If you’ve ever Googled who is not a good candidate for ketamine therapy, odds are you were met with either vague blog posts or anxiety-inducing Reddit threads. But here’s the real answer: being a good candidate for ketamine therapy isn’t about guessing. It’s about precision medicine, clinical judgment, and doing the work upfront to make sure the treatment is right for you.
That’s what Rewired Ketamine does best. Headquartered in Aventura, Florida, under the guidance of Dr. David Silverstone, Rewired has built the most comprehensive ketamine screening system in South Florida. It’s not about how many patients they treat—it’s about treating the right ones safely.
Let’s get into it. Here’s a transparent, medically grounded look at who is not a good candidate for ketamine therapy—and how Rewired Ketamine makes that call with expertise and ethics.
Who Is Not a Good Candidate for Ketamine Therapy: Medical Red Flags
Certain conditions make ketamine therapy unsafe—full stop. At Rewired Ketamine, absolute contraindications are non-negotiable:
- Uncontrolled hypertension or cardiac instability
- Active substance use disorders, including alcohol and opioids
- Current pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Severe psychiatric emergencies requiring hospitalization
- Dangerous medication interactions, especially with MAOIs
- Respiratory issues or anesthesia-related risks
This isn’t about gatekeeping. It’s about protecting lives. Rewired’s intake process isn’t a formality—it’s a comprehensive safeguard.
Who Is Not a Good Candidate for Ketamine Therapy: Rewired’s Step-by-Step Screening
Most clinics stop at a basic form. Rewired takes it 10 steps further:
- Complete medical history and documentation
- Vitals and physical assessments
- Lab work when necessary to evaluate organ function
- Full psychiatric intake, including suicidality and stability checks
- Medication reviews to flag interaction risks
- Consent process to ensure patient understanding
Every one of these steps exists to answer one question with certainty: is this patient medically and psychologically ready for ketamine therapy?
Who Is Not a Good Candidate for Ketamine Therapy: The Cardiac Cutoff
Ketamine can increase blood pressure and heart rate. That’s why Rewired Ketamine screens intensively for:
- Severe coronary artery disease
- Recent heart attack or stroke
- Arrhythmias or pacemaker complications
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure
If your heart isn’t in the right place—literally and medically—ketamine isn’t the right choice yet. Rewired refers out to cardiologists when needed, ensuring treatment happens only when the risk is manageable.
Who Is Not a Good Candidate for Ketamine Therapy: Substance Use History
Ketamine can be abused. That’s why active addiction is an absolute no-go.
Rewired screens for:
- Recent drug or alcohol use
- Past ketamine misuse
- Poly-drug dependency
They also assess stability post-rehab. You need to be grounded before entering therapy that alters consciousness. If you’re not there yet, they’ll help you find the right first step—before ketamine.
Who Is Not a Good Candidate for Ketamine Therapy: Psychiatric Complexities
This one’s nuanced. Not all mental health issues disqualify you, but certain ones do:
- Untreated psychosis
- Bipolar mania
- Severe cognitive impairment
- Inability to give informed consent
Rewired’s psychiatric evaluations are deep. Their team understands how ketamine affects perception and cognition, and they’ll only proceed when it’s safe for both mind and body.
Who Is Not a Good Candidate for Ketamine Therapy: Pregnancy and Medications
Ketamine therapy is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding due to potential risks to the fetus or infant. Rewired screens for reproductive health and aligns treatment plans accordingly.
Medication-wise? It’s all about interaction risks. Dangerous mixes—especially with benzodiazepines, blood pressure meds, and certain antidepressants—are ruled out.
Who Is Not a Good Candidate for Ketamine Therapy: Psychological Readiness and Social Stability
Sometimes the body is ready, but the mind or the environment isn’t. Rewired screens for:
- Unrealistic expectations
- Lack of an emotional support system
- Housing instability or unreliable transportation
- Fear of the dissociative experience
Ketamine therapy requires presence, reflection, and follow-through. If someone can’t engage with the process fully, Rewired pauses until they can.
Who Is Not a Good Candidate for Ketamine Therapy: It’s a Decision Made With You
This isn’t about being rejected—it’s about being respected. If you’re not a good candidate today, that could change. Health improves. Circumstances shift. Rewired reassesses when it’s safe to do so.
Their promise? Zero pressure. No upsells. No shortcuts. Just honest, data-driven care that’s as invested in your safety as it is in your outcome.
Still Wondering Who Is Not a Good Candidate for Ketamine Therapy? Let’s Talk.
Call Rewired Ketamine at 786-465-8175 to schedule a comprehensive candidacy evaluation. The best treatment starts with the best decisions—and Rewired is built to help you make them.
Rewired Ketamine isn’t just about hope. It’s about safe, evidence-based hope, backed by protocols, people, and principles that put patient safety first.
Because knowing who is not a good candidate for ketamine therapy is just as important as knowing who is.
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