Ketamine infusion therapy has become a popular remedy for treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD and other psychiatric conditions. Traditional drugs often take weeks or even months to start working, whereas ketamine’s results are almost instantaneous. Furthermore, ketamine is effective for up to 70% of patients, compared to traditional antidepressant medications that work for about 40% of people. For all of these reasons, ketamine is a very appealing option for those who have struggled to find relief from their depressive or psychiatric symptoms.
If you are at the point where you are considering ketamine infusions but are nervous about the process, here are a few things that you can expect from your experience..
Since ketamine is not a suitable drug for everyone, the first step is to schedule a consultation. At this time, your medical history is reviewed along with any other information referred from your medical providers. Utilizing all of this information, a treatment protocol is put together that includes a ketamine dosage amount, rate and duration for your infusions.
When it comes time for you to have your infusion, you will be brought into a room where you can settle in and start to relax. A small needle will be inserted into a vein in your arm, which is connected to an IV. This is how the ketamine will be administered, and it should take about 40 minutes for the entire infusion.
Once the treatment starts, you may feel the cool liquid from the IV enter your bloodstream. You will almost instantly start to feel a deep sense of relaxation. Once you are about 20 minutes into the infusion, you may notice blurred or double vision, a feeling of lightness or floating, and sometimes numbness in the toes or area around your mouth. You may also feel as though you are slightly inebriated but in a happy, euphoric, weight-lifted-off-your-shoulders kind of way. During the final 20 minutes of the infusion, any sensations you are feeling tend to build as the medicine is at its peak intensity. After the treatment ends, you will be able to relax for a while we monitor your condition. You will need to have a friend or family member drive you home from your infusion.
Many people get nervous about the side effects they may experience when getting a ketamine infusion. The reputation of ketamine as a recreational “club drug” has created a skewed view of what the side effects of ketamine therapy may feel like. Due to the controlled environment and predetermined treatment plan, ketamine infusions do not “get you high.” Ketamine—when administrated by a professional in a clinical setting—is safe and non-addictive…and administered in doses much lower than what would be used in a recreational setting. What is explained above is typical of what you can expect during your infusion. Harmless, right? Occasionally, people may experience anxiety, headache, nausea or sweating…but these feelings will subside 10-15 minutes post-treatment, and most of the sensations from your infusion will disappear within 2-hours.
Remember that the goal of your ketamine infusion is to empower you to achieve relieved symptoms of depression. There is no need to be worried about the process. This is an opportunity for you to relax and remove yourself from any sensations of pain, may they be physical or mental. If you are still not convinced, take a look at this video where two people undergo a ketamine infusion and share their journey with you:
Contact Ketamine Greater Boston
Contact out ketamine infusion therapy center today for a free consultation, or simply complete the brief form below and a member of our clinical team will reach out to answer your questions and address your concerns.
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