Ketamine Therapy

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Ketamine is in the anesthetic class of drugs and has been in common use since it was created in 1962. It creates a sensation of disassociation which can be very helpful in emergency situations where there is trauma but also in therapy as a means to gain insight and perspective by stepping outside of one’s usual assumptions/ consciousness.

Research is showing that ketamine assisted psychotherapy (which is both ketamine usage and a therapy integration session within the 72-hour period of greatest neuroplasticity) can help with conditions including acute suicidality, treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder that is acute, chronic and complex), neuropathic pain, pain syndromes including prolonged-pain responses, phantom pain, CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome), hyperalgsia and even migraine. Research is ongoing. Some use ketamine assisted psychotherapy as a way to renovate the mind or as a rite of passage to mark transition across the lifespan. There is evidence that ketamine used at these doses can boost BDNF production (brain derived neurotrophic factor) triggering synaptogenesis (creation of new neuron synapses to increase connections in the nervous system).

Ketamine has a very long track record of safety. It does not depression respiration or result in constipation like opiates. It is commonly used in emergency rooms with very compromised patients, including kids, when anesthesia is needed. There are some contraindications to its use (see below) which is why a medical assessment is necessary before we get started.

Yes, you cannot do a ketamine assisted psychotherapy if you are pregnant, have increased intracranial pressure, have increased eye pressure/ glaucoma, have a recent history of seizues or acute psychosis, have an allergy to ketamine or are under 18 years old. We use ketamine cautiously if your systolic blood pressure is commonly elevated above 160, if you heart failure, if you have space-occupying lesions (tumors) in your head, have cardiac arrhythmias or are on long-acting opioids.

We will monitor your vital signs as ketamine has the potential to increase blood pressure. The most common side effect is nausea for which we have medications (zofran, ondansetron) in clinic for you to take if it’s needed. You will feel different- that is the point of the medicine. We work with you to monitor you closely and treatment as indicated. All side effects will fade over the course of the rest of the day in which you take ketamine.

You can choose between an oral dose or an IM dose (intramuscular- a shot into your arm muscle). We do not do ketamine dives with IV administration because we want you to have the freedom to move without a line in your arm attached to a machine. How you decide to take it (and the dose) will be determined in your medical consultation before you start and can be adjusted during your integration appointments for the next session.

We’ll review this in your medical clearance & preparation visit, which will then be available to you in your portal, but the key elements are to not eat within 3 or so hours before each dive (nausea can occur) and you must have a ride home from your ketamine dive and not be responsible for driving yourself. We will review with you medications and supplements you take/ don’t take in your medical evaluation. We recommend you also don’t make any major financial or life decisions one the days you do your dives.

You come to our clinic and are escorted to your comfortable private room. The nurse will take your vital signs and do a brief initial check to confirm administration type and dose. You’ll have a last opportunity to use the bathroom so your journey can be uninterrupted. You will then receive your dose (oral or injection). You’ll put on the the eye cover and headphones and will be able to lie back and have your experience. You will have a person sitting with you at all times. Our support staff are well trained in holding sacred space. You will not be left alone.

Ketamine dives typically span 60-90 minutes for most people. Everybody is a little different. A lighter dose might be metabolized faster and end sooner. An oral dose may take longer to onset and slower to feel completed. All ketamine dives are round-trip, meaning there is a fairly definitive start and finish time metabolically. The effects can be slow to fully wane, which is why having a driver to bring you home is so important. If you do not feel ready to go at the end of two hours, you may move to another quiet room in our clinic until you are ready.

We have Spotify and headphones with designed playlists specific for ketamine. If you would like to bring your own music, please note we recommend unfamiliar music without words so that your mind isn’t drawn to anything associated with memories and has the freedom to wander around & find itself.

Integration is really important to make the journey therapeutic. If you have a therapist who is familiar with KAP (ketamine assisted psychotherapy), please upload a letter to your chart (or bring in or email us at reception@NeuroVedaHealth.com) confirming they are aware of your ketamine dives, are willing to do the integration within 72 hours of your ketamine dive to make the most of the time of greatest neuroplasticity. Only one letter is needed regardless of how many weeks of ketamine are scheduled.

The thoughts and feelings that come up during ketamine can be unpredictable and sometimes have nothing to do with the intentions set before the visit. There are no ‘bad trips’ however. If the thoughts and feelings are uncomfortable, more integration may be required to integrate. If this is the case, we can push out your weekly sessions until you are ready. You can stop at any time.

You can stop at any time and cancel your remaining sessions. We will refund you the balance of any unused dives.