Ketamine has been used for the past 50 years, mostly during surgeries, as an anesthetic agent. Recently, Ketamine has been used to help patients with several conditions like depressive disorders, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, migraine headaches, anxiety, and PTSD. The low dosage infusions are very effective in these patients. Ketamine acts differently from other mood improvement and pain medications, SSRIs, tricyclics, MAOIs, benzodiazepines, and other antidepressant or anti-anxiety medications.
FAQs
01What is Ketamine?
02Is Ketamine safe?
Yes, Ketamine has an extensive safety profile and is used commonly in hospitals and clinics. It preserves the patient’s vital signs and is exceptionally safe when administered by certified anesthesia providers such as anesthesiologists.
03What are the common side effects of Ketamine infusion?
A tiny percentage of the patients receiving Ketamine infusions might experience nausea and headaches after the treatment. Therefore, all our patients will receive two medications (Zofran and Decadron) to prevent nausea. We also add Toradol (an anti-inflammatory medication like aspirin and ibuprofen) as an effective treatment for possible headaches.
04How does Ketamine work?
Ketamine acts differently from other mood improvement and pain medications, SSRIs, tricyclics, MAOIs, benzodiazepines, and other antidepressant or anti-anxiety medications.
One likely target for ketamine is NMDA receptors in the brain. By binding to these receptors, ketamine appears to increase the amount of a neurotransmitter called glutamate in the spaces between neurons. Glutamate then activates connections in another receptor, called the AMPA receptor. Together, the initial blockade of NMDA receptors and activation of AMPA receptors lead to the release of other molecules that help neurons communicate with each other along new pathways. Known as synaptogenesis, this process likely affects mood, thought patterns, and cognition.
01What is the infusion session like?
Before each infusion session, we will record your baseline vital signs, including blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and temperature. You will be seated in one of our cozy and comfortable exam rooms. IV access will be obtained for the infusion. The infusion generally takes 60 minutes. You won’t be interrupted while your vital signs will be monitored every 10 minutes. After the infusion, you will usually need 10-15 minutes to recover, although this might take only a few minutes in some patients.
02Am I going to be awake during the infusion session?
Am I going to be awake during the infusion session?
Ketamine will not put you to sleep. But if you are already sleepy and relaxed, you might take a short nap during the treatment.
03How will I feel during my treatment?
Some patients report changes in their thought processes, vision, or speech. Dissociation from the body is a known way of describing the effects of Ketamine infusions on your body. Some other people describe it as a dreamlike state.
04How long will be a typical treatment session?
Our Ketamine infusion session lasts 60 minutes. You also need approximately 15 minutes after the session to be discharged.
The length of time for an IV vitamin therapy is less and will be about 15 minutes.
05Can you eat or drink before coming to the clinic?
For safety, do not eat solid foods for at least 6 hours before your treatment. However, you can have clear liquids (water, tea, coffee, apple juice, etc.) up to 2 hours before your treatment.
01How fast does the treatment start to work?
Some patients feel the positive effects of treatment right after the session. The average time to noticeable benefits is from the same day to 48 hrs later. The number of treatments also influences the time to chronic relief.
02How long do the benefits of Ketamine treatment last?
The duration of efficacy for Ketamine treatments depends on the number of infusions received and the person receiving them. This is because every person has specific brain chemistry and comes from a different background regarding life events, upbringing, etc.
03What is Ketamine infusion success rate?
For patients with Depression or PTSD, Ketamine infusion treatments have an approximately 85% success rate. For patients with chronic pain, several factors affect the success rate. We discuss your chances and the efficacy of Ketamine in our consultation session.
04Can you drive after the treatment?
Based on medical guidelines, driving on the day of treatment is unsafe. You need a ride home. Please plan it before coming to the clinic. This can be either a family, friend or ride-sharing service. You must be taken home by a responsible adult.
01Does insurance cover the treatment?
Currently, most insurances do not cover Ketamine as a treatment option for depression or chronic pain. However, if you request, we will provide you with documentation for treatment so that you may attempt to get reimbursed.
02How many Ketamine infusion treatments do work for you?
The typical treatment plan includes 5-6 infusions over three weeks. After that, further maintenance treatments on a weekly or monthly basis are as-needed. However, most patients need maintenance infusion approximately every 4-5 weeks.
01What medical conditions can prevent a patient from receiving Ketamine treatment?
Ketamine is beneficial for many people, even with serious illnesses. But like any medical procedure, some contraindications and conditions prevent the patients from having it.
These conditions would be:
- Poorly controlled high blood pressure, severe heart failure, or unstable cardiac disease
- A recent heart attack
- Pregnancy
- A recent stroke
- History of allergic reactions to Ketamine
- Uncontrolled seizures
- Glaucoma
- Hyperactive thyroid
- Active manic or psychotic symptoms
- No support person to take you home from the clinic or care for you at home
02Should you stop your other medications?
Dr. Borna will discuss your medications with you in the free consultation session and plan any adjustments if needed. For example, for some medications, you might need to reduce the doses before having Ketamine treatment to achieve the best result.
