Ketamine Process

Prior to booking a Ketamine session a mandatory pre-medication visit is required to review a client’s medical history and determine if the client qualifies as a candidate for Ketamine.

 For Intramuscular (IM) or Intravenous (IV) Ketamine:

In research, repeated Ketamine dosing results in a cumulative affect of the medication and it is recommended that a client receive 6 medication sessions for maximal symptom relief. Sessions are typically scheduled over a 3 week period, typically 2 days a week and this can be adjusted and modified. Most clients will feel an improvement after 3 sessions. A client can discontinue treatment at anytime.

Follow-up visits for ‘booster’ sessions are sometimes needed and will be scheduled on an individual bases. A follow-up medication session may be beneficial to some clients to help maintain the brain’s neuroconnectivity and neuroplasticity. The frequency is based on a clients symptoms and behavior scale screening scores that will be sent to a client 30 days after their initial Ketamine series is complete.

Instructions for day of Ketamine session:

No driving – You will be required to have someone drive you and pick you up on medication session day and it is recommended that you avoid social media, operating heavy equipment or making any important decisions until the following day after a full night of rest.

General guidelines are no eating 3 hours prior to your medication treatment and limit fluids 2 hours prior to your session, sips of water are fine. Clients should wear comfortable cloths with easy access to their upper arms (for injection). Clients typically remove their shoes for comfort.

Caffeine intake should be limited or reduced to half your typical amount on medication day.

Ketamine can be taken with your current SSRI/SNRI. Some examples of these medications are: Celexa, Lexapro, Paxil, Prozac, Luvox, Zoloft, Pristiq, Cymbalta, Effexor, etc. Addition medications in other classes of drugs are also safe to continue, such as: Lithium, Wellbutrin, Abilify.

Some medications that may reduce your response to Ketamine are: Higher doses of Lamictal (Lamotrigine), Benzodiazoapines such as Xanax (Alprazolam), Ativan (Lorazepam), Valium (Diazepam), and Klonopin (Clonazepam) and Adderal should not be taken on your Ketamine session day.

Contraindications for Ketamine include:  Hypertension, Coronary Artery Disease, Myocardial Infarction, CVA, Aneurysm, Schizophrenia.

Side Effects: Nausea, vomiting, elevated blood pressure. Patients may feel mildly tired or groggy after their Ketamine session which typically fades away completely within hours. Other side effects can be seen with long term use at high doses.