Unfortunately I don't have anyone I know who is a vet. I got some years ago when silk road was big but stopped using it when bitcoins got very expensive and wouldn't even know how to navigate the dark web any more. I'm that much older and hate what I have heard about it. I did get a response from the blackdog institute though about how to get ketamine therapy. It's an ordeal where you need a psychiatrist who will refer you to them and it's expensive. I will paste their reply here:
Thank you for your enquiry into our Ketamine program with our Neurostimulation Clinic.
Ketamine is used as treatment for depression only when a person has not responded to antidepressant medication or other treatments, and at present our clinic does not use this treatment for other conditions. Our clinic provides treatment for NSW residents over the age of 18.
As this is a very specialised form of treatment, it is important that we discuss with you what is involved and how you are screened for suitability before we accept your referral.
How to book an assessment to see if Ketamine treatment is right for you
- We will arrange a phone call with you to discuss some of the basic eligibility criteria with you and answer any further questions you may have about the treatment.
- If appropriate, after the call we will send you our referral information for your psychiatrist to complete. This includes
- Our referral form for Ketamine Treatment Program completed by your psychiatrist* * (do not have your psychiatrist fill in this referral form until after you have had your suitability call with us)
- a detailed referral letter from your psychiatrist* on their practice letterhead addressed to Neurostimulation Clinic outlining your:
- Psychiatric history
- Treatment history (medications and neurostimulation, including length of treatment, dose, type, etc).
- General medical conditions
- Previous psychiatrist letters, pathology, discharge summaries (if available)
*Note: GP referrals are not accepted for the Ketamine Treatment Program, as you must have a psychiatrist who sees you for ongoing management during treatment.
- Once all referral documents are received, your referrals will be reviewed by our clinical team, and they will decide if it’s appropriate for you to have an assessment for suitability.
What happens after my referral is reviewed?
If our team determines it is appropriate for you to be assessed, you will be contacted to book an appointment. If it’s not appropriate for you to be assessed, we will notify your psychiatrist, so they can help you with the next steps in your care.
How would I start treatment?
Your assessment with our team will determine if ketamine is an appropriate form of treatment for you. After your assessment, our team will contact you about your next steps and starting treatment.
If ketamine treatment is not suitable for you at this time, our team will notify your psychiatrist, so they can help you with the next steps in your care
What are the costs involved?
At this time, Medicare does not provide a rebate for Ketamine treatments (but there is a Medicare rebate for your suitability assessment).
The fees are as follows:
- Initial assessment: $462 (rebate of $246, or bulk billed if you have a pension or concession card)
- Initial ketamine treatment: $500
- Follow up ketamine treatments: $350
- Reviews with our psychiatry team at each treatment: bulk billed
If you would like to proceed, please call our clinic at 02 9382 2991 to go over initial eligibility, and to answer any questions you may have.
Kind regards,