The Infusion
On the day of your procedure, you are not allowed to eat anything for 8 hours prior but you may continue to have a small amount of clear liquids (water, coffee without cream or sugar, tea, etc.) for up to 2 hours prior to your infusion. When you arrive at Klarity, you will complete the depression scale, sign paperwork, and meet with Dr. Reed. You will be placed in a private room where an intravenous (IV) line will be started. Appropriate monitors, including blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and heart rate will be placed and the infusion begins.
You should feel the effects of Ketamine working quickly. You will not lose consciousness and should feel relaxed, as the dose of medication is well under the dose used in operating rooms. Some patients may experience a dissociative effect and partially lose awareness of their body. Many will find this out-of-body experience to be bizarre, but pleasurable. The rate of the Ketamine infusion may be adjusted per patient to minimize any adverse symptoms. Typically the dissociative sensations resolve quickly after the infusion is completed. You must stay at the facility for 30 minutes after completion and you will need a driver to take you home as you are not allowed to drive the remainder of the day of your infusion.
You should feel the effects of Ketamine working quickly. You will not lose consciousness and should feel relaxed, as the dose of medication is well under the dose used in operating rooms. Some patients may experience a dissociative effect and partially lose awareness of their body. Many will find this out-of-body experience to be bizarre, but pleasurable. The rate of the Ketamine infusion may be adjusted per patient to minimize any adverse symptoms. Typically the dissociative sensations resolve quickly after the infusion is completed. You must stay at the facility for 30 minutes after completion and you will need a driver to take you home as you are not allowed to drive the remainder of the day of your infusion.
The Relief
The relief will be different for every patient and may take several hours or even several days to appear. Relief can be subtle and is often noticed by family members prior to yourself as improvement in function is most likely occur prior to an improvement in your mood. There can be a spectrum of results, however Ketamine Infusion Therapy has provided overwhelmingly positive outcomes.