Patients Say Ketamine Beat Years of Prozac Use

Patients Describe Ketamine Outperforming Years on Prozac

An exclusive report published by the New York Post on October 15, 2026, quotes patients who say an FDA-approved ketamine treatment relieved their depression more effectively than years spent on Prozac (fluoxetine), a widely used SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) antidepressant. The original New York Post report is available here.

The supplied description does not specify which patients were interviewed, how many, or what diagnostic criteria were used to judge improvement. This is patient testimony collected by a newspaper, not a peer-reviewed clinical trial. That distinction matters for anyone using this story to make a treatment decision.

Which Ketamine Treatment Is Actually FDA-Approved

The phrase "FDA-approved ketamine treatment" almost certainly refers to esketamine, sold under the brand name Spravato, which is the only ketamine-derived medication the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved specifically for depression. The FDA approved esketamine nasal spray in 2019 for treatment-resistant depression in adults, meaning patients who had not responded to at least two prior antidepressants, and it is prescribed alongside an oral antidepressant rather than as a standalone therapy. In 2020, the FDA expanded that approval to include depressive symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder who have suicidal thoughts or actions.

This is different from generic intravenous (IV) or intramuscular ketamine infusions offered at many standalone clinics. Those use the full racemic ketamine molecule rather than the S-enantiomer isolated in esketamine, and they are administered off-label, meaning a doctor is prescribing an FDA-approved drug for a use the FDA has not specifically reviewed or approved. IV ketamine clinics operate legally under standard off-label prescribing practice, but readers should not assume every ketamine clinic they encounter is delivering the same FDA-reviewed product described in reports like this one.

What the Prozac Comparison Does and Doesn't Show

Patients telling a reporter that ketamine worked better than Prozac is a real and useful data point, but it is not equivalent to a head-to-head clinical trial comparing the two drugs directly. SSRIs like Prozac and ketamine-based treatments work through different mechanisms: SSRIs primarily act on serotonin reuptake over weeks, while ketamine affects NMDA receptor signaling and can produce measurable mood changes within hours to days in some patients. That speed is a documented reason some patients and prescribers turn to ketamine-based options after SSRIs have failed, rather than evidence that ketamine is superior for every patient or every form of depression.

It's also worth noting that esketamine's approval was built on trials specifically in treatment-resistant populations, people who had already tried standard antidepressants without adequate relief. A patient who found Prozac insufficient after years of use fits the profile the FDA approval was designed for, which helps explain why their experience lines up with the drug's intended indication.

What Readers Comparing Treatments Should Do Next

If you've been on an SSRI like Prozac for an extended period without full relief, your path toward a ketamine-based option typically starts with a few concrete steps rather than a single decision:

Ask whether you qualify as treatment-resistant. Esketamine's FDA approval applies to adults who have not responded to at least two different antidepressants at adequate doses. If you haven't tried that many, a prescriber may suggest other options first.

Clarify which product you'd be receiving. Esketamine nasal spray is dispensed only in certified medical offices or clinics under direct observation, with a required two-hour monitoring period after each dose, because of the FDA's risk mitigation requirements. IV ketamine infusions, administered off-label, vary more widely by clinic in dosing protocol, monitoring, and staff credentials, so ask directly about the facility's monitoring procedures and the prescriber's experience with the specific route being offered.

Check cost and insurance coverage separately. Esketamine is more likely to have insurance coverage pathways tied to its FDA-approved indication, while off-label IV ketamine infusions are frequently billed as self-pay and can range widely in price depending on the clinic and region. Ask for a written cost breakdown before starting a course of treatment.

Treat personal testimony as one input, not a verdict. Stories like the one in the New York Post report are useful for understanding what patients experience, but your own response will depend on your diagnosis, treatment history, and the specific protocol a licensed provider recommends. Discuss your SSRI history, including Prozac or other antidepressants you've tried, directly with a prescriber experienced in ketamine-based therapies before making a decision.