A positive mindset and preparation are vital to the success of your Ketamine treatment. Use these tips to get the most out of every session at KetAssure.

 

📅 Before & Day of Your Infusion: Preparation is Key

 

• Avoid Stress: On the day before and the day of your session, try to avoid situations that cause stress, anxiety, or anger (e.g., difficult conversations, sad/scary movies). What goes into your mind impacts your session.

• Hydration & Nutrition: Hydrate well the day before. On the day of, choose healthy nutrition and avoid alcohol, marijuana, and benzodiazepines.

• Bladder Care: Always visit the bathroom before your infusion. If you have been diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis, please inform us, as we have specific prophylactic medications to help.

• Chaperone/Driver: Your ride to and from the clinic should understand that being supportive and positive is the most helpful thing they can do for you.

 

🛋️ During Your Infusion: Creating a Healing Space

 

We focus on minimizing outside distractions to maximize your internal experience.

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• Dress Comfortably: Wear loose, comfortable clothing and feel free to remove your shoes to relax. You are welcome to bring your own blanket or pillow, though we also provide them.

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• Block Noise: We can provide noise-canceling headphones or earplugs for your use, but you are welcome to bring your own preferred hardware.

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• Curate Music: Many patients find music helpful. We suggest a playlist of meditative music without lyrics. If you use your own phone, please remember to set it to mute or "Do Not Disturb" to avoid disruptive calls or texts.

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• Eye Care: Many patients prefer to keep their eyes closed, but we also have eye masks if you like.

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• Light Sensitivity: Bring sunglasses to wear when you leave, as your eyes may be more sensitive to light after your infusion.

 

🗣️ Managing Anxiety & Discomfort

 

Ketamine infusions can sometimes cause temporary anxiety or tension. Please communicate with your provider immediately if you feel anxious or tense—we are here to help!

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We have several non-benzodiazepine techniques to reduce these feelings:

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1. We can help you talk through your feelings and redirect your thoughts.

2. We can slow down the infusion rate.

3. We have alternative techniques to take the edge off of any anxiety, which we prioritize over benzodiazepines.

 

💡 Long-Term Expectations & Success

 

It is vital to understand that Ketamine is a tool, not a cure. You will still have good days and bad days. The goal of treatment is to increase your resilience.

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• Trust the Process: One infusion will not be enough. Ketamine needs to build up in your system to reset NMDA receptors and heal synapses. Don’t give up—trust the process!

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• The Myth of "Happiness": Ketamine does not simply "make a depressed person happy." It makes you more resilient. The stressors don't change—your ability to cope and engage with life does.

 

• Progress is Subtle: Improvements are often described as “sliding a dimmer switch” rather than “flipping a switch.” Changes may brighten slowly! Keeping a journal or mood log can help you recognize subtle progress. (Note: If you have OCD, journaling may not be advised—discuss this with us.)

 

• The Power of Belief: If you believe ketamine will not work, chances are it won't. You must commit to the belief that the treatment is helping your body heal.

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• Find Joy: While trusting the process, make small efforts to cultivate joy:

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• Get out of the house daily.

• Go for a walk, a ride, or get coffee with a friend.​

• Add healthy habits that keep you busy, and you will find happiness.

 

📊 Dosing & Tolerance

 

• Dosing is Individualized: We start with clinical guidelines, but your best dose is determined by your feedback. Be honest with your provider—we are willing to adjust up or down as needed.

 

• Tolerance: It is possible for effectiveness to diminish over time. We have a protocol to increase your dose by 10% if needed. To maximize long-term effectiveness, it is important to start at the lowest effective dose.

 

• Antidepressants: Most patients continue to use antidepressants with Ketamine, finding that Ketamine helps the antidepressants work more effectively. Never adjust other medications without the supervision of your prescribing mental health provider.

 

💬 Know Your Rights

 

Every patient has the right to know what is happening during their infusion. We will always share with you:

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• The dose you are receiving.

• The time over which it is administered.

• Any other medications (e.g., IV magnesium, anti-nausea, blood pressure control) you are receiving.

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If any clinic is unwilling to share this information, please consider choosing a different provider.