Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical or legal advice, and is just the opinion of the writer(s). Ketamine is only legal for medical use under certain circumstances in the US, and we do not recommend or condone recreational ketamine use. Patients should speak to their doctor if they are considering ketamine therapy.
Mindbloom is an online platform that connects patients to doctors who are licensed to provide ketamine therapy for the treatment of anxiety and depression. The brand proudly proclaims on their website that “psychedelic medicine is here,” and that patients can use their service to “achieve your breakthrough” with “guided experiences to help combat anxiety and depression.”
But is ketamine therapy proven in clinical studies to reduce anxiety and depression? Is it safe? How much does it cost? And how do real users describe the effects of Mindbloom?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we review clinical trials on ketamine to give our take on whether or not it’s likely to be effective for improving mental health.
We’ll also explain whether ketamine can cause side effects, compare the price of Mindbloom to other ketamine therapy providers, and feature unsponsored patient reviews of the brand.
Can Ketamine Improve Mental Health?
A clinical trial published in The American Journal of Psychiatry tested ketamine in depressed patients, and compared how effective the treatment was against a pharmaceutical antidepressant.
The researchers found that one single ketamine infusion was more effective than the pharma drug, and sustained infusions (3x weekly over the course of two weeks) provided additional benefits.
59% of depressed patients experienced a symptom reduction greater than 50% after ketamine infusions. This study was sponsored by a Canadian university so we have no concerns about funding bias.
A 2020 meta-study assessed results from many clinical trials on ketamine and depression, and found the therapy to be effective in reducing average depression scores. The reviewers noted that ketamine therapy was especially effective in patients who didn’t respond to pharmaceutical antidepressants.
As we documented in our ketamine therapy review, this psychedelic has also been studied for the treatment of anxiety disorders.
A 2020 clinical trial tested ketamine therapy in patients with treatment-resistant anxiety disorders. This refers to anxiety that does not respond to pharmaceutical medication.
Ketamine therapy was found to be more effective than placebo for anxiety, and the anxiety improvements post-therapy persisted for up to one week after a single treatment.
Another medical study on ketamine for anxiety reported similar results.
Patients with treatment resistant anxiety or social anxiety disorder (SAD) were administered weekly injections of ketamine for three months.
18 of the 20 patients studied reported significant reductions in anxiety, and “marked improvements in functionality and in their personal lives.”
We will conclude from the available research that ketamine therapy can be highly effective for the treatment of both depression and anxiety, although the medical backing for ketamine as an antidepressant is more impressive in our opinion.
IV Ketamine is not FDA-approved for any psychiatric conditions at the time of writing this article.
What is Ketamine Therapy Like?
The popular YouTube channel Bustle has a video featuring a patient with anxiety using ketamine in a clinical setting.
The video documents the preparation that's required, shows what ketamine use in a medical setting looks like, and provides an update months after the initial treatment:
Will Mindbloom Cause Side Effects?
Ketamine therapy does cause side effects in some patients.
The most common side effects of ketamine are psychiatric (mental) rather than physical, since it’s a hallucinogenic drug.
A 2019 medical review on ketamine for depression documented that acute psychiatric side effects were described in 38% of studies, and 72% of studies referenced dissociative side effects.
Heart rate and blood pressure can increase with ketamine use, and headache and dizziness can also be experienced.
Researchers have noted that the safety of short-term ketamine use is well-documented, but long-term safety data is lacking.
We hope that in the future, more long-term trials emerge testing whether or not ketamine can be used as a standalone antidepressant for months-to-years.
This side effect profile is favorable in comparison to the side effect profile of many prescription medications for anxiety and depression in our opinion.
Real People Try Mindbloom
A YouTube creator named “GetBOLD! with Stacey” tried Mindbloom, and described her experience preparing for the ketamine therapy as well as the “trip” experience:
A TikTok creator named Linds shared her experience after completing five of the six initial Mindbloom sessions:
@feels_soft #mindbloom #ktherapy #ktherapyrevelations #ktherapyformentalillness #millenialsoftiktok #millenialmom #foryou #fyp #toddlermom #dothebestyoucan ♬ original sound - Linds
How Much Does Mindbloom Cost?
At the time of updating this article, Mindbloom does not accept health insurance.
The brand’s Pricing page provides codes that patients can use to check with their health insurance company about whether these bills can be fully or partially reimbursed after treatment.
The initial program cost is currently $1,176. This includes six ketamine treatments, two psychiatric clinician consults and unlimited messaging.
Fixed price installments are available.
A renewal costs $765 and includes six ketamine treatments, one psychiatric clinician consult and unlimited messaging.
These costs are actually quite reasonable compared to other ketamine therapy providers in our opinion.
A website called Ketamine Clinics Directory documents prices from ketamine clinics across the US, and the average price for a single infusion is well over $300 at the time of updating this article.
The average price per infusion with Mindbloom is only $193 for a first-time patient, and also includes unlimited messaging and other perks. This is currently cheaper than all but one of the ketamine treatment centers on the above-linked directory.
Interview With Mindbloom Founder
A YouTube channel called “Aaron Watson Business” interviewed Mindbloom’s founder Dylan Beynon.
He compared Mindbloom to other ketamine providers, explained the origin story of the business, and discussed how the community of ketamine therapy users can impact further mental health improvements.
It’s an insightful interview that’s worth a watch for anyone considering Mindbloom therapy in our opinion:
Our Clean Mood Support Picks
There are ingredients that are clinically shown to help support relaxation.
Green tea was shown in a 2017 clinical trial to significantly reduce stress levels, and has been used to promote mental and physical wellness for centuries.
Pique Japanese Sencha Green Tea is our top green tea pick. It costs $16 for 14 servings at the time of updating this article, or only $1.14 per serving.
Magnesium is a mineral that 45% of Americans are deficient in according to a research review, and "existing evidence is suggestive of a beneficial effect of [magnesium] on subjective anxiety" according to a medical review published in the Nutrients journal.
Bulletproof Magnesium is our top magnesium supplement pick and costs under $15 at a subscription rate at the time of updating this article.
CBD is clinically shown to be absorbed through the skin, and was shown in a 2020 medical review to be a "promising" natural treatment for anxiety disorders.
Cornbread CBD Lotion is our top pick for a stress-relieving topical product.
All of the products recommended in this section are entirely free of additive ingredients that we consider unhealthy.
Mindbloom Pros and Cons
Here are the pros and cons of Mindbloom in our opinion:
Pros:
- Clinically shown to be effective for depression
- Clinically shown to be effective for anxiety
- May have lower risk of side effects than pharma drugs
- Early research is highly impressive
- Cheaper than other ketamine providers
- May be subject to insurance reimbursements
Cons:
- Company doesn't accept health insurance
- Relatively expensive
- Can cause psychiatric side effects
- Can increase heart rate and blood pressure
