What to expect with Ketamine

What to expect with Ketamine? Your first step is to call for a free phone consultation where we will answer your questions and evaluate if we feel you could possibly benefit from ketamine infusions.  This will take 10-15 minutes.  If you decide to proceed, we will send you the appropriate forms to fill out and review your information.  We can do this all electronically or make an in-person appointment where you can fill out the paperwork with our assistance.  Once you have filled out a few simple forms, we work to obtain the information we need to assure your safety for treatment, this usually takes 2-5 days.  After we have devised an individual treatment plan you can begin your infusions.  The first appointment you can expect 1 ½ -2 hour time commitment in which the treatment plan is discussed.  At this appointment you will  receive your first infusion of ketamine. You can anticipate a series of treatments after that over the next month. The initial series is usually 2 appointments per week for 2 weeks, then 1 appointment a week for the following 2 weeks. These appointments will typically last 1-1 ½ hours.  The number of treatments and time period to accomplish them may vary from person to person depending on current medications and condition being treated.  During the infusions most people report a restful, peaceful state where their minds wander without worry and  may see vivid colors, shapes or feel like they are floating. This is referred to as dissociation and ranges from mild to moderate.  After the session you may feel foggy for a short period of time which usually resolves within in 1-2 hours.  There are other possible side effects that we are equipped to immediately treat such as nausea or headaches. A full review of pre-infusion, intra-infusion and post-infusion expectations are reviewed with you verbally and in writing. 

Is it necessary to have a series or continued infusions?  What to expect with Ketamine therapy produces proteins that repair neural connections, this is known as synaptic plasticity.  As these connections are strengthened and repaired, brains are better able to handle stress and depression.   The initial series is needed to jumpstart and cement new pathways, then, just like any medication, ketamine needs to be intermittently infused to be effective.  This is what to expect with Ketamine. Our guidelines are recommended by the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and pain medicine, the American Academy of Pain Medicine, American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, and the American Society of Anesthesiologist.  Our protocols are recommended by the largest ketamine infusion clinics in the United States.  This is what to expect with Ketamine. 

What to expect with Ketamine