Ketamine Therapy for OCD
March 15, 2025
One of the most common questions patients ask before starting ketamine therapy is whether ketamine is considered a psychedelic. The answer isn't straightforward, as there's no clear consensus among experts.
The term "psychedelic" itself has various interpretations. Originally coined by psychiatrist Humphrey Osmond, it combines Greek words meaning "mind-manifesting" or "soul-manifesting." Some researchers narrowly define psychedelics as substances that primarily act on the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor, like LSD, psilocybin, and mescaline (often called "classical psychedelics").
Ketamine works differently. While it does have some action on serotonin receptors, it primarily affects the NMDA receptor and glutamate neurotransmitter systems. This distinct mechanism of action has led many to classify ketamine as a "dissociative anesthetic" rather than a true psychedelic.
When discussing ketamine, some people incorrectly conflate it with PCP (phencyclidine). While both belong to the arylcyclohexylamine class and affect NMDA receptors, the comparison largely ends there. Ketamine has been widely studied and safely used in medical settings for decades, earning FDA approval as an anesthetic in 1970.
Unlike PCP, ketamine is metabolized more rapidly by the body and demonstrates a considerably better safety profile when administered in clinical settings. Most importantly, ketamine's therapeutic potential for depression, anxiety, and PTSD has been extensively documented in clinical research, setting it apart from PCP, which has no recognized medical applications today.
Learn more about how ketamine promotes brain health.
Despite technical classifications, many patients report experiences during ketamine therapy that share similarities with classical psychedelics, including:
Research confirms these observations. Studies have shown that subanesthetic doses of ketamine can produce effects similar to those reported with PCP and other traditional psychedelics. However, these effects vary significantly based on dosage, administration method, individual metabolism, and concurrent medications.
Learn more about how ketamine feels.
At Transcend Health Solutions, we view ketamine's psychoactive properties not as side effects but as potentially valuable components of the therapeutic process. Many patients describe their ketamine sessions as among the most meaningful experiences of their lives.
Unlike some clinics that minimize these experiential aspects with sedatives like benzodiazepines, we recognize that the subjective experience often drives therapeutic breakthroughs. While symptom reduction can occur without these experiences, our extensive clinical work suggests that engaging with the experiential dimensions of ketamine therapy leads to more profound and lasting benefits.
Learn more here about the latest research in ketamine for mental health.
If you're in San Antonio or Austin and interested in learning more about how ketamine therapy might help with treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, or other conditions, we invite you to contact Transcend Health Solutions. Our experienced team provides comprehensive support throughout the ketamine treatment process, ensuring you're prepared and comfortable with every aspect of your therapeutic journey.
Schedule a consultation today to discover if ketamine-assisted therapy is right for you. Your transformation begins with a single step.
Will Ratliff, RN, LP, is the Co-Founder and Director of Operations at Transcend Health Solutions, a leading provider of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) in Austin and San Antonio, Texas. A former flight medic and registered nurse, Will has directly facilitated more than 5,000 IV Ketamine infusions, collaborating closely with KAP therapists to support clients with depression, trauma, anxiety, and treatment-resistant conditions. Alongside Dr. Cord Cunningham, he helped pioneer a real-time titration protocol for IV Ketamine, an innovation that has positioned Transcend as a national leader in evidence-based KAP delivery.
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