How is ketamine administered?
Ketamine can be administered intravenously (IV), intramuscularly (IM), orally and intranasally. We offer IM and oral routes of administration. Dosages administered are based on public research. Ketamine administration is under the supervision of a medical professional, however is considered very safe with minimal side effects. Our preferred route of administration is IM, which is an injection. Multiple studies have found IV and IM ketamine sessions to be equally as effective and safe. We prefer the less invasive route of IM administration to limit the unnecessary need for an IV line and to provide sustained comfort during the session.
What is the experience like?
Patients rest in a comfortable reclining chair, with a soft blanket, eye shades and soft music. Patients typically feel the effects of ketamine within 2-8 minutes and the experience lasts about 30-45 minutes (depending on route of administration). People often experience a sensation of movement and imagery. Many people report a calm, trance-like state. Others report an expansive experience. Some patients describe the experience as pleasurable and euphoric. Other patients describe the experience as challenging as subconscious issues may arise. Many report feeling indifferent to typically challenging and trigging issues, as there is a disconnect between their ego-mind and body-reality during ketamine treatment.
The healing process and antidepressant effects of ketamine come after the ketamine treatment sessions. While patients will experience a disocciative state during the process, this is simply part of the process. Some patients will experience meaning during their ketamine session that represents significance. Others may experience imagery and thoughts that do not seem connected and is difficult to understand. It is okay and normal to have ketamine sessions that feel seemingly meaningless. It is important to remember that the healing is a result of the structural changes of the brain (that happen immediately and weeks after treatment) and not the ketamine session experience itself.
How does the ketamine experience treat my depression?