Frequently Asked Questions

During your consultation, we will review your medical history to determine if ketamine could be an option for you. There are a few situations where ketamine may not be indicated for safety reasons.

Who is not a candidate for ketamine?

Patients with the following conditions:

• Uncontrolled hypertension
• Severe lung, liver or heart disease
• Active schizophrenia or psychosis
• Epilepsy or history of seizures
• Active suicidal ideations
• Pregnant or breastfeeding

Other conditions determined by the provider or medical director

Ketamine, in low-doses and in an appropriate monitored setting, is a very safe medication. Of course all medications have some risks and we’ll discuss those with you during your initial consultation. To ensure safety, your ketamine session is prescribed by a medical doctor and administered by a registered nurse. Your blood pressure, heart rate, heart rhythm and blood oxygen levels will be monitored throughout the session.

Currently, we can only treat patients 18 years of age and older.

The most common side effects of ketamine are increased blood pressure and heart rate, although increases are usually small and do not last long. We will monitor your vital signs before, during, and after your ketamine session and can treat your blood pressure if necessary.

Less common side effects are mild dizziness and nausea. We can help with these symptoms to make the experience as comfortable as possible.

We have everything available to ensure your session is comfortable and enjoyable, including reclining chairs, eye masks, noise cancelling headphones, and lighting and aroma therapy intended to enhance the ketamine experience.

We begin by obtaining a set of vital signs, reviewing your treatment plan and answering any questions. If you are receiving an infusion, an IV will be started in your hand or arm. We will discuss your goal for your ketamine session and assist you as you prepare for your session. Once all pre-procedures steps are complete and you are ready, the ketamine will be administered.

Most people remain in the therapy room for about an hour. Afterwards, your IV will be removed and once you have recovered you will be able to leave with a responsible adult to drive you home.

We ask that you refrain from eating any food 6 hours before your ketamine session. You may have clear liquids up until 2 hours before your sessions ( Water, black coffee, tea or gatorade would all be fine) You must have a responsible adult drive you home. Wear comfortable clothes, slip on shoes and feel free to bring any comfort items like a blanket. Most importantly, identify an intention for the particular sessions. Having a goal for the therapy can help the experience be more focused.

Generally ketamine therapy consists of 6-8 sessions over the course of 2-4 weeks. After your initial treatment plan, we hope you’ll be feeling much better. For many patients, continued work with their mental health provider and lifestyle modification may be all that is required to maintain the progress. Others may require a booster infusion after a period of time. There is not right or wrong method for follow up; everyone responds a bit differently.

Ketamine is certainly an investment. We will always aim to keep a competitive price for our services. Some of the factors that go into the cost are the medical staff (an experienced physician and Registered Nurse), medical equipment for safe monitoring and administration, and all of the operating costs for a licensed, insured business. Additionally our cost includes 1 preparation session and 3-4 integration sessions with a personal coach or therapist.