Infuse Wellness is a proud member of the
American Society of Ketamine Physicians
Frequently asked questions
Are any of your services covered by insurance?
Ketamine infusions are typically not covered by insurance because for mood disorders it is considered an 'off-label' usage of this medication, & for pain disorders it isn't a common or mainstream treatment. We can provide you with a 'super bill' that you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.
Are Ketamine Infusions safe?
What is ketamine?
Ketamine is a general anesthetic agent that's been used for 50 years with a proven record of safety. It is used during operations & procedures around the world every day. It is used for pediatric patients, adults, geriatric patients, & in veterinary medicine. Ketamine works at the glutamate receptor in the brain (NMDA receptor), rather than the serotonin or norepinephrine site like most traditional antidepressants. It also stimulates the healing & regrowth of the synaptic connections in the brain (1). Ketamine is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medications (2).
Am I a good candidate for ketamine infusions?
Ketamine therapy is NOT a first-line treatment for either mood disorders or chronic pain. Many people can get relief from their symptoms with medication prescribed by their primary care provider, pain specialist, or mental health specialist. However, some do not experience relief of their symptoms & are considered "treatment-resistant"....these are the people who may be good candidates for ketamine infusions. Some medical conditions may exclude you as a good candidate, such as pregnancy, or schizophrenia. Some conditions need to be optimized before initiating ketamine infusions, such as hypertension, sleep apnea, or seizure disorders. If you have a condition called Interstitial Cystitis (IC) we ask that you consult your urologist prior to initiating ketamine therapy; they may wish to optimize your bladder health, perhaps to include a cystoscopy, to establish a baseline & optimize your bladder health prior to ketamine treatments. Anyone with chronic liver disease will need to have labwork both before & after ketamine infusions to monitor your liver function. A consultation with our Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesiologist can help determine if you are a good candidate to receive ketamine therapy.
It is true that ketamine infusion therapy begins with a 'series' of infusions?
What can I expect during my visit?
You will be in one of our private infusion rooms for your treatment; our Nurse Anesthesiologist or Registered Nurse will be with you & monitor you at all times. You will be connected to monitors during the entire infusion, and for 15-20 minutes after it's completion. Initially, we ask family members or friends to remain outside of the infusion area until your treatment is completed; once we become familiar with your response to the infusion, you are welcome to invite a family member or friend to remain during the infusion, if you choose. Additionally, if you have a therapist who would like to conduct a therapy session during a ketamine infusion, we will gladly accommodate that for you, & do, in fact, encourage it. (Talk therapy during infusions has been found to render significant breakthroughs for some patients.) We aim to treat each of our patients as if they were a family member, and our goal is for you to feel safe & supported.
How quickly can I begin ketamine therapy?
Is ketamine addictive?
Although ketamine can be abused, just like many other legally available medications, when you receive ketamine infusions for a legitimate medical reason with an experienced & licensed provider, addiction does not occur. Ketamine has been safely used by anesthesia practitioners for five decades without those patients becoming addicted. When used safely & appropriately, ketamine is not addictive.
What if I have both chronic pain & depression? Which infusions will I receive?
Having both chronic pain & a mood disorder can be common. The dose for mood disorders is much lower than the dose for chronic pain, and lower dose is just not enough medicine to properly treat chronic pain. If you are diagnosed with both chronic pain & a mood disorder, we follow the protocol for chronic pain.
What is the cost of ketamine therapy?
Ketamine therapy begins with a series of infusions in order to build up the medication in your body.
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Mood Disorders (45 min duration): $350 each infusion; series of 6 infusions given over 3 weeks; -
Pain Disorders (2 hrs duration): $750 each infusion, 3-5 infusions; -
IM Boosters for Mood - $100 each
Because ketamine is such an old drug, I've heard it's pretty cheap. If that's so, then why does ketamine therapy seem so expensive?
I've heard some people use ketamine nasal spray or lozenges to lengthen the time between maintenance infusions. Do you prescribe those?
Due to the cost of ketamine infusions, some ketamine patients utilize nasal spray or lozenges (called 'troches') to lengthen the time between their maintenance IV infusions. Although we do not write prescriptions for home ketamine use, we do offer 2 options: 1) you may come in for an intramuscular (IM) injection as a booster; or (2) you may ask your primary care provider (PCP) or psychiatrist for a prescription. If your provider is hesitant to prescribe either nasal or lozenge use, we are happy to help provide information to your practitioner regarding dosing & common prescribing practice of this medication. If utilizing any of these techniques to lengthen the time between infusions, you must still continue to self-monitor your symptoms & be aware of when you need a maintenance IV infusion.
I'm coming in for my first ketamine infusion.....what do i need to know?
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Please do not eat solid food for 4 hours prior to your infusion. -
You may have liquids up to 2 hours before your appointment. -
Dress comfortably in loose clothing so that you may relax during the infusion. -
We will place you in one of our private infusion rooms in a comfortable recliner, take your vital signs & connect you to our monitors, start an IV, & begin your infusion. -
You will not lose consciousness at all & will remain aware & relaxed throughout your infusion. -
You may experience some dizziness, see 'bright colors', experience inner reflectivness, or possibly feel a floating feeling. -
Most people do not find any of these effects distressing, & they may actually be pleasant. -
These effects typically go away quickly after the infusion is completed. -
You will not have "flashbacks". -
Some may experience nausea or vomiting after an infusion; we have medications that can help. -
Rarely some may have a headache after an infusion; we have medication that can help. -
Most people are ready to be discharged within 30-60 minutes after the completion of an infusion.
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