Isha Health

Isha Health is a San Francisco telemedicine practice that prescribes ketamine for use at home, as part of ketamine-assisted therapy for depression, anxiety and PTSD. It serves California and several other states, including Colorado, Georgia, Oregon, Texas and Washington.

Approach

Founder Dr. Mai Shimada holds board certification in two specialties, studied medicine at the University of Tokyo, carried out postdoctoral research at Harvard and has provided ketamine care since 2013. She works with Dr. Akua Brown, a board-certified physician focused on trauma-informed and integrative mental health care. The physician assesses the patient, prescribes the medicine and monitors treatment, while a therapist trained in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, either the patient’s own or one from a network of more than 600 clinicians, handles preparation and integration. The ketamine is a tablet taken under the tongue, lying down at home.

Who it is for

It treats depression, including treatment-resistant cases, anxiety and PTSD, especially where standard treatment has not helped. It says it has long served LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC clients, immigrants and neurodiverse people, and its doctors speak English, Japanese and Spanish. It warns that ketamine can worsen psychotic symptoms in people with serious mental disorders.

Practical details

New patients need a referral from a collaborating therapist. The first 60-minute video consultation costs $398, down from $796, and 30-minute follow-ups also cost $398. Medication from a compounding pharmacy costs $50 to $150 for a 30-day supply. Insurance is not accepted, but HSA and FSA payments and superbills for reimbursement are.

Care and safety

Treatment starts with an assessment of medical history, medication and social circumstances, with labs or an EKG when clinically needed. The practice advises having a support person present for the first two sessions and not driving for at least 12 hours afterwards. Progress is tracked with standard depression and anxiety questionnaires.