Ketamine for Depression: What to Expect During Your First Ketamine Infusion

Ketamine is becoming a widely popular drug for treating depression. Traditional drugs often take days or weeks for them to start working, whereas Ketamine works almost instantly. As a result, this is a very appealing option for those diagnosed with depression.

If you are considering Ketamine infusions and are nervous about the process, here is what you can expect: 

Your first step will be to schedule a consultation. At the consultation, your doctor will review your medical history, any information referred from other medical providers, and answer the questions you might have. To conclude the consultation, a treatment protocol will be put together by your doctor which includes the Ketamine dosage amount, rate, and duration.

When it is time for you to have your infusion, you will be brought into a private room where you will be made comfortable and you can start to relax. You will be connected to monitors that will track your vital signs throughout the entire process. A small needle will then be inserted into a vein in your arm and connected to an IV. This is how the ketamine will be administered. Plan for your treatment to take about 45-60 minutes to complete.

Once the treatment starts, you may feel the cool liquid from the IV enter your bloodstream. You will almost instantly start to feel a deep sense of relaxation. Beyond the deep state of relaxation, you may experience some out of body sensations. This is due to your mind being active but you will not have much sensation throughout your body. You may also feel as though you are slightly inebriated but in a happy, euphoric, weight lifted off your shoulders kind of way. After the treatment ends, you will be able to relax for a while before having someone drive you home.

Many people get nervous about the side effects they may experience when getting a Ketamine infusion. They think that what they will experience is similar to how the drug acts when taken recreationally. Due to the controlled environment and predetermined treatment plan, this will not be the case. What is explained above is typical of what you can expect to experience, so there is no need to be concerned about extreme side effects.

Remember that the goal of your ketamine infusion is to empower you to achieve relieved symptoms of depression. There is no need to be worried about the process. This is an opportunity for you to relax and remove yourself from any sensations of pain, may they be physical or mental.