Frequently Asked
Questions.

Traditional antidepressants target serotonin, norepinephrine, or dopamine — and can take 4–8 weeks to work. Ketamine targets the glutamate system and NMDA receptors, triggering BDNF release and the mTOR signaling pathway. This promotes new synaptic connections in hours or days, not weeks. It's not masking symptoms — it's restoring the neural wiring that chronic conditions have degraded.

Most patients describe it as deeply relaxing with some dissociative qualities — a sense of floating, time distortion, and distance from everyday thought patterns. Some describe it as dreamlike. Others find it deeply introspective. Your dose is calibrated to your response in real time, so your experience is controlled and comfortable throughout.

At the low, therapeutic doses used in clinical settings with proper medical oversight, addiction, tolerance, and dependence are rarely seen. This is fundamentally different from recreational use. Our structured protocol and in-clinic administration ensure safe, controlled dosing every time.

In most cases, no. Ketamine works through a completely different mechanism than SSRIs, SNRIs, and most other medications. Certain medications may require adjustment — particularly MAOIs, high-dose benzodiazepines, and lamotrigine. We review your complete medication list during your initial conversation and coordinate with your prescribing provider if needed.

Most patients begin with an initial series of infusions — typically six sessions over two to three weeks for mental health conditions. Pain conditions may require different protocols. After the initial series, many patients transition to maintenance infusions as needed. There's no one-size-fits-all schedule; your protocol is built around your response.

We treat depression (including treatment-resistant), anxiety, PTSD, OCD, suicidal ideation, chronic pain conditions, addiction/substance use disorders, and more. Each condition has a dedicated page on our site with clinical evidence specific to that condition. If you're unsure whether ketamine is appropriate for your situation, that's exactly what the discovery call is for.

Most insurance plans do not currently cover IV ketamine infusion therapy, as it remains an off-label treatment. We offer flexible payment options and can provide documentation for potential out-of-network reimbursement or HSA/FSA claims. We're happy to discuss this during your consultation so there are no surprises.

You'll arrive, get settled in a private treatment suite with a weighted blanket, eye mask, and curated music. Marla starts the IV and monitors your vitals continuously — heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation. The infusion lasts about 40 minutes to several hours depending on your protocol. Afterward, you'll rest until the effects subside, typically 15–30 minutes. You'll need a ride home.

IV is the gold standard for ketamine therapy. Your provider controls the dose milligram by milligram in real time and can pause, adjust, or stop at any moment based on your response. At-home ketamine — whether sublingual or injectable — offers no real-time dose control and zero medical monitoring during the experience. The FDA has issued formal warnings about compounded ketamine in unsupervised settings.

Common short-term effects include mild dizziness, nausea, and disorientation — all of which resolve within an hour of treatment. Because Marla is a CRNA, she can administer anti-nausea medication and manage any side effects in real time. Serious adverse events are rare in supervised clinical settings with proper screening.