During your treatment, a medical professional will administer the ketamine via injection or infusion. A low dose of Ketamine is administered intramuscularly or infused through an IV over 40-60 minutes, during which time a provider will closely monitor your progression. Ketamine takes effect almost immediately, and you may experience an altered or dissociative state. Ketamine is a safe drug and does not affect the respiratory system, but it is also a dissociative anesthetic that can induce a psychedelic state. Dissociation can manifest as a type of out-of-body experience, where you partially lose awareness of your body. Most patients find the experience relaxing and pleasant.
Patients may experience an altered mental status during the treatment, although you will be awake and able to talk. Patients have reported blurred vision, confusion, nausea, and slurred speech. These symptoms temporary and gradually subside after the treatment. Normal mental state returns quickly after the infusion is complete. Patients must have someone drive them home and should not drive or operate machinery the day of their treatment.
A provider will supervise you throughout the entirety of your treatment. Should you need assistance at any point during the procedure, both a licensed therapist and nurse practitioner are available to assist.
At Ketamine Therapy at Therapeutic Alternatives, we have taken particular care to create an environment that feels safe and comfortable. We have designed our private Ketamine therapy rooms to encourage a relaxed and home-like mood. We believe that your treatment setting should inspire a sense of security and foster surroundings where healing can take place.
Many clients feel immediate relief from depressive symptoms. Relief can last between one to two weeks. For sustained improvement, Ketamine therapy typically follows a 6-treatment protocol, with one to two injections given each week.
