Question 1

What is Ketamine?

Accepted Answer

Ketamine is considered a dissociative anesthetic  that has been found to be highly effective for a variety of mental health and chronic pain conditions.  Ketamine is frequently used in hospitals for its anesthetic properties.  However, at a subanesthetic dose, typically administered over a period of 45-60 minutes, Ketamine appears to eliminate many of the symptoms associated with mental health disorders and chronic pain.  Relief often occurs within as few as 1-3 sessions.

Question 2

What to expect during treatment?

Accepted Answer

Most Ketamine treatment rooms are designed to be relaxing and quite comfortable, with recliners or zero gravity chairs, as well as TV’s that display videos of soothing nature scenes and/or calming music.  Patients are monitored during treatments to ensure their comfort throughout the session, which typically lasts between 45-60 minutes.  Ketamine is typically administered by intravenous infusion and the effects typically occur in a gradual and steady manner.  Typical sensations experienced include feelings of numbness or tingling, sensations of lightness or floating, feeling “grounded” or “centered,” decrease in anxiety and a positive shift in emotional state, reduced awareness of your body, intellectual detachment, visual and spatial distortions, and changes in perception of time.

Question 3

How Does Ketamine Work?

Accepted Answer

As is common in many medicines, we don’t know the exact mechanism by which Ketamine has such positive results. What is known is that Ketamine can rapidly reduce the symptoms of a multitude of mental health and chronic pain conditions.  Ketamine researchers are finding evidence that Ketamine positively affects neuronal receptors and pathways in the brain and body that promote robust neural activity which helps the brain and neurons function more effectively and break maladaptive patterns in thinking and cognition.  This helps patients to break free from recurring negative thoughts, abolish pain feedback loops, and establish new healthy thoughts and behavioral routines which are thought to maintain negative emotional states.

Question 4

Is Ketamine Safe?

Accepted Answer

Ketamine is listed as an “Essential Medicine” by the World Health Organization and is one of the safest and most effective medicines known to science.  Although it is classified as an anesthetic, Ketamine does not suppress or lower the respiratory reflex.  Side effects are generally rare, mild, and easily controlled.   It is one of the most widely used anesthetic drugs for safe and effective sedation of children and adults.

Question 5

How Long Will It Take To Achieve Positive Results?

Accepted Answer

Patients typically report a reduction in symptoms within 1 to 24 hours of their first infusion.  However, to maximize the positive effects of Ketamine, it is generally recommended to undergo 4 to 6 treatments over the span of 2-3 weeks.

Question 6

What Are The Next Steps?

Accepted Answer

If you’d like to learn more and be referred to a trusted local Ketamine provider near you, simply click the “Learn More” button belown and enter your contact information.  We will generate a referral on your behalf within 24 hours and you will be contacted directly by a reputable Ketamine therapy provider to for an initial appointment to determine if Ketamine treatment is appropriate for you.

Washington DC

Find a Ketamine Clinic in Your City