Hundreds of clinics may be guilty of false or misleading claims in ketamine advertising

Hundreds of clinics may be using false and misleading claims in their online advertising campaigns by offering off-label and unapproved ketamine to treat a variety of mental health and pain conditions, according to researchers at the University of Texas’ Anschutz Medical Campus. Colorado and Johns Hopkins University.

The study was published in Open JAMA Network.

“These are expensive treatments that patients typically have to pay for out of pocket, and the evidence base is often not strong for many of the advertised uses,” said Michael DiStefano, Ph.D., an assistant professor at the UC Department of Clinical Pharmacy. Skaggs School of Pharmacy and co-senior author of the study. “It is important that people considering these treatments receive an accurate and balanced statement of possible risks and benefits.”

In the article, researchers note that intravenous ketamine is not approved by the FDA to treat a mental health condition, but is sometimes used off-label. Oral formulations are unapproved medications that are often advertised as producing a hallucinogenic experience at home.

For this cross-sectional study, the team identified direct-to-consumer online ketamine advertisers with at least one Maryland clinic and website using six national ketamine databases.

They found 17 advertisers operating in 26 Maryland locations that promoted ketamine infusions or assisted therapies for a wide range of conditions, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and chronic pain. The advertising revealed numerous misleading representations regarding treatment and safety.

While the study focused on Maryland clinics, DiStefano said his compilation of the six ketamine treatment directories suggests there are about 800 such clinics in the United States. He said several companies will also send oral ketamine to customers through the mail.

“Psychedelic or hallucinogenic substances are increasingly being considered mental health treatments. For example, Colorado is at the forefront of developing policies governing the use of psilocybin for depression.” DiStefano said.

“It is important to be transparent and specific when explaining the potential risks and benefits of these treatments. While these treatments can provide hope and will be effective for some patients, there are real risks associated with ketamine use, especially long-term. There are also high financial costs to consider. »

DiStefano says he hopes to soon conduct a national survey with expanded analysis.