Yes, it is. However, the doses used in our infusion program are significantly lower than those used in the setting of recreational drug use. The development of addiction in this setting would be unlikely.

Ketamine is an NMDA receptor antagonist. This is the area of your brain that has a role in pain perception, memory, learning. Ketamine  can reset this region. Ketamine appears to prime the brain for making new connections and learning.

At this time, ketamine is used for severe depression and chronic pain syndromes. About 15% of people treated for depression will be resistant to traditional methods. The depression can be the depressed phase of bipolar disorder, postpartum depression, PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). Pain syndrome include chronic headaches, reflex sympathetic dystrophy ( complex regional pain syndromes) and fibromyalgia.

Ketamine does increase blood pressure and heart rate. Patients are required to have a normal blood pressure prior to infusion. Emergence reactions can occur as well. This is when patients come out of the sedated state and have terrors or severe anxiety. Medications can be administered if this occurs and this syndrome is brief.

Patients feel “intoxicated” or like “floating”. Often time they feel “disconnected”. The medication is given over a 40 minutes period with another 15 minutes for patients to recover.

Chill. Bring an eye mask or music if you like. You really won’t be able to carry on a conversation. You’ll be in a comfortable recliner in a room by yourself during the infusion. A nurse or physician will be frequently checking in on you.

Some patients will know within 1 hour after the infusion. Most patients within 24 hours will feel more hopeful, happier and more content. Some patients report increased calmness and an overall better outlook. Over the course of treatment further improvements are seen.

Yes. We are consultants who provide the Ketamine Procedure. We are happy to offer our therapists and psychiatric nurse practitioner for your services if you like.

Patients know in just 4-5 treatments if Ketamine is helping them. We recommend 6 treatments initially over a 2-3 week period. Patients will need to do boosters frequently to maintain their response. The total treatment program is uniquely dependent on each individual’s circumstances.

Depression: the results can last from a couple of days to a few weeks. However, when the treatments are stacked the results are longer lasting.

Pain: Infusing Ketamine for pain results is different than a mental health indication. The infusions for pain are longer and are stacked together. The initial treatments may only result in pain relief for a few hours. However, longer infusions stacked together have a cumulative responsive and the results can last weeks to months. Boosters monthly should be expected if a patient has a good response.

For Depression and Mood Conditions: Each 40-minute infusion is $450.00

For pain Indications like regional pain syndrome and fibromyalgia, the infusion is 2-4 hours. The investment range is $800- $1600. Package pricing is available for some services.

Ketamine Assessment-$295.00 (upon approval assessment will apply towards package)

Insurance doesn’t cover the costs of the Ketamine Infusion as this treatment is not FDA approved and is considered off label and experimental.