Ketamine Therapy

Ketamine is a medication that blocks the glutamate neurotransmitter receptor in the nervous system and was initially used as a high-dose general anesthetic agent. It was soon discovered that this same medication, used at very low doses, had a remarkable antidepressant effect. It had a much higher response rate than other antidepressant medications, including SSRIs, Tricyclics, or MAO inhibitors, i.e., up to twice as many patients had relief of depression compared to the standard drugs. In addition, ketamine had a very rapid response rate, with many patients noticing a dramatic elevation in mood and dissipation of depression symptoms within a few hours to a few days, compared to response rates of several weeks with the standard drugs. This may be because the glutamate neurological pathways respond much more rapidly to medications than the serotonin and dopamine neurological pathways, which are influenced by standard antidepressants.

Ketamine infusions create a cascade of events in the brain that affect specific neurotransmitter receptors and neurological pathways and trigger the rapid growth of normal neural conditions. This brain rewiring is thought to be the basis of the antidepressant effect. In addition, ketamine is a powerful anti-inflammatory medication. Since depression has been linked to chronic inflammation, this may also be a part of its antidepressant effect. This may be why some patients achieve long-term relief after just one infusion or one short series of infusions. Others will find that ketamine infusions, in addition to oral medicines, lifestyle changes, and other choices, will dramatically reduce depressive symptoms.

Everyone reacts differently to medications, so we customize treatments, including frequency, dosage, and route, specifically to meet your needs and goals. Research shows that 70% to 80% of patients have experienced significant relief from the symptoms of depression using ketamine infusions and therapy.

We know that typical antidepressants work well in only 30% to 40% of patients with depression. Ketamine works over 85% of the time, even for those who have failed typical antidepressant therapy. There is good evidence that ketamine might work for patients suffering from most other forms of depression, not just those who are treatment-resistant.

 Experts are calling Low Dose IV Infusion Ketamine the most significant advance in mental health treatment in the past 50 years. Since 2006, many studies have shown that ketamine can also reverse the kind of severe depression that traditional antidepressants often don't touch.

Multiple randomized clinical studies over the past 20 years have shown that ketamine infusions can effectively treat major depression and treatment-resistant depression (TRD) with a success rate as high as 80%. Most clients have immediate improvement after their first or second infusions. All clients will differ in response to the treatment and will also differ in their need for maintenance infusions. Clients with suicidal or harmful thoughts are particularly high responders to ketamine infusions, with over 80% having complete elimination of these thoughts after a single infusion.

Ketamine will relieve depression in up to 80% of clients who are treatment-resistant. Oral antidepressant medications may only be effective in about 60% of clients and come with many undesirable side effects, such as weight gain, decreased sexual drive, emotional and cognitive dulling, increased suicidal ideation, gastrointestinal disturbances, and fatigue. There are only minimal side effects with ketamine, and these are gone within a few hours of the infusion. Ketamine is also effective within minutes to hours, whereas oral antidepressants can take up to a month or longer for effect. Potentially, with the guidance of your physician or mental health professional, you may be able to decrease or even eliminate your other medications as your treatment progresses, hence ridding you of those adverse side effects.

In addition to major depressive disorders, ketamine has also been researched to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), treatment-resistant depression (TRD), anxiety, chronic neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, suicidal ideation, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and bipolar. Ketamine is also used during psychotherapy to increase personal growth and help patients in existential crises. We use current evidence-based protocols and customize your therapy to meet your individualized mental health needs and goals. Please inquire directly.

Although often known as a drug of abuse, i.e., "Special K", ketamine is a very safe drug when administered for anesthesia or in low doses as a therapy for mental health, depression, and chronic pain, as we do at iFusion. The doses used for depression, mental health, and mood therapies are much lower than those used for anesthesia. Clients are monitored closely for the duration of the 45-minute infusion by one of our registered nurses or certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA). Most clients feel very relaxed and free while receiving the infusion; these effects wear off within an hour or so. We carefully assess your medical history and medication list before the treatment and will consult your primary care physician or mental health professional as needed.

The side effects of the low-dose ketamine infusions in our protocols are minimal and will only last about an hour or two, but may include mild drowsiness, nausea, and increased blood pressure or heart rate. We will continually monitor you and administer medication for the prevention of nausea or other side effects. Less common side effects include vivid dreams or agitation, which can be controlled by adjusting the dose. Many clients don't mind the relaxed and free feeling they experience during the infusions, and this feeling has been postulated to be beneficial.

No, there is no evidence that ketamine infusions used at low doses and frequency to treat mental health disorders lead to dependence or addiction.

Our evidence-based research protocol for depression and other mental health infusions is to administer six ketamine infusions over 2 to 3 weeks and then maintain infusions as needed every 2 to 6 weeks thereafter or longer based on your individual response.  Each infusion will take less than one hour.  Chronic pain treatment infusions are multiple and can each last up to 4 hours.

No,  even though you should have no residual effects on discharge, we insist you do not drive home and have a ride. Uber and Lyft are not acceptable means of transportation after a ketamine infusion.

Intravenous ketamine infusions and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy are not currently covered by insurance as they are considered “off-label” (per the FDA) uses, contrary to a growing body of research and data supporting their efficacy. Spravato, nasal ketamine, has recently been approved as a monotherapy for depression and is covered by selective insurance. We are currently working to add Spravato to our ketamine service. At Vitality, whenever possible, we will provide a super bill, and you may be able to receive some reimbursement from your insurance company. an answer to this item.

Packages are available based on your plan. Ketamine boosters cost $450.00.

iFusion Wellness is a ketamine infusion site. We operate under our licensed, board-certified medical director and psychiatrist. All ketamine infusions are administered by one of our board-certified anesthesia providers. Once we receive a referral from your psychiatrist, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP), primary care provider, or mental health provider, we will verify your information and schedule a consultation with one of our Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN). During the consultation, we will review your medical and mental health history, medications and treatments, and overall physical health to determine if you are a good candidate for ketamine therapy. We will also discuss options for iV ketamine therapy and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) and go over expectations and outcomes. 

On the day of your infusion, one of our RNs will start an IV, and your ketamine infusion will be delivered by one of our board-certified registered nurse anesthesiologists (CRNAs) under the direction of our medical director. Your vital signs will be monitored during infusion, and oxygen will be provided if necessary. Your safety is our primary concern. We are fully equipped to provide any emergency treatment during your infusion.  

After your infusion, you will be given time to fully wake up before being discharged home with a safe ride. Sorry, UBER and LYFT cannot be your safe ride. 

We track your mental health (depression and anxiety) responses and ketamine infusions through a program called OSMIND. Every client receiving ketamine therapy will have access to their own OSMIND account. The information gathered and ketamine infusion data can be directly emailed to your referring provider. 

IV ketamine and ketamine-assisted therapy (KAP) are not a "one-time pill" or cure and work best when we collaborate with your primary care team and therapist. We highly recommend therapy or counseling within 24-72 hours after your ketamine session to process your session. We suggest that you DO NOT stop any medications or treatments. The best results are obtained when you continue all drugs and therapy sessions as directed by your provider.