Everything you need to know about physician-led ketamine therapy — from eligibility and pricing to safety and aftercare.
Oral ketamine therapy combines sublingual tablets or troches with telemedicine consultations to address treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain in the comfort of your home. Our guided sessions app provides AI-powered support, real-time monitoring, and integration tools throughout your treatment.
Ketamine modulates neurotransmitters like glutamate, impacting mood regulation and cognition differently than traditional antidepressants. Sublingual tablets dissolve in the mouth for faster absorption. During sessions, our app's AI companion (KetAI) provides gentle guidance, plays calming music, and monitors your wellbeing.
Oral ketamine for mental health conditions is considered off-label use. While ketamine is FDA-approved as an anesthetic, its use for depression, anxiety, and PTSD is explored as an alternative when traditional therapies have not provided adequate relief. Many patients experience significant benefits.
Ketamine therapy may be appropriate for adults 18+ who have treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD, or chronic pain. You must have tried at least one other treatment without adequate relief. Patients with uncontrolled hypertension, unstable cardiovascular disease, severe pulmonary conditions, or recent stroke/heart attack may not qualify.
Start by completing our free eligibility assessment. If you qualify, select a consultation package and pay with a credit or debit card. You'll then complete a comprehensive health questionnaire and consent forms through our secure patient portal.
After completing your health questionnaire and consent forms, you can schedule your first appointment directly in the patient portal. Choose a time that works for you from available appointment slots. You can reschedule anytime via the patient portal if needed.
If eligible, your physician will electronically send your ketamine prescription to our partner compounding pharmacy. The pharmacy will contact you directly regarding payment and shipping options. Medication typically arrives within one week.
If you have conditions that make ketamine therapy inadvisable (uncontrolled hypertension, unstable cardiovascular disease, etc.), you will receive a full refund. We'll also provide guidance on alternative treatment options.
Our app includes a comprehensive pre-session checklist: fast for at least 6 hours, avoid sedatives and alcohol for 24 hours, prepare a quiet comfortable room with dim lighting, have an eye mask and calming music ready, arrange for a trusted companion to be present, and have a blood pressure cuff or pulse oximeter available if recommended.
Yes, a trusted companion is required for safety. They should be present and available throughout the session to assist if needed. They don't need to be in the same room but should be nearby and sober.
Fast for at least 6 hours before your session—this improves absorption and reduces nausea risk. Avoid sedatives and alcohol for 24 hours prior. Continue essential medications with minimal water. Discuss all medications with your physician.
Place the sublingual tablet under your tongue or in your cheek. Keep it in your mouth as long as possible (10+ minutes) for maximum absorption. Have a cup ready to spit out any residue. Lie down with an eye mask once administered.
Effects typically begin within 10-20 minutes. You may experience altered perceptions, emotions, and thoughts, potentially including a temporary dissociative state. The peak usually occurs 40-60 minutes after dosing and lasts 30-60 minutes. Our app's KetAI companion provides gentle check-ins and guidance throughout.
Our app provides AI-powered support (KetAI) that offers gentle check-ins, grounding exercises, and calming music. It tracks your session timeline, monitors for signs of distress, reminds you to check vitals at key moments, and can alert your companion or our medical team if needed.
CRITICAL: Stay out of all water (no hot tubs, bathtubs, or pools—drowning risk). Remain lying down during peak effects. Do not drive for at least 5 hours. Have your trusted companion present. Ensure 4+ hours free of responsibilities.
Tap the "I Need Help" button for immediate grounding exercises. Remember the experience is temporary. Breathe through discomfort. Your companion can assist. KetAI monitors for distress and can alert our medical team. For true medical emergencies, call 911.
Common effects include nausea, dizziness, headache, dissociation, and temporary increases in heart rate or blood pressure. Most side effects are mild and resolve within a few hours. Serious respiratory effects are uncommon but require immediate medical attention.
Dependence is rare when ketamine is used as prescribed under medical supervision. Our treatment protocols include regular check-ins and monitoring to ensure safe, appropriate use.
Call 911 immediately for: difficulty breathing, chest pain, seizure symptoms, or loss of consciousness. Use the app's "I Need Help" button for emotional distress—it alerts your companion and our medical team.
Rest and hydrate for at least an hour. Avoid driving for 5+ hours. Our app guides you through post-session integration: journaling prompts, reflection exercises, breathwork, and movement practices to help process and integrate insights.
Integration is the process of making meaning from your ketamine experience and applying insights to daily life. Our app includes guided integration modes—breathwork, gentle movement, sensory exercises, and reflection prompts—designed to maximize therapeutic benefit.
Follow-up telemedicine visits discuss your progress, adjust dosing if needed, and support your integration process. Schedule appointments via phone, email, or the patient portal. Continued psychotherapy alongside ketamine treatment is encouraged.
Treatment typically spans 1-3 months minimum, extending to 6 months or longer for severe conditions. Medication usually arrives within one week of your consultation. Most patients complete 6-12 sessions over their treatment course.
Our plans start at $250/month for a 1-month protocol (two 30-minute physician visits). The most popular 3-month package is $650 (six visits). Your plan covers physician consultation, evaluation, prescription, and care team support. Medication is billed separately by our partner pharmacy at approximately $6–9 per dose (typically $90–$150/month). No hidden fees—your total costs are transparent upfront.
No, insurance does not cover ketamine treatment for mental health conditions. We accept all major credit and debit cards. HSA/FSA funds may be eligible—check with your plan administrator.
After your prescription is approved, your medication is prepared by one of our partner compounding pharmacies—CDRX Pharmacy (561-826-0711), Town & Country Compounding (201-447-2020), SoWal Pharmacy (850-828-6337), or Bay Life Pharmacy II (833-247-2299). They will contact you directly for payment and shipping. Medication ships via USPS or FedEx in discreet packaging, typically arriving in 2-3 business days.
No, our service is telemedicine-only. All consultations are conducted via private, HIPAA-secure, non-recorded video calls. This allows us to serve patients across Florida and New Jersey from the comfort of their homes.
Contact Dr. Soffer via email at drben@discreetketamine.com, or call 561-468-6981 (561-468-6981). Toll-free: 866-450-1425. Florida patients: 561-468-6981. New Jersey patients: 908-450-4944. For urgent clinical questions within 72 hours of a session, guaranteed response within 12 hours.