Clinically-supervised ketamine infusion therapy delivered by experienced emergency medicine professionals. Over 300 studies support its effectiveness, and our clinic has achieved an 80% success rate.*
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Ketamine is a non-narcotic medication that has been used safely for decades in operating rooms and emergency departments. While the FDA has not formally approved ketamine specifically for depression, over 300 clinical studies point to its effectiveness for treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, anxiety, and chronic stress.
At Hydrate Medical in Asheville, our team of board-certified emergency medicine providers delivers personalized ketamine infusion therapy in a private, medically supervised setting designed for comfort and healing.
Ketamine works through multiple mechanisms:
It acts directly on glutamate receptors to help rebalance this critical neurotransmitter in the brain. It also activates neurotrophic growth factors, which may allow the brain to form new, healthy neural connections, a process known as neuroplasticity.
Many of our patients describe the ketamine experience itself as deeply therapeutic, creating space for emotional processing and transformative personal insight. Combined with our supportive clinical environment, ketamine therapy can catalyze meaningful, lasting change.
We offer two paths to healing. Both begin with medically supervised ketamine infusions at our Asheville clinic.
| Ketamine Therapy | Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) | |
|---|---|---|
| What Is It? | Medically supervised ketamine infusion sessions, administered in clinic by our clinical team. | Combines in-clinic ketamine infusions with guided psychotherapy from a KAP-certified psychiatrist. |
| Best For | Patients seeking relief from depression, anxiety, or chronic stress through a clinical, medication-based approach. | Patients looking for deeper emotional exploration and therapeutic integration alongside the ketamine experience. |
| Care Team | Hydrate Medical clinical team, all in one place. | Hydrate Medical for infusions, plus a separate KAP-certified psychiatrist for therapy sessions. |
| Sessions | Ketamine infusion with hands-on monitoring and support from our clinical team. | Intentional preparation, medicine session, and post-session integration therapy. |
| Billing | Billed through Hydrate Medical. | Infusions billed through Hydrate Medical. Therapy fees billed separately by the therapist. |
When antidepressants and therapy have not provided lasting relief, IV ketamine offers a clinically validated alternative. Unlike SSRIs that take weeks to build effect, ketamine produces rapid antidepressant results by targeting the brain's glutamate system and promoting neuroplasticity. Our Asheville clinic has achieved an 80% success rate* treating patients with major depressive disorder and treatment-resistant depression (TRD).
Over 300 peer-reviewed studies support ketamine's effectiveness. For the roughly 30% of depression patients who do not respond to standard medications, ketamine therapy offers renewed hope backed by real clinical evidence.
Post-traumatic stress disorder keeps the nervous system locked in survival mode long after the threat has passed. Ketamine disrupts the neurological feedback loops that sustain PTSD symptoms, reducing the emotional charge of traumatic memories and creating a window for genuine healing. Peer-reviewed research demonstrates significant reductions in PTSD severity including hyperarousal, intrusive thoughts, and avoidance behaviors.
Our team includes Dr. Sandra Newes, PhD, a licensed psychologist specializing in trauma-focused therapy and KAP integration. Pairing ketamine with her psychological support provides an integrated PTSD treatment pathway that addresses both the neurological and emotional dimensions of trauma recovery.
Generalized anxiety, social anxiety disorder, and OCD can be profoundly debilitating when conventional medications fail to provide relief. Ketamine's action on NMDA receptors produces fast-acting anxiolytic effects, often within the first treatment session. Growing clinical evidence supports its effectiveness across multiple anxiety disorders where standard pharmacotherapy has fallen short.
At Hydrate Medical Asheville, anxiety treatment is delivered in a calm, medically supervised private setting designed to minimize stress. Our board-certified emergency medicine team monitors your response throughout every session, ensuring safety and comfort at every step.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy combines the neuroplasticity-promoting effects of ketamine with structured therapy sessions. During a ketamine session the mind enters a uniquely receptive state where old thought patterns loosen, emotional defenses lower, and patients become more open to psychological healing. A trained therapist guides meaningful work during and after each session that standard therapy alone cannot reach.
Our KAP program pairs IV ketamine infusions with psychotherapy sessions led by Dr. Sandra Newes, PhD. Preparation and integration sessions before and after each infusion ensure that insights from treatment translate into lasting behavioral change. This approach is especially effective for treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and complex trauma.
