When it comes to treating treatment-resistant depression or using ketamine for depression, the number of therapy sessions needed will depend on the clinical history of the patient.

If a patient has had poor experiences with antidepressant medication, has other mental health conditions, or has chronic pain conditions, then the treatment time may be longer. Initial treatment for depression using ketamine infusions is typically 3-6 infusions over a 3-6 week period.

Many patients experience benefits after a single infusion, and the effects of ketamine are fast-acting when used to treat depression.

The positive side effects of these treatments will vary in length and depend on how the drug was administered and how severe the symptoms to be treated are.

The good news is that for patients who have treatment-resistant depression, the effects of ketamine can last up to a week following a single dose. Duration and extent of symptom relief are based on many factors, such as the amount of time between treatments, dose, and how the experiences are integrated. We highly suggest pairing ketamine treatment with psychotherapy to increase and extend benefits.

A common ketamine question that we receive is whether most insurance agencies cover this treatment.

Even though the nasal spray treatment is FDA-approved and the long-term benefits of ketamine therapy for depression and anxiety have been demonstrated, at the present time, no insurance agency will cover this treatment. Some insurance agencies may cover part of the cost of the treatment based on medical recommendations, but in our experience, this is quite rare. So, we recommend talking to your insurance company prior to starting any treatment with ketamine with our team.

Another ketamine FAQ we get from patients is, 'What does the ketamine experience feel like?'

We have had many answers from many of our patients at Daydream MD. The most commonly reported sensations are feeling floaty and a feeling of disassociation. This can be a bit jarring, but it is harmless and short-term. It may feel like you are separate from your body and may cause you to have an out-of-body experience or something similar. Not to worry, though! Our team will be there with you to ensure you are safe.

Many of the other reports we have heard from patients include feeling disoriented, a warm sensation, and feeling as though their limbs have no weight. You may also feel a bit drunk or dizzy, which can be linked to the dissociative effects of the medication and may also vary based on how it is administered. In our experience, IM  treatments often produce the strongest effects, which is why after you have finished the ketamine infusion process, a member of our team will sit with you to ensure you are OK for about an hour. We will also monitor your vital signs continuously so all bases are covered!

While our main aim is to offer ketamine to treat depression, it can also be used to help patients who have anxiety.

Like the treatment for depression, the number of treatments needed to help someone who has anxiety will vary. Some of our patients have found relief from their symptoms after a single session of ketamine therapy, whereas others may need multiple infusions to find relief.

Our team at Daydream MD will aim to base the treatment on each patient's needs, so we will work with you to find the appropriate number of sessions to ease the symptoms you are experiencing.

Yes. Ketamine’s safety has been demonstrated for decades in anesthesia. For most people, using ketamine to treat depression or mental health issues is perfectly safe.

When used to treat depression, anxiety, and other psychological issues like PTSD, ketamine treatments have been found to be safe and effective. As mentioned before, to undertake this treatment with our team, you will need to have an assessment so we can determine your suitability for this treatment. This is not only to assess your mental health but also to look at your physical health and to see if it is wise for you to undertake ketamine.

If you are pregnant, have a history of blood pressure issues, have issues with increased intracranial pressure, or have a history of psychosis, drug addiction, or even dissociative episodes. We will not advise the use of ketamine. One of the side effects of treatment is high blood pressure. This is temporary, but if you have an underlying cardiovascular problem, such as angina, then it may put additional stress on your heart. The strength of the infusions varies based on our clinical assessment, and if you are deemed to need a higher dose of ketamine and you have heart disease, this can be dangerous.

Absolutely not!

When you come to see our team at Daydream MD for a treatment sessionwe require you to bring an age-appropriate friend or family member along to escort you home afterward.

Many people following an IV transfusion or an intramuscular shot of ketamine may feel slightly disorientated or drunk. There is also the chance that you may begin to feel a bit disconnected from your body. This is known as disassociation, and while it can feel other-worldly, it is not safe to drive while in a dissociative state. Many people who have experienced this report feeling dizzy, blurred vision, or floaty. None of these symptoms would make driving a car a good idea directly after treatment and may put your life and others in danger.

This is for your safety. To help you stay safe when you leave our clinic, we advise against driving a car, operating other heavy or dangerous machinery, making important decisions, signing any legal documents, or engaging in risky activities until at least 24 hours after you have had the ketamine treatment.

When we use ketamine, we are aiming to alleviate the symptoms of treatment-resistant depression and/or anxiety.

This means we will aim to make the treatment as brief as possible so you can experience reprieve from the negative symptoms accompanying both of these issues. The treatment itself, when it is IV infused, will take between 45 minutes to an hour. Once the IV drip is finished, you will begin to feel the dissociative symptoms that come with the ketamine treatment dissipate. There will be a member of our team sitting with you to ensure that you do not stand up, fall over, or injure yourself in another way for an hour post-treatment.

Many of our patients report feeling relief from the depression that they are experiencing in as little as 40 minutes once the IV drip is removed. As for the dissociative symptoms can vary in length, but once the IV has been removed, they will usually fade within 15-20 minutes.

Our team can also extend the length of a session and your time with the IV drip if we are looking to reach a more targeted effect with the treatment.