \u00a33,000 per year. Costs may exceed this. All of the income from the self-pay service is used to fund NHS care in Oxford Health NHS Trust.<\/p>\n
For information about NHS treatment, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n To see feedback about our service, see our FAQ: Why should I come to Oxford rather than elsewhere?<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n We provide a self-pay service for people who have depression which has not responded to other treatments.<\/p>\n Before offering you an assessment we assess your suitability for treatment by reviewing a referral letter from your GP or psychiatrist and other required documents.<\/p>\n If we can offer you an assessment, you will complete on-line daily mood monitoring and questionnaires before the assessment meeting.<\/p>\n Assessment meetings are usually online, but we can meet face-to-face if you prefer.<\/p>\n Initial treatment consists of three to six ketamine infusions over three to six weeks.<\/p>\n About 50% respond well and want to continue treatment.\u00a0 A large majority relapse at some point but then respond to regular, longer-term, maintenance ketamine treatment, which can continue for several years.<\/p>\n About 10% have an unpleasant experience with their first infusion.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/details>\n Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust\u2019s ketamine service is based at Warneford Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7JX.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/details>\n The service described here is a \u2018self-pay\u2019 or \u2018private\u2019 service which is provided by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust (OHFT).\u00a0 All potential patients must establish their own funding arrangements.<\/p>\n Patients who live in Oxfordshire or Buckinghamshire and who are formally referred to the service by a consultant psychiatrist who is employed by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust may be considered for treatment funded by OHFT, ie \u2018on the NHS\u2019.\u00a0 The processes for this group are similar to those described in this website except that direct referral by a GP is not possible.\u00a0 The referral for OHFT-funded treatment must come from an OHFT consultant psychiatrist.\u00a0 If you then have ketamine treatment, you will remain under the joint care of the OHFT psychiatrist.<\/p>\n As of 19 February 2024, we are no longer able to accept those whose treatment is funded through an \u2018Individual Funding Request\u2019 to the Integrated Care Board.<\/strong> \u00a0This is because we are a small team and we are unable to manage the variable processes required to secure funding for ongoing treatment, and to recoup payment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/details>\n Ketamine is used for depression which has not responded to other treatments.<\/p>\n Its brief rapid antidepressant effect has been confirmed in many several clinical trials over the last 20 years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/details>\n Drugs receive a licence if the MHRA approves them as safe and effective for a particular condition. Ketamine is not a licensed treatment for depression. It is used in depression as an \u2018off-label\u2019 treatment. Ketamine is licensed as an anaesthetic and for analgesia.\u00a0 A version of ketamine, \u00a0Spravato esketamine nasal spray, has a licence for use in Treatment Resistant Depression alongside an SSRI or SNRI.\u00a0 It has not been approved by NICE and is therefore not available on the NHS.\u00a0 It is expensive.\u00a0 We are happy to provide this for those who would prefer it.\u00a0 Some details about this are provided in the FAQs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/details>\n Your psychiatrist or GP should send the required documents, preferably by email to:\u00a0KetamineClinic@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk<\/a><\/p>\n or by post to:<\/p>\n Referrals <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\nOverview<\/h2>\n
\n Summary of the service<\/span>\n <\/summary>\n
\n Where is the service provided?<\/span>\n <\/summary>\n
\n Is it available on the NHS?<\/span>\n <\/summary>\n
\n What is Ketamine?<\/span>\n <\/summary>\n
\n Is ketamine a licensed treatment?<\/span>\n <\/summary>\n
Non-urgent advice: <\/span>Referrals<\/span><\/h3>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\nKetamine Clinic
\nWarneford Hospital
\nHeadington
\nOxford
\nOX3 7JX<\/p>\n