Our dosing protocols are based on the most current medical literature and nearly a decade of clinical experience. We adjust dosing for body weight and personalize each treatment to the individual patient and their response. With the right mindset and setting, ketamine therapy can produce powerful results.
Our standard protocol consists of 6 ketamine infusion treatments spaced over 6 to 8 weeks. Patients typically receive 1 treatment per week through session 5. Between treatments 5 and 6, we allow 10 to 14 days, giving your brain time to consolidate the neurological changes and integrate the healing into daily life.
Hear real patient stories and learn what to expect from ketamine infusion therapy at Hydrate Medical in Asheville, NC.
About Our Practice: Hydrate Medical is proud to partner with Derive Health, our sister company specializing in mental health and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP). Together, we provide comprehensive, medically supervised care for patients in Asheville and Western North Carolina.
Led by board-certified emergency medicine professionals with advanced certifications in psychedelic and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.
Board Certified Emergency Department Physician. MAPS certified with advanced training in Psychedelic and Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy from CIIS and the Living Medicine Institute. Developed the ketamine program and trains the entire team.
Board Certified Nurse Practitioner since 2002 with a Certificate in Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy from the Living Medicine Institute. 28 years of Emergency Room experience with the last 23 as a Nurse Practitioner.
Over 25 years of experience specializing in depression, anxiety, trauma, and chronic stress. Providing KAP since 2019 with advanced training through MAPS and Polaris. Co-founder of the Living Medicine Institute.
Ketamine has been used safely in medical settings for decades. At Hydrate Medical, all treatments are administered by board-certified emergency medicine professionals who continuously monitor your vital signs in a private clinical setting. Your safety is our top priority.
Many patients report subtle improvement after their very first ketamine infusion session. Results typically continue to build with each treatment over the 6-session protocol. In clinical research, 70% of patients responded well to ketamine therapy, and our Asheville clinic has achieved an 80% success rate.*
*Based on internal patient outcomes tracking at Hydrate Medical Asheville. Individual results vary. Methodology, sample size, and success definition available upon request.
Ketamine therapy focuses on the medically supervised infusion itself, while Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) adds guided psychotherapy sessions with a certified psychiatrist before, during, and after treatment. KAP is ideal for those seeking deeper emotional exploration alongside the medicine.
While ketamine therapy is typically not covered by insurance, many patients use HSA/FSA funds. Contact our team at (828) 365-6044 to discuss pricing and payment options for ketamine infusion therapy at our Asheville location.
Our standard protocol is 6 ketamine infusion treatments spaced over 6 to 8 weeks. After the initial series, some patients benefit from periodic maintenance sessions. Your treatment plan will be personalized based on your response and goals.
Ketamine therapy is clinically used for treatment-resistant depression, major depressive disorder, PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, OCD, and chronic pain. It is particularly valuable for patients who have not responded adequately to antidepressants or other conventional treatments.
Yes. Multiple peer-reviewed studies show IV ketamine significantly reduces PTSD symptoms including intrusive memories, hyperarousal, and avoidance. At Hydrate Medical Asheville, we pair ketamine infusions with trauma-focused psychological support from Dr. Sandra Newes, PhD, for a comprehensive PTSD treatment approach.
Clinical evidence shows ketamine produces rapid anxiolytic effects, often within the first session. It has demonstrated benefit for generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, and OCD, particularly in cases where standard medications and therapy have not provided sufficient relief.
A ketamine infusion focuses on the neurobiological effects of the medication. Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) goes further by pairing the infusion with structured therapy sessions before, during, and after treatment. KAP leverages the brain's heightened neuroplasticity during ketamine to process trauma and reshape ingrained thought patterns more effectively than either approach alone.
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is major depression that has not improved after at least two different antidepressants at adequate doses. It affects roughly 30% of people with depression. Ketamine therapy is one of the most well-supported treatments for TRD available, offering rapid relief where standard medications have failed.
In most cases, yes. Our medical team reviews your complete medication list at consultation to identify any interactions. Some medications may require temporary adjustment, but most patients continue their existing psychiatric medications throughout ketamine treatment. You will receive specific guidance based on your individual situation.
Many patients experience relief lasting weeks to months after an initial series of infusions. Maintenance infusions scheduled every four to eight weeks can sustain results long-term. Combining ketamine with ongoing therapy and healthy lifestyle practices generally improves the longevity of outcomes.
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