%402x.svg)
To see if Ketamine is a good solution for you without committing to multiple treatments, we offer an introductory ketamine IV infusion and consultation with our expert medical provider at our premier clinic for only $375! If you decide to sign up for the 6-8 recommended treatments over a course of 6-8 weeks (shorter for international patients), it works out to $3,025 - $3,925 respectively. Consider this a very wise investment in your health. This includes the cost of the medication as well as its administration and monitoring.
Unfortunately, for the most part, insurances do not cover this treatment. This may change in the distant future as the FDA approve clinical trials currently underway for psychedelic medicine. Payments are expected in full at the time of treatment. We offer financing plans on a discretionary basis for those that need help.
We want this treatment to be accessible to as many people as possible and recognize that the upfront costs may be out of reach for some. We offer a "Get Well Now, Pay Later" plan and we are probably the only ketamine clinic to offer 0% interest, no credit check, no 3rd party financing company and only pay a minimum of $375 per month with a credit card kept on file. A contract is made directly with our office on a case by case basis. Call our office to find out more information.
Discovered in 1962, ketamine is an FDA approved synthetic compound used as an anesthetic and pain relieving drug. Ketamine has been used widely in emergency medicine, veterinary medicine, and wound care around the world and is currently listed as a Schedule III compound under DEA guidelines. It has also been used as a recreational drug and like many pharmaceuticals, can be dangerous if not administered properly under the care of trained medical professionals.Research since 2000 has found that when administered “off-label” in low doses, Ketamine addresses symptoms of mood spectrum disorders, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and bi-polar disorder. It is also used to address symptoms of severe pain. “Off-label” prescription is when a medicine is used to treat another condition outside of its original medical intent. This is legal and very common in the medical world with approximately 1 in 5 medicines being used off-label.
In addition, recently in 2019, the FDA approved the S(+) enantiomer of ketamine (esketamine) nasal spray version (Spravato®) for treatment-resistant depression that is only available at a certified doctor’s office or clinic.
Ketamine is legal for medical use as an FDA approved anesthetic in humans and animals in the United States and select countries worldwide. When used within the context of a surgical procedure or as prescribed by a licensed clinician, it is perfectly legal to use. Ketamine is currently listed as a Schedule III compound under DEA guidelines so its use is regulated meaning it can only be administered or prescribed by licensed clinicians with the authority and expertise to support its effective use.
Ketamine has been successfully and safely used on millions of patients in hospitals and clinics for decades. In a clinic setting, there are no known adverse or long term negative effects from ketamine administration. Ketamine is often used on the most vulnerable patients, including children and the elderly, due to its safe profile and minimal side effects. The World Health Organization has designated ketamine as one of the 100 most essential drugs in the world.
When using the calculated dosage, in a clinically-supervised setting, ketamine therapy is safe and well-tolerated, allowing individuals to receive the intended benefit of the treatment.
Ketamine in itself can be addictive when abused recreationally for those who have access to the drug in a non-medical environment. The longer the drug abuse, then a person’s tolerance to the drug may increase and therefore they may need more to get the same effect, which in turn could lead to a dependency.
However, in a medical setting, Ketamine is well documented to be a non-addictive medication. There is no physical dependency established with the use of ketamine during a treatment program, and when patients stop using the drug after a treatment, they do not experience symptoms of withdrawal .
Wear loose, comfortable clothing the day of your ketamine treatment. Please avoid any kind of solid foods and/or milk 4 hours prior to your ketamine infusion. You may drink clear liquids (i.e. water, fruit juices without pulp, carbonated beverages, tea, and black coffee) 2 hours before your infusion.
Avoid alcohol or the use of any illicit drugs. These substances are extremely dangerous in combination with ketamine. We also recommend to have someone take you home after treatment.
Common side effects of ketamine may include elevation in heart rate and blood pressure, confusion, disorientation, dissociation, loss of coordination, agitation, nausea, flashbacks, and tremors or shaking all of which dissipate within a short period post-infusion. A very small percentage of people may experience vomiting and we provide anti-nausea medication before the treatment to reduce the risk of this occurring.
New patients can expect to be in the clinic up to 2.5 hours, which includes intake, consultation with our expert doctor, the ketamine infusion and up to an hour of recovery of time before discharge.
Repeat patients can expect to be in the clinic for up to 2 hours.
