Ketamine Therapy

Ketamine is a medication that blocks the gluconate neurotransmitter receptor in the nervous system, and was originally 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 then other antidepressant medications including SSRI’s, 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 noting 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 affects certain neurotransmitter receptors and neurological pathways, and triggers rapid growth of normal neural conditions. This rewiring of the brain 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 enhanced with oral medicines, lifestyle changes and other choices will dramatically reduce depression symptoms.

Everyone reacts differently to medications of all kinds, so we customize treatments, including frequency and dosage, specifically to your requirements. Research shows that 70% to 80% of patients have experienced significant relief for treatment of depression using Ketamine infusions.

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.

Ketamine was invented in 1962 as a very effective anesthetic for routine surgery. It is blocks the neurotransmitter molecule glutamate from its NMDA receptor in brain neurons, and affects primarily the memory center in the hippocampal region of the brain, along with the prefrontal cortex abstract thought center.

Multiple randomized clinical studies over the past 15 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 particular high responders to Ketamine infusions with over 80% having complete elimination of these thoughts after a single infusion.

Ketamine will produce relief of depression in up to 80% of clients that 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 with 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 negative side effects.

In addition to major depressive disorders, Ketamine has also been clinically proven to treat post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), treatment resistant depression, (TRD), anxiety, chronic neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, suicidal ideation, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and bipolar.  The infusion protocols for these other conditions may differ from those for depression.  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 as a treatment for 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 they are receiving the infusion and these effects wear off within an hour or so afterwards.  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 increase 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 and these can be controlled by adjusting dosage.  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 at the low doses and frequency used to treat mood disorders leads to dependence or addiction.

Our protocol for depression and other mental health infusions is to administer six Ketamine infusions over a course of 2 weeks and then maintenance infusions as needed every month to every few months after.  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 that you do not drive home and that you have a ride. Uber and Lyft are not acceptable means of transportation after a Ketamine infusion. 

No, at this time your insurance will not pay for the Ketamine infusions.  We accept most major credit cards, cash and FSA.  We also offer third-party client financing programs.  Please call us for protocol pricing. 

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

iFusion Wellness is a ketamine infusion site. We operate under our licensed medical director and all ketamine infusions are administered by one of our board certified anesthesia providers.  Once we receive a referral from your Psychiatrist, Primary Doctor, Mental Health Provider (NP or PA) we will verify your information and set up a consultation with one of our Advanced Practice Registered Nurses.  During this consultation we will review your medical and mental health history, current medications and treatments, and overall physical health. 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 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) under the direction of our medical director.  During your infusion your vital signs will be monitored and oxygen provided if necessary. Your safety is our primary concern. We are fully equipped to provide any emergency treatment during your infusion.  

After your infusion is over, you will be given time to fully wake up prior to being discharged home with a safe ride. Sorry UBER and LYFT cannot be your safe ride. We track your mental health 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 sent via email to your referring provider. IV ketamine and ketamine assisted therapy (KAP) are not a one time cure and works best when we collaborate with your primary care team and therapist.  We recommend that you DO NOT stop any medications or treatments. It is important for best results to continue all medications and therapy sessions as directed by your provider.