RECOVER-IV: Ketamine for Addiction

Our medical clinic is at the forefront of providing innovative and compassionate care for individuals struggling with addiction to substances like opiates, cocaine, and alcohol.

Our innovative and proprietary program for addiction is called RECOVER-IV and at the heart of our treatment protocol is IV ketamine therapy, an emerging approach supported by cutting-edge research and clinical trials. Medical Director and Founder, Dr. Bal Nandra, has over 7 years of experience leading IV Solution & Ketamine Centers of Chicago. With his oversight and leadership, IV Solution has performed over 15,000 ketamine infusions since 2017, which represents far more experience than any ketamine clinic in Chicagoland and the Midwest. His outcomes for depression, anxiety, PTSD and other mental illnesses are industry leading. He was awarded the 2022 National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI, Chicago) “Light The Darkness Award” for mental health innovation and improving access to care. He also received the 2024 Ellis Island Medal of Honor for his mental health innovation and philanthropic efforts in this sector. Dr. Nandra has also co-authored multiple published clinical studies in collaboration with the Baylor College of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry on clinical outcomes and impact of ketamine infusions in the community and real world.

Ketamine, a drug known for its dissociative anesthetic properties, has shown promise in treating various addictions by acting on the central nervous system, specifically through antagonism of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. Research has highlighted ketamine’s potential in prolonging abstinence from alcohol and heroin in detoxified individuals and reducing cravings and self-administration of cocaine among users.¹ These findings are underpinned by ketamine’s ability to:

1. enhance brain neuroplasticity and neurogenesis, hence forming healthy neural pathways
2. disrupt harmful neural networks that reinforce addiction
3. alleviate depressive and other mental health symptoms contributing to addiction
4. block the reconsolidation of drug-related memories
5. potentially enrich the effectiveness of psychological therapies

A systematic review further strengthens the case for ketamine’s utility in addiction treatment. Studies focusing on alcohol, cocaine, and opioid use disorders observed significant improvements in abstinence rates and reductions in cravings and withdrawal symptoms, suggesting ketamine’s role in facilitating recovery across multiple substances of abuse. The review calls for more comprehensive trials to explore ketamine’s full potential within the realm of addiction treatment, highlighting its promising but yet-to-be-fully-realized benefits.²

Additionally, a clinical trial examining the use of ketamine alongside psychological therapy for alcohol use disorder found that ketamine treatments were well tolerated and associated with a significant increase in the number of abstinent days at a 6-month follow-up. This suggests not only the efficacy of ketamine in promoting abstinence but also the potential enhanced benefit of integrating it with psychological support.³

Our clinic embraces these insights, integrating IV ketamine therapy with a supportive, multidisciplinary approach that includes psychological counseling and integration. Our certified psychotherapists for our addiction program, RECOVER-IV, are experienced in both addiction counseling, as well as ketamine integration and preparation. This combination aims to address both the biochemical and psychological facets of addiction, offering a holistic path to recovery. We are dedicated to offering a compassionate, cutting-edge treatment option for those in need, guided by the latest research and a deep commitment to our patients’ well-being. In just hours a week and on an outpatient basis, you could be free of your addiction in a matter of a month or so!

Please contact us immediately for details on our comprehensive program, how to qualify, and to begin your path to a life without the burdens of addiction.