What to Expect

First and foremost, it is important to know that ketamine is a treatment for depression and not a cure.

Prior to Day of Infusion

Make sure you are adequately hydrated the DAY BEFORE. It is advised that you refrain from eating 6 hours prior to your appointment. You may drink water up to 2 hours prior to your appointment. Wear comfortable clothing. Please arrange for a trusted person (18 years or older) to drive you to and from your appointment.  

We advise that you avoid alcohol, recreational drugs, opioids, stimulants, sedative, hypnotics, and/or muscle relaxants for 72hrs BEFORE AND FOLLOWING your appointment.

You may continue your other prescribed medications as usual.

What to bring (optional)

It is ok to bring your own small blanket, headphones/ear pods, ear plugs, eye mask, iPads, and journal.

On Arrival

After check-in you will be taken to a private room, seated in a comfortable reclining chair. The atmosphere of the room is tranquil to ensure your comfort throughout the process.  

As the infusion begins the lights will be dimmed. You are welcome to bring your own music if you wish. Once underway you may choose to be left alone in the room or you are welcome to have a loved one sit with you.  Be assured your anesthesia provider will continually monitor your condition and respond to any needs. 

The infusion will last about 40 minutes, and you will remain awake and alert throughout the entire process. However, if you are receiving treatment for chronic pain, your session may last up to 4 hours. Some patients choose to relax and listen to music whereas others just choose to relax in silence.

You may experience a cooling sensation, light dizziness, nausea, or experience mild, non-threatening hallucinations during your session. If you do experience nausea, let your anesthesia provider know and they will administer an anti-nausea medication via IV.

Each infusion experience may be different… but patients have stated experiencing the following sensations that eventually wears off..

• Sensation of “lightness” or floating
• Intellectual detachment
• Decreased awareness of your body
• Visual and spacial distortions
• Inability to perceive time
• Talkativeness
• Dizziness or nausea in rare cases

Following the Infusion

After your session is over, we will monitor you for 30-minutes during which you may feel drowsy or mildly disoriented.

After recovery period we will discharge you into the care of a friend or family member. We ask that you do not drive or operate heavy machinery for 24-hours after your infusion. Any other side effects that you experience will wear off within 2-hours.

It is recommended that you undergo all 6 infusions over a three-week period in order to maximize the beneficial effects of the drug. It is not recommended to vary from this treatment protocol but we can make some adjustments to fit your personal schedule. 

After the initial series of infusions further “booster” treatments are determined on a case-by-case basis but are usually needed anywhere from every 2 weeks to 3 months.