CHATTANOOGA KETAMINE CENTER

Ketamine Therapy for Depression, Anxiety, and PTSD

Is Ketamine Treatment Right For You?

  • Do you suffer from depression? 
  • Have you tried multiple medications without relief?
  • Have you tried multiple styles of counseling unsuccessfully?
  • Are your relationships struggling personally and professionally?
A diagram of a person 's brain with circles around it

Ketamine for Depression

Here’s how ketamine can work for depression:

Ketamine has been used since the 1970’s as a medication used by anesthesiologists in surgery. More recently ketamine's ability to rapidly treat depression was discovered. 

Here's why it matters…

Ketamine has shown immediate relief from depression in many clinical trials. Ketamine does not work like other anti-depressant medications.


Traditional anti-depressants work by elevating serotonin. It appears Ketamine elevates brain derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF). This important brain hormone (BDNF) helps create new connections between neurons. These new connections can help heal from the effects of chronic depression.

Ketamine and its effectiveness for treating depression:

Antidepressants have helped many people even saving some lives. However, the STAR*D study had some startling discoveries. It found that most people taking anti-depressants had no real benefits in their treatment of depression. Another finding in the STAR*D study was that the more anti-depressants a person tried the higher the likelihood these medications would not work effectively. 


There are many ketamine clinical trials that focus on giving people with treatment resistant depression iv ketamine infusions. The overall consensus from these studies is that 70% of those that receive the ketamine infusion for depression experience a decrease in their symptoms. There is not a medication used for treating depression that has ever had this level of effectiveness. Furthermore, ketamine infusion does not require re-treatment; decreased re-treatment creates more value for your money spent on therapy.

Ketamine Infusion for Bipolar Depression

Is ketamine treatment for bipolar depression right for you?

  • Have you been diagnosed with bipolar depression and find that the medication(s) prescribed to you don’t really help?
  • Has bipolar depression negatively effected your personal and professional life?
  • Do you feel alone, sad, tired and possibly even suicidal?

How does ketamine help treat bipolar depression?

Ketamine offers many advantages to people suffering from bipolar depression. These include novel mechanism of action and a fast anti-depressant effect. 

Ketamine Treatment for Anxiety

  • Have you tried medication or other forms of therapy to help with anxiety and your quality of life has not improved as much as you would like? 
  • Have your personal and professional life been negatively affected by anxiety?
  • Has your quality of sleep been disturbed by anxiety?
  • Are you concerned about the habit forming potential with many anti-anxiety medications?

Here’s how ketamine can help with anxiety:

Many clinical trials have found that due to ketamine being a rapid-acting medicine it can give immediate relief from anxiety. Many of the other medications given for anxiety can have negative side effects and can be habit forming. Ketamine on the other hand does not have lingering side effects. Ketamine seems to have a significant positive effect on the regulation of inflammation. Our data-driven methods are administered in a way that doesn't cause ketamine dependency. Also common symptoms of anxiety and even depression are worry and rumination (someone's constant attention of their symptoms of distress, possible causes and what will happen as a result). Ketamine has been shown to effectively treat these symptoms by down regulating the involved brain structures. As of now,  ketamine for anxiety appears promising. The research on ketamine for anxiety is continuing.

Ketamine Treatment for PTSD

Does PTSD have an effect on you personal and professional life?


Have you experienced a traumatic event or multiple events that cause you to suffer from PTSD?


Have you been unable to find a method of treatment or therapy to enhance your quality of life?

Here's how ketamine can help with PTSD:

Based on the data available which is limited, ketamine has been shown to result in a near complete resolution of symptoms over the short term.  PTSD patients have few other options for treatment, none of which are very effective. These treatments include anti-anxiety medications that are habit forming and anti-depressants which can have many side effects.  In clinical trials thoughts of suicide (a PTSD symptom) can go away after just 1 ketamine treatment. This reduces the need for re-treatment, saving you money in the long run. Also, it has been shown that other symptoms of PTSD such as anxiety and depression are significantly improved after a ketamine infusion.


A hormone, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)  levels was found to be lower in PTSD patients when compared to those without PTSD.  BDNF is important for neuron plasticity and growth.  BDNF affects changes in the brain that may contribute or maintain some of the effects of PTSD.  These effects include emotional numbing, intrusive thoughts, and increased fear.


Therefore restoring healthy BDNF levels should help treat PTSD. Ketamine increases BDNF levels.

How We Are Different

Chattanooga Ketamine is focused on providing the trusted medical care you deserve. While ketamine treatment is becoming more widely offered, it is important to understand what makes us the area’s most trusted ketamine provider.

✔️ Our Team

Dr. Jason Pooler is an experienced physician and a fellow in Integrative Psychiatry. Dr. Pooler understands the needs of both the body and the mind. He has the experience and passion you can trust. He and his team are here to provide the support and treatment you deserve.

✔️ Financial Commitment

Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy can be a significant financial commitment. We understand that our patients are paying a significant amount of money for their well-being. As a result, we work hard to ensure that our costs remain affordable while providing outstanding care.

✔️ Integrative Psychiatry

We understand that ketamine is not the solution for everyone. Dr. Pooler, an Integrative Psychiatrist, will evaluate you to determine the best treatment based on the underlying cause for your mental health issue. He will recommend the best treatment for your specific needs.

✔️ Ketamine Practice

Ketamine assisted  Psychotherapy is the foundation of our Ketamine practice. Dr. Pooler is present with every patient Every patient receives their ketamine treatment in a private room with a licensed and trained therapist. Having a therapist with you during treatment is the best way to ensure the best outcomes and that the process goes smoothly. 

✔️ Dr. Pooler is a Licensed Physician

Though medical emergencies are uncommon with ketamine treatments, proper safety practices mandate that a physician be onsite when the treatments are given. Dr. Pooler’s medical background means he is ideally suited to handle potential issues that may arise.

✔️ IV Infusion

Though there are several ways to administer ketamine, IV infusion is the most well understood. Multiple studies have been done on the process and its effects giving us a clear picture of expectations and outcomes. While IV infusions might not be best for everyone, they are the most common way to administer the treatment. If IV infusion is not right for you, our team will discuss other potential options with you.

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