Ketamine Therapy — Psychedelic-Assisted and Low-Dose Series

KIM CB is one of the few clinics in South Bohemia offering physician-supervised ketamine-assisted therapy for chronic pain, long COVID, and off-label psychedelic-assisted support for mental health. MUDr. Lenka Štádlerová has practised ketamine-assisted therapy since early 2025 — over 20 patients in the first year — and completed formal psychedelic medicine training including Polyvagal Theory certification and the Psychedelic Therapy & Integration certification. Two protocols are available: a high-dose bolus (intramuscular, producing a ~2-hour dissociative state with complete physical pain suppression) and a low-dose series of three administrations spaced two to five days apart (mild altered state, ~1 hour, primarily biological and antidepressant effect). Both include preparatory consultations and a mandatory integration session. Either protocol is priced at 15 000 Kč complete.

Ketamine-assisted therapy at Klinika Integrativní Medicíny represents the most clinically distinct offering in the KIM CB menu — a carefully structured protocol grounded in MUDr. Štádlerová's formal psychedelic medicine training and her clinical practice since 2025. The clinic uses intramuscular (IM) administration, which produces a reliably controllable onset and duration profile compared to other routes. Ketamine was introduced as a dissociative anaesthetic in the 1960s and has been used safely in clinical medicine for over five decades. In the context of ketamine-assisted therapy, two distinct pharmacological mechanisms are relevant. First, ketamine's NMDA receptor antagonism produces rapid analgesic and antidepressant effects — the antidepressant response can emerge within hours of a single administration, unlike classical antidepressants which require weeks. This mechanism is thought to involve downstream AMPA receptor activation and BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) release, triggering synaptic strengthening in circuits involved in emotional regulation and reward. Second, at higher (psychedelic/dissociative) doses, ketamine produces an altered state of consciousness that many patients describe as deeply meaningful, enabling psychological processing that may not be accessible in standard therapy. MUDr. Štádlerová offers two protocols tailored to different clinical needs: **High-dose bolus protocol:** A single IM administration at a psychedelic dose. The dissociative state lasts approximately 2 hours; during this time physical pain is completely suppressed and the patient experiences significant perceptual alterations. The session takes place in a safe, comfortable clinical environment with relaxing music (chosen by the patient). MUDr. Štádlerová is present throughout. After the state resolves, an integration session is conducted one to three days later to process the experience and anchor insights. The neuroplasticity, antidepressant, and anti-inflammatory effects of a single high-dose session can persist for weeks to months. Repeat frequency: every two to three months per individual assessment. **Low-dose series (3 sessions, 2–5 days apart):** Three IM administrations at a sub-dissociative dose that produces a mild altered state lasting approximately one hour. The patient rests in a reclining position with headphones and personal music. The primary effects are biological: neuroplasticity induction, antidepressant signalling, and anti-inflammatory modulation. This protocol is better suited to clients who prefer a gentler experience or whose primary indication is biological (chronic pain, long COVID fatigue, neuropathic pain) rather than psychological. Both protocols can be combined when clinically appropriate. The complete package for either protocol includes: an initial introductory consultation (500 Kč, applied toward the full protocol cost if the client proceeds), two preparatory 60-minute consultations covering health status, contraindication assessment, risk discussion, setting of therapeutic intention, and mapping of inner themes; the administration session(s); and one mandatory integration session. Additional consultations beyond this package are charged at 1 500 Kč/hour. The prerequisites for receiving ketamine therapy at KIM CB are a GP health record excerpt (to provide full medical context) and, for clients currently under psychiatric care, a written letter of consent from their treating psychiatrist. Absolute contraindications include pregnancy, uncontrolled hypertension, personal or close-family history of schizophrenia or similar conditions, and history of haemorrhagic stroke. After a high-dose session, the client must not drive until the following day and requires a companion for transport home; an integration session within three days is mandatory. Low-dose sessions also require integration and ideally a non-driving arrangement. Booking: contact KIM CB by phone (+420 704 884 274) or email ([email protected]) to arrange the initial introductory consultation (500 Kč). This consultation is the gateway to the full therapy and does not obligate the client to proceed. Self-pay only.