KetaminTherapieZentrum (Schmerzmedizin Luzern)
Luzern, Switzerland
Treatment & access
- Treatments offeredIV ketamine for chronic pain · IV ketamine for severe depression · Esketamine (Spravato) nasal spray · Stellate ganglion blocks for PTSD · tDCS for depression and chronic pain · Interventional pain therapy
- Access routeprivate_pay
- Price informationNo prices are published on the provider's website. The practice states that because ketamine is not approved in Switzerland for depression, basic insurance (Grundversicherung) does not cover it: treatment prescribed by the treating psychiatrist is performed for self-payers, and patients with supplementary insurance can apply to their insurer for a cost contribution. For esketamine nasal spray, the treating psychiatrist must establish the indication and file the cost approval request (Kostengutsprache) with the insurer.
- Phone+41 41 500 73 20
- Websitehttps://schmerzmedizinluzern.ch
About this provider
The KetaminTherapieZentrum is a service of SchmerzMedizinLuzern, a pain medicine practice in Lucerne led by Dr. med. Patrick Willimann. Drawing on more than ten years of experience with ketamine in pain therapy and anesthesia-trained medical and nursing staff, it treats chronic pain and severe depression with intravenous ketamine and is certified for administering intranasal esketamine (Spravato), approved in Switzerland since 2020 as a third-line treatment for severe depression. For depression, the indication must come from the treating psychiatrist, who also files the insurer cost approval request. It additionally offers stellate ganglion blocks for PTSD and tDCS for depression and pain, with day-clinic care in the practice and inpatient treatment available at Hirslanden Klinik St. Anna.
Services & programs
- IV ketamine for chronic painIntravenous ketamine, approved in Switzerland for decades as an analgesic and anesthetic, used for chronic and difficult-to-treat pain within a multimodal pain therapy concept. Not published on the provider's website.
- IV ketamine for severe depressionPerformed when prescribed by the treating psychiatrist; because ketamine is not approved for depression in Switzerland, treatment is for self-payers, with supplementary-insured patients able to apply to their insurer for a cost contribution. The practice also offers a gentle, slowly dose-escalating esketamine infusion to test response in risk patients or after an initial insurer refusal. Self-pay per the provider; basic insurance does not cover it. No prices published.
- Esketamine (Spravato) nasal sprayThe practice states it is certified for applying intranasal esketamine, approved in Switzerland since 2020 as a third-line treatment for severe depression. Typical schedule: two sessions per week for four weeks, with intervals extended on success; Swissmedic-required safety measures such as regular blood pressure monitoring are observed, and contraindications include prior stroke, recent heart attack and current suicidality. Insurer cost approval must be requested by the treating psychiatrist; conditions include treatment-resistant depression and failure of at least two antidepressants from different classes at adequate dose and duration. No prices published.
- Stellate ganglion blocks for PTSDUltrasound-guided local anesthetic blocks of the stellate ganglion, planned as a series and performed only in agreement with the treating psychiatric professionals as one element of PTSD care. Not published on the provider's website.
- tDCS for depression and painNon-invasive, non-pharmacological transcranial direct current stimulation offered for treatment-resistant depression, medication intolerance and chronic pain. Not published on the provider's website.
Programs & studies
| Program | Kind | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Esketamine (Spravato) nasal spray administration | esketamine_nasal | certified for administration (per provider) |
| IV ketamine for depression | ketamine_iv | offered on psychiatrist prescription |
| IV ketamine for chronic pain | ketamine_iv_pain | offered |
Pricing
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| IV ketamine for depression | Not published |
| Esketamine nasal spray | Not published |
Facilities & languages
- Facilities
- Practice on the 2nd floor of the Romerohaus, Kreuzbuchstrasse 44, 6006 Lucerne
- Day-clinic care available in the practice; inpatient treatment available at Hirslanden Klinik St. Anna
- Open Mon/Tue/Thu 08:00-12:00 and 13:00-17:00, Wed 08:00-11:00, Fri 08:00-12:00 and 13:00-16:00
- LanguagesWebsite in German with French and Italian language versions.
- TeamMedical lead is Dr. med. Patrick Willimann; the team's physicians and nurses are anesthesia-trained, with over ten years of experience using ketamine in pain therapy.
Common questions
Does insurance pay for ketamine against depression here?
No. The practice states that because ketamine is not approved in Switzerland for treating depression, the basic insurance does not cover the costs. If the treatment is prescribed by the treating psychiatrist it can be carried out for self-payers, and patients with supplementary insurance can apply to their insurer for a cost contribution.
What about esketamine (Spravato) coverage?
The treating psychiatrist must establish the indication and file the cost approval request with the insurer. Conditions include a diagnosis of treatment-resistant depression and unsuccessful use of at least two antidepressants from two different classes at sufficient dose and duration.
How do I get treated - can I refer myself?
For depression treatments the indication must come from the treating psychiatrist, and the practice offers to answer psychiatrists' questions directly (041 500 73 20 / schmerzmedizin@hin.ch). For pain conditions the practice runs its own consultation with physician referral and self-referral routes.
Is treatment outpatient or inpatient?
Treatments are outpatient at the practice, complemented by day-clinic care in the practice and, where needed, inpatient treatment at Hirslanden Klinik St. Anna.
How does an esketamine course typically run?
Therapy usually starts with two sessions per week for four weeks, with intervals extended if the therapy succeeds. Each session includes Swissmedic-required safety measures such as regular blood pressure measurement, since strong blood pressure rises and dissociative states are very common side effects.
Verification
- License / registryPublic trial registry (ClinicalTrials.gov / EU CTIS)
- Sourcehttps://schmerzmedizinluzern.ch
- Last verified