New Patient Information

You’ll come in for your appointment having all your questions about the infusions answered by one of the board-certified physicians on our team. If you would like to clear up any final questions prior to your session, please give us a call.

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Before Arriving for Treatment

• For the first infusion, please have nothing to eat for at least 6 hours prior. You may drink water up until 2 hours prior to the infusion. Hydration can help make placing an IV easy.

• We recommend bringing headphones/earpods to listen to music during the infusion. We recommend lyric-less, calming music, similar to music you would listen to at a spa. There are also ketamine playlists available on youtube and spotify.

• Consider bringing a blanket and sleep masks/eye shades, as some patients find it comforting to use these items during the infusion. Some of these items may be available at our office for your use, depending on location.

• Please arrive at your appointment 15 minutes before the treatment start time.

 

When You Arrive for Treatment

• Our staff will greet you and ensure that your consent forms and assessments have been completed, and direct you to your treatment room.

• Place your phone on "Do Not Disturb" or airplane mode. We do NOT recommend texting during the infusion and also phone calls during them may interrupt the experience.

• We do recommend a bit of mental preparation prior to the infusion. Similar to stretching before a workout or exercise, mentally preparing yourself for each infusion will make the experience that much more pleasant.

 

Setting Up Before the Infusion

• Our staff will direct you to get comfortable in a reclining chair, perhaps offering a weighted blanket, headphones, and/or eyeshades.

• Next, a licensed nurse or physician on our team will place an IV. Once the IV has been established, they will start the IV pump.

• We will start with a standardized dose of ketamine, infused over 40 minutes. Your dosage may fluctuate throughout the course of your treatment based on your experience, which will be determined by the physician overseeing the treatment.

 

During The Infusion

• You will start to experience the effects of ketamine about 10 minutes after the infusion begins.

• While every patient’s experience is different, many people describe feeling relaxed, tired, or like they are floating. You may have double vision, see colors more brightly, or experience mild hallucinogenic mind-body sensations. Most people find the infusions to be pleasant, but for those not accustomed to the experience, it’s normal to feel a bit anxious during the infusion. Our team will be there to guide your journey, ensuring you that ketamine is an incredibly safe medication with little medical risks.

• Ketamine can produce feelings of nausea in some patients. If that happens, please let our team know, and they will administer anti-nausea medication.

• Your experience may vary from infusion to infusion. If you are ever uncomfortable, the staff is highly-trained and prepared to listen and offer compassionate care.

 

After the Infusion

• When the infusion is over, a member of our staff will stop the pump and remove the IV. You may hear the IV alarm sound. That signifies that the IV is complete - it does not indicate any problem.

• You will have about 15-20 minutes to recover in the infusion room. You can talk with a loved one about the experience, sit quietly, or listen to music.

• When you have recovered enough to walk steadily, one of our physicians will conduct a final welfare check to clear you to leave.

 

Recommendations

• Wear comfortable clothes.

• Bring calming or comforting music.

• Keep in mind that ketamine therapy is not a cure-all. The best results from our treatment are achieved when combined with other modalities of care such as talk therapy, mindfulness, medication, meditation, and more.