Frequently Asked Questions

Will I be able to stop my other psychiatric medications?

As your ketamine treatment progresses, you may feel significant improvement and wish to taper off of some of your medications. Do not do this on your own. You should do this solely after discussion and under the supervision of your prescriber.

Why isn’t ketamine more widely used?

Ketamine is a rapidly growing treatment option for mental health. However, ketamine was originally used exclusively as an anesthetic and requires robust patient monitoring and clinical training to handle potential complications. Until recently, most insurance companies didn’t cover ketamine treatment. This can make it cost prohibitive for many patients. For these reasons, some people consider ketamine an “alternative treatment” for depression and anxiety. However, current research is showing more promising results with ketamine than standard treatments.

What are some possible side effects?

A small percentage of patients will experience nausea, dry mouth, dizziness, palpitations, headache, poor concentration, tremors, blurred vision, or restlessness, among others. Most of these resolve within 80 minutes after the infusion.

Can anyone receive ketamine treatment?

We have a robust screening process to determine if ketamine is appropriate for you. Some reasons you may not be eligible include severe hypertension, aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations (AVM), unstable angina, uncontrolled hyperthyroidism, glaucoma, history of seizures, previous severe allergic reaction during anesthesia, history of psychosis, mania, bipolar disorder, pregnancy, and age < 18. Ketamine is safe to receive in combination with most commonly prescribed medications, including SSRIs. We will discuss any potential medication interactions in detail during the screening process.

Are there other examples of safe “off label” use of medications?

Benadryl for chemotherapy-related vomiting or insomnia. Aspirin for anti-thrombosis in atrial fibrillation and Kawasaki’s Disease. Bactrim for sinusitis. Propranolol for migraine prevention, social phobia and public speaking. Magnesium sulfate for premature labor. High-dose amoxicillin for ear infections in children. Atypical antipsychotics (e.g. risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine) for eating disorders, anxiety, OCD, and PTSD. Celexa for alcoholism, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, OCD, pathologic gambling and stuttering. Prozac for borderline personality, fibromyalgia, premature ejaculation, hot flashes and diabetic neuropathy.