[Solved] Ketamine session without a prescription or referral

To answer this question properly, it is necessary to distinguish between medical ketamine treatments and the non-medical (legal) variants that we allow during our sessions.

Medical use of ketamine and Spravato®

In the Netherlands, ketamine (the best-known variant) falls entirely under the medical approach as a medicine and must always be administered under referral and medical supervision:

1. Spravato® (esketamine) may only be administered in licensed clinics, under the supervision of doctors. Medical monitoring is mandatory for at least two hours after each dose.

2. Racemic ketamine (intravenous or intranasal) is administered only within specialized ketamine clinics. It is never prescribed for home use.

3. A referral from a psychiatrist or general practitioner is always required to access these treatments.

In the United States, the rules are largely the same: Spravato may only be administered within licensed clinics. However, some doctors there prescribe racemic ketamine off-label (for example, in capsules or orally disintegrating bottles) so that patients can use it at home. This is not an official indication or treatment in the US, but it occurs regularly in practice.

Non-medical use at Triptherapie Netherlands

In addition to the full medical approach with ketamine, there is a legal alternative, namely a ketamine analogue. This substance is very similar to ketamine in terms of its effects, but does not fall under the Opium Act and is therefore not considered a medicine. That means:

1. You do not need a prescription or referral.

2. Sessions are available in the form of a private ketamine session, a group ceremony, or an integration with psycholytic dosing.

3. During these sessions, there is no medical treatment, but the emphasis is on personal growth, emotional processing, and spiritual self-exploration.

4. In advance, a intake done to check for contraindications.

5. No medical supervision is required, resulting in less regulatory burden and lower costs per session, but it is not reimbursed by health insurers.
6. It is not suitable for people who require medical supervision, for example with high blood pressure.

Conclusion

In the Netherlands, you cannot have an official ketamine or Spravato® session without a referral and a medical setting. At Triptherapie, however, it is possible to have a comparable experience with a legal ketamine analogue, without a prescription or a general practitioner. This does not fall under medical care, but we do offer the opportunity to experience the dissociative and therapeutic effects under the guidance of experienced staff.

See also:

1. The possibilities of ketamine analogues
2. Ketamine sessions
3. Special K
4. The ketamine experience?
5. Ketamine therapy