A remarkable story of Ritalin addiction, depression and suicidality - ketamine infusions were the turning point.

Tessa was a 28-year-old economics masters student. The day she was first prescribed Ritalin 10mg changed her life...for the worse. Months later and Tessa would take an astonishing 90 - 120 Ritalin tablets most days, simply to function. She became anxious, paranoid and suicidal. Weeks at rehab did not work. She relapsed. After treatments at a KCSA clinic, Tessa remarked:

"those six infusions have given me my life back."

Read Tessa's remarkable story

“It feels like I have been rebooted and restored to factory settings!”

KCSA reached a milestone in August 2021 2000- ketamine infusions!

A great big THANK YOU to all of the doctors, anaesthetists, nurses and administrators at KCSA branches around the country ... and of course all of our wonderful patients who have given us the privilege of helping them during the past 19-months. It has been incredibly rewarding. Another THANK YOU to the psychiatrists and doctors who have entrusted their patients to our care. KCSA has forged very special relationships with many of you.

From humble beginnings in a temporary clinic with creaky floors and a wooden plinth, to four state-of-the-art branches in three provinces (and more to come), KCSA has endured COVID, lockdowns, riots and reduced hours in reaching the memorable milestone of 2000 ketamine infusions last month. Well done everyone, and we look forward to the next 2000!

Dr Alan Howard
(Founder and National Medical Director, Ketamine Clinics of South Africa)

Professor Christopher Szabo

Specialist Psychiatrist and Honorary Professor Department of Psychiatry, University of the Witwatersrand
Emeritus Professor Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand
Editor in Chief South African Psychiatry

"No one can dispute the need for an agent that can provide such relief."

On reaching the milestone of 2000-ketamine infusions, KCSA approached Professor Szabo and asked for his views on ketamine. To read his comments on the emerging role of ketamine infusions in psychiatric practice, click the link below.

KCSA currently offers outpatient ketamine infusions at the following locations:

BEDFORDVIEW (GP)

CONSTANTIA (WC)

UMHLANGA (KZN)

HILTON (KZN)

Contact a KCSA branch

Specialist psychiatrist Maria Dobreva offers her perspective on ketamine infusions.

Dr Maria Dobreva has practiced psychiatry in Pietermaritzburg for over 20-years. She offers perspective on her experience with ketamine and the positive impact of an accessible outpatient ketamine clinic on her private practice.

Link to the article

KCSA National Medical Director Dr Alan Howard participates in a SADAG webinar.

KCSA founder, Dr Alan Howard, was invited to address over 170 SADAG (South African Depression and Anxiety Group) counsellors and support group leaders on Saturday 28th August. He stressed the relevance of outpatient ketamine infusion as a rescue option for suicidal patients, and answered questions from counsellors.

Link to the talk

Ketamine Neurotoxicity
Investigating the long-term safety profile of ketamine administration.

A seminal study published in Neurotoxicology and Teratology earlier this year concludes that racemic ketamine (even at very high doses) in rats, does not cause Olney's lesions (NMDAR antagonist neurotoxicity) leading to neuronal death, as was previously postulated. Neither did (2R-6R)-HNK, racemic ketamine's main metabolite.

Link to the article

In the next newsletter..

Low-dose ketamine infusions show enormous promise as an adjunct in Parkinson's Disease

More than 7-million patients are affected by Parkinson's Disease worldwide.

Quite apart from the benefits for associated depression and neuropathic pain, ketamine has been shown to alleviate dyskinesia induced by levodopa (LID) in Parkinson's patients.

In the next newsletter, we link to case studies and further information.

How did KCSA start in South Africa?

Ketamine Clinics of South Africa (KCSA) was founded by Dr Alan Howard, a Consultant in Emergency Medicine who returned home permanently to his native South Africa from Ireland in 2019.

To read more about Dr Howard and KCSA's flagship clinic in the Natal Midlands in two informative articles published in South African Psychiatry click on the link below.

Read about the start of KCSA

View past newsletters