What to Expect from Ketamine Therapy Treatments

Ketamine therapy is an effective way to treat a range of psychiatric conditions, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), especially when you aren’t responding well to medications.

Our providers at Klarity Clinic can also use ketamine infusions as part of your treatment plan for drug or alcohol addiction. If you’re planning to undergo ketamine therapy, understanding what to expect ahead of time can relieve any worries you might have.

What to know about ketamine

Ketamine is a prescription medication that works directly on your brain to relieve symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric conditions. The medication creates new neural pathways to provide lasting symptom relief, so you can enjoy a higher quality, happier life.

Ketamine also rapidly increases the levels of glutamate, the large neurotransmitters in your brain that support normal brain function.

Delivering precise amounts of ketamine into your bloodstream through an intravenous (IV) line is the most efficient way to treat your symptoms.

What happens before your ketamine treatment

Ahead of your treatment, you meet with our Klarity Clinic team to ensure ketamine therapy is the right treatment for you. Typically, candidates for this type of therapy haven’t found symptom relief with traditional antidepressant or anti-anxiety medications and counseling.

You also complete a treatment questionnaire and need to show documentation that you have an established relationship with a mental health provider or an addiction counselor.

Our team coordinates your ketamine infusion therapy with your therapist or physician, so everyone is on the same page about your treatment. This ensures you have the support you need to recover from addiction or a psychiatric condition successfully.

We also prioritize your health and safety and may recommend that you stop using certain medications in advance of your infusions to prevent complications. Be sure to follow the instructions your physician provides in the days leading up to your treatment regarding your medications. You may also need to fast several hours before your visit to prevent nausea.

What to expect during ketamine infusion therapy

Most ketamine treatment plans involve a series of six infusions over the course of two weeks. Typically, you can expect to need an infusion every other day to maximize your treatment outcomes. The Klarity Clinic team may also recommend maintenance infusions every few months to support long-lasting symptom relief.

On the day of your first infusion, you need to bring a friend along who can drive you home and keep an eye on you for a few hours. Our providers start an IV in your arm, leg, or hand and connect it to a bag that contains ketamine and other fluids.

Infusions usually take about an hour, and you can relax in a chair or bed. We carefully monitor your vital signs throughout your treatment and can address any issues you have. After our providers remove your IV, you can expect to rest for up to 30 minutes before you can go home.

It’s common to experience mild nausea, blurry vision, or dizziness during or soon after the infusion ends. Some people also experience temporary hallucinations. We prepare you in advance for what to expect and how to manage any side effects ketamine causes.

Call the Klarity Clinic office near you to learn more about the benefits of ketamine infusion therapy, or book an appointment online today.