You Deserve to Feel Like Yourself Again.

Absolutely. Ketamine has been FDA-approved as an anesthetic since 1970 and has an outstanding safety profile spanning over five decades of clinical use. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines and is used safely in hospitals worldwide every single day.

At Claritiv Health, all infusions are administered by licensed providers in a fully monitored clinical setting. Your heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels are tracked continuously throughout the entire session. Our team is trained in advanced cardiac life support, and we maintain emergency protocols that exceed standard safety guidelines.

The sub-anesthetic doses used for mood disorders are significantly lower than those used in surgical settings, making the treatment gentle and well-tolerated by the vast majority of patients.

The typical protocol is 6 infusion sessions over 2-3 weeks for the initial series. This loading phase allows ketamine to build up its neuroplastic effects, essentially rewiring neural pathways that have been damaged by chronic depression, anxiety, or trauma. Each session builds upon the last.

After completing the initial series, most patients transition to monthly maintenance infusions to sustain their improvement. Some patients find they can extend the time between maintenance sessions over time, while others prefer a consistent monthly schedule. We'll create a personalized plan based on your unique response to treatment.

When you arrive, you'll be welcomed into a private treatment suite designed for maximum comfort. Soft lighting, a weighted blanket, noise-canceling headphones with curated ambient music — every detail is intentional. Your provider will place a small IV catheter, and the infusion begins slowly over 40-60 minutes.

Most patients describe a deep sense of relaxation, lightness, and warmth within the first 10-15 minutes. You may experience mild dissociation — a gentle feeling of floating or detachment from your body — which many patients describe as pleasant, meditative, or even profoundly meaningful. Colors may seem more vivid, and you might experience a sense of perspective or emotional distance from your pain.

Throughout the entire experience, you remain conscious and can communicate with your care team at any time. After the infusion, you'll rest in our recovery area for about 30 minutes while the effects gently subside. Most patients describe feeling a remarkable lightness — as if a weight has been quietly lifted from their shoulders.

Your first visit begins with a comprehensive consultation where we review your medical history, current medications, and treatment goals. This is a judgment-free conversation — we want to understand your journey and what you've been through. We'll explain the science behind ketamine therapy, walk you through exactly what will happen, and answer every question you have.

If you're approved for treatment, your first infusion typically takes place the same week. Plan to arrive about 15 minutes early to settle in. We recommend wearing comfortable clothing, eating a light meal 2-3 hours beforehand, and arranging for someone to drive you home. The entire visit — from check-in through recovery — takes approximately 90 minutes to 2 hours.

Many patients are nervous before their first session, and that's completely normal. Our team is exceptionally attentive to first-time patients. We'll check in with you frequently, adjust the dose if needed, and ensure you feel safe and supported throughout the entire experience.

Ketamine therapy is remarkably well-tolerated, but like any medical treatment, some patients experience mild, temporary side effects. The most common include light nausea, mild dizziness, and a temporary increase in blood pressure during the infusion. We proactively manage nausea with anti-nausea medication, and most patients report that these effects diminish significantly after the first session or two.

During the infusion itself, you may experience perceptual changes — things like vivid colors, a sense of time distortion, or feeling as though you're gently floating. These are expected effects of the dissociative properties of ketamine and are actually associated with better treatment outcomes. They typically resolve within 15-30 minutes after the infusion ends.

Some patients feel slightly tired or "spacey" for a few hours after treatment, which is why we require a designated driver. By the next morning, the vast majority of patients feel completely normal — many report feeling significantly better than they have in months or even years.

Traditional antidepressants like SSRIs and SNRIs work by adjusting serotonin and norepinephrine levels — a process that takes 4-8 weeks to produce noticeable effects, and only works for about 60-70% of patients. For the remaining 30-40%, these medications simply don't provide adequate relief, leading to years of trial-and-error with different drugs and dosages.

Ketamine works through an entirely different mechanism. It targets the glutamate system — the brain's most abundant neurotransmitter — and rapidly promotes the growth of new synaptic connections through a process called neuroplasticity. Think of it as helping your brain rebuild pathways that depression, anxiety, or trauma have damaged. This is why many patients notice improvement within hours rather than weeks.

Perhaps most importantly, ketamine has shown remarkable efficacy in patients who haven't responded to traditional treatments. Studies show response rates of 70% or higher in treatment-resistant populations — people who had lost hope after years of failed medications. It's not replacing your other treatments; it's offering a new pathway when the conventional ones have fallen short.

If you're reading this question, we understand exactly where you are. You've tried the medications — maybe five, ten, even fifteen different ones. You've done the therapy. You've tried exercise, meditation, supplements, and every suggestion well-meaning friends have offered. And you still feel stuck. You're not broken, and you haven't failed. The treatments failed you.

Ketamine therapy was specifically studied and developed for people in exactly your situation. The term "treatment-resistant" doesn't mean untreatable — it means you haven't found the right treatment yet. Ketamine works through a completely different brain pathway than any medication you've tried before, which is why it can succeed where SSRIs, SNRIs, and other conventional approaches have not.

Many of our most remarkable success stories come from patients who walked through our doors feeling hopeless. We've seen people who hadn't smiled in years rediscover joy. We've watched veterans finally sleep through the night. We've witnessed parents reconnect with their children after years of emotional numbness. Your story isn't over — it may just be waiting for the right chapter to begin.

IV ketamine infusion sessions range from $350-500 per session. We offer discounted 6-session package pricing for the initial series, which provides significant savings. During your consultation, we'll provide a detailed cost breakdown tailored to your treatment plan.

FSA/HSA accounts are accepted, and we offer flexible payment plans to make treatment accessible to those who need it. We also provide superbills that you can submit to your insurance for potential out-of-network reimbursement. Many patients find that when weighed against years of ineffective medications and lost productivity, ketamine therapy is one of the most cost-effective investments in their mental health.

No. You will need a designated driver to take you home after your infusion — this is a firm safety requirement. The dissociative effects of ketamine, while therapeutic, temporarily affect coordination and reaction time. We recommend planning to rest for a few hours afterward. Most patients feel back to normal within 2-4 hours and can resume all normal activities the following day.

Ketamine infusion therapy is not typically covered by insurance at this time, as it is considered an off-label use for mood disorders. However, FSA and HSA accounts can be used for payment, and we provide detailed superbills that you can submit to your insurance for potential out-of-network reimbursement. Some patients have had success obtaining partial reimbursement.

We believe financial barriers should never prevent someone from accessing life-changing treatment. That's why we offer flexible payment plans and transparent pricing with no hidden fees. During your consultation, we'll discuss all available options to make treatment accessible for your situation.

Adults suffering from treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, bipolar depression, or chronic pain conditions who haven't responded adequately to traditional treatments are often excellent candidates. If you've tried two or more medications without sufficient relief, ketamine therapy may be the breakthrough you've been looking for.

During your consultation, we'll conduct a thorough review of your medical history, current medications, and treatment goals to determine if ketamine is the right fit. Certain conditions — such as uncontrolled hypertension, active substance abuse, or certain psychotic disorders — may require additional evaluation. Our goal is always your safety first, results second.

Many patients notice significant improvement within 24 hours of their first infusion — a dramatic difference from traditional antidepressants that can take 4-8 weeks. Some patients feel a shift during the infusion itself: a softening of the heaviness, a glimmer of lightness they haven't felt in years. This rapid onset is one of ketamine's most remarkable properties.

Results typically strengthen and deepen over the course of the 6-session series as your brain builds new neural connections. By the end of the initial protocol, most patients report substantial, sustained improvement in mood, energy, motivation, and overall quality of life. Maintenance sessions help preserve these gains long-term.