Studies have shown that ketamine relieves depressive symptoms for 75% of patients with depression, including Major Depressive Disorder and Treatment-Resistant Major Depressive Disorder. This is compared to antidepressant prescription medications, which have shown to be effective in approximately 60% of people with depression. However, the anti-depressants often include extensive side effects and the relapse rate is high.
Some patients experience relief after one infusion, some experience relief after multiple infusions, and a small percentage of patients receive infusions without obtaining any relief. Each individual is unique, and the outcome of their infusion treatment plan may not match the results found in studies or experienced by other patients
The effects vary person by person. Our protocols and procedures have been fine-tuned to make the experience as comfortable as possible. In general, the treatments are very well tolerated and patients find the infusions to be enjoyable and relaxing.
The effects of the ketamine infusion are usually felt within a few minutes. Initially you may feel deeply relaxed, calm, a heaviness in your body, and a change of your usual sensations. You may experience vivid colors, geometric patterns or even dark abstract visuals that are continuously changing. You may feel like you're awake but at the same time in a different world. You may even feel a separation from your body and your verbal expression may become limited. Some patients revisit people, places, or events from their past.
It is important to know that even if you don’t feel that you had an outer-body experience during the infusion, it does not mean that ketamine won’t help your mood disorder. The “psychedelic” effects people associate with ketamine have no correlation with the drug's effects of changing the chemistry within your brain (neuroplasticity) to treat depression. So it’s perfectly okay if you don’t fully dissociate during the treatment.
These are the most typical responses from patients coming out of a treatment:
1. “Wow”
2. “I haven’t felt this relaxed in years.”
3. “This is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before.”
We recommend a foundational course of 6-8 treatments. If at any point in the future you feel like you are slipping back into a dark place, then you just come in for a booster treatment on an as needed basis. Booster patients typically come in anywhere from 2 -6 months.
For most patients, ketamine relieves depressive symptoms for an average of a few months after the foundational course, and In some cases, patients experience full remission of their depressive symptoms and do not feel the need to seek continued treatment. Patients may receive booster infusions on an as needed basis as depressive symptoms recur.
We work with each patient to identify a suitable maintenance program. Sometimes, this consists of a regular cadence of infusions according to a patient’s needs and schedule. Some patients find that their need for boosters becomes less frequent over time.
Ketamine boosters may be given for as long as needed with no known long-term side effects.
The ideal long-term impact is a permanent transformation back to your true inner self. Therefore, integration is an important part of treatment. Ketamine treatment is only an opening, you need to continue the work to make the changes you want to see last.
Ketamine will not be effective in addressing depressive symptoms for patients actively taking Benzodiazepines (trade names: Valium, Klonopin, Xanax, or Ativan) and Lamotrigine. A handful of other medications may interact with ketamine such as Clozapine, Risperidone and Haloperidol.
We discuss medication history with each patient before treatment, and work with healthcare partners to suggest modifications of existing medication as appropriate.
While starting ketamine infusion therapy, the concurrent use of other antidepressant medications will not interfere with ketamine's effectiveness of addressing depressive symptoms, nor will it cause negative medication interactions.
Many patients who experience relief from ketamine have found that over time, they can reduce or eliminate other antidepressant medications. We advise each patient to tailor their unique medical treatment plan in partnership with their prescribing physician.
If you are experiencing any of the following conditions you will not be able to receive infusion:
• Uncontrolled high blood pressure.
• Unstable heart disease (arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, chest pain etc.).
• Respiratory issues.
• Active substance abuse.
• Active manic phase of bipolar disorder.
• Allergy to anesthetics (Ketamine).
• Brain trauma.
Once the infusion is over, the unusual sensations fade gradually over the next 20 minutes. Occasionally patients may feel a little nausea or dizziness, which is relieved with time and can also be treated with medications if appropriate. You may notice positive effects as soon as 30 minutes post infusion but typically improvements begin several hours post-treatment. The effects of a single infusion typically last up to two weeks.
Due to the drowsiness you will feel post-treatment, we do not recommend driving. You can Uber or have a friend or family member take you home.
No! It is most important to continue seeing your therapist during the ketamine treatment program in order to best integrate and interpret your experiences so you can heal faster. If you don’t have a therapist we can refer one.
If some time after the initial series of six to eight infusions you feel that your mood may be slipping downwards then we offer the option of a booster infusion on an as needed basis. Remission from mood disorders varies with individuals but can last from a couple of months to years.