This episode of the Ketamine Startup Podcast, comes from a presentation Sam gave at the American College of Emergency Physicians Scientific Assembly on October 1,  2024. Discover the journey of opening a ketamine clinic, the efficacy of IV ketamine for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain, and the mechanism behind its success. 

You will learn about the growing mental health crisis, high burnout rates among emergency physicians, and why ketamine therapy can be a rewarding alternative career path. 

Sam also shares the emotional and financial realities of running a ketamine clinic, emphasizing the importance of motivation, purpose, and personal fulfillment. Hear powerful testimonials from patients and gain practical advice for starting your own clinic. Don't miss this comprehensive guide filled with scientific studies, real-life experiences, and expert insights.

What You’ll Learn In This Episode:

• Career Transition: Discover how emergency physicians can pivot into running ketamine clinics and find greater autonomy and purpose.

• Clinical Evidence: Explore key studies supporting the use of ketamine therapy for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain.

• Overcoming Challenges: Understand the financial and emotional challenges of running a ketamine clinic and how to stay motivated by focusing on your "why."

Episode 22 show notes:

00:00 Teaser - The Swimming Pool Dilemma

00:35 Introduction

01:10 Sam's Journey and Niche in Ketamine Therapy

03:12 The Mental Health Crisis

05:05 Challenges Faced by Emergency Physicians

06:13 Scientific Studies on IV Ketamine Therapy

08:45 Ketamine for Anxiety and PTSD

10:47 Ketamine for Chronic Pain

12:13 How Does Ketamine Work?

12:17 Ketamine's Impact on Neurotransmitters

13:11 Ketamine and Chronic Stress

14:06 Hallucinogenic Effects of Ketamine

14:57 Emergency Medicine and Ketamine

16:16 Starting a Ketamine Clinic

17:19 The Importance of Your 'Why'

18:33 Challenges and Rewards of a Ketamine Clinic

20:12 Patient Testimonials and Impact

21:34 Conclusion

Thanks for listening

🚀 Want to fast track launching your ketamine clinic? If so, download our free checklist.

📺 Watch the video version with slides on Youtube

Selected Links From The Episode

84.  A Look Inside Ketamine Clinics (and how to start your own) | The Rob Orman Stimulus Podcast episode Sam was a guest on

How to Start a Ketamine Clinic | Sam’s White Coat investor guest blog post

Pursuit of Ketamine | The documentary Sam was featured in

Selected References From The Episode:

Kolp, Eli & L. Friedman, Harris & Krupitsky, Evgeny & Jansen, Karl & Sylvester, Mark & Young, Matthew & Kolp, Anna. (2014). Ketamine Psychedelic Psychotherapy: Focus on its Pharmacology, Phenomenology, and Clinical Applications. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies. 33. 84-140. 10.24972/ijts.2014.33.2.84.

Depression:

Berman RM, Cappiello A, Anand A, Oren DA, Heninger GR, Charney DS, Krystal JH. Antidepressant effects of ketamine in depressed patients. Biol Psychiatry. 2000 Feb 15;47(4):351-4. doi: 10.1016/s0006-3223(99)00230-9. PMID: 10686270.

Marcantoni WS, Akoumba BS, Wassef M, Mayrand J, Lai H, Richard-Devantoy S, Beauchamp S. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy of intravenous ketamine infusion for treatment resistant depression: January 2009 - January 2019. J Affect Disord. 2020 Dec 1;277:831-841. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.09.007. Epub 2020 Sep 7. PMID: 33065824.

Anand A, Mathew SJ, Sanacora G, Murrough JW, Goes FS, Altinay M, Aloysi AS, Asghar-Ali AA, Barnett BS, Chang LC, Collins KA, Costi S, Iqbal S, Jha MK, Krishnan K, Malone DA, Nikayin S, Nissen SE, Ostroff RB, Reti IM, Wilkinson ST, Wolski K, Hu B. Ketamine versus ECT for Nonpsychotic Treatment-Resistant Major Depression. N Engl J Med. 2023 Jun 22;388(25):2315-2325. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2302399. Epub 2023 May 24. PMID: 37224232.

Jha MK, Wilkinson ST, Krishnan K, Collins KA, Sanacora G, Murrough J, Goes F, Altinay M, Aloysi A, Asghar-Ali A, Barnett B, Chang L, Costi S, Malone D, Nikayin S, Nissen SE, Ostroff R, Reti I, Wolski K, Wang D, Hu B, Mathew SJ, Anand A. Ketamine vs Electroconvulsive Therapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Jun 3;7(6):e2417786. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.17786. PMID: 38916891; PMCID: PMC11200139.

Anxiety:

Glue P, Medlicott NJ, Harland S, Neehoff S, Anderson-Fahey B, Le Nedelec M, Gray A, McNaughton N. Ketamine's dose-related effects on anxiety symptoms in patients with treatment refractory anxiety disorders. J Psychopharmacol. 2017 Oct;31(10):1302-1305. doi: 10.1177/0269881117705089. Epub 2017 Apr 26. PMID: 28441895.

PTSD:

Feder A, Parides MK, Murrough JW, Perez AM, Morgan JE, Saxena S, Kirkwood K, Aan Het Rot M, Lapidus KA, Wan LB, Iosifescu D, Charney DS. Efficacy of intravenous ketamine for treatment of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry. 2014 Jun;71(6):681-8. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2014.62. PMID: 24740528.

Feder A, Costi S, Rutter SB, Collins AB, Govindarajulu U, Jha MK, Horn SR, Kautz M, Corniquel M, Collins KA, Bevilacqua L, Glasgow AM, Brallier J, Pietrzak RH, Murrough JW, Charney DS. A Randomized Controlled Trial of Repeated Ketamine Administration for Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Am J Psychiatry. 2021 Feb 1;178(2):193-202. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20050596. Epub 2021 Jan 5. PMID: 33397139.

Chronic Pain:

Orhurhu V, Orhurhu MS, Bhatia A, Cohen SP. Ketamine Infusions for Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Anesth Analg. 2019 Jul;129(1):241-25