Medical professionals are seeing ketamine’s wide variety of uses. Intravenous and Intramuscular ketamine therapy are the most commonly used methods of delivery and additionally, have the most research supporting effects on treatment-resistant depression, as well as other long-term pain and mental health conditions. Some of the other areas where ketamine has been shown to be effective include:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Depression
• Suicidal ideation
• Social anxiety disorder
• Palliative care
• Eating disorders
• Substance use disorders

• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Migraines
• Neuropathic pain
• Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)

Ketamine is what is known as an NMDA receptor antagonist. It affects parts of your brain that are involved in pain perception, memory, and learning. While experiencing ketamine, and in the days after a treatment, there is an increase in neuroplasticity, or a re-wiring/reorganization of certain pathways in the brain. This allows space for new thoughts, new ways of processing, and new ways of thinking about and dealing with internal and external stressors in your life.

Part of ketamine’s benefit is that it is, comparatively, very low risk. When Ketamine is used as a street drug, it is used at a much higher dose all at once. Therapeutic doses for Ketamine therapy infusions are administered at safe low doses over a prolonged amount of time and have been shown not to result in addiction. It does increase blood pressure and heart rate, so if there are any preexisting conditions that affect these two factors the candidate may not be eligible for treatment. Occasionally ketamine can upset the stomach, but this will usually subside in a matter of hours. There are medications that the doctor can administer to help alleviate these symptoms if they persist throughout the treatment.

At Thrive IV we focus on intravenous administration of Ketamine. You will be in a comfortable, private room where you will be given noise canceling headphones with soothing music playing and an eye mask. A small intravenous line will be placed in the forearm or hand where Ketamine will be given in a measured and time dose based on your weight and medical history. Sometimes the doctor will need to administer other medications to make you comfortable and safe. Blood pressure, oxygen and heart rhythm monitors will be used and levels checked at regular intervals. Only the doctor or team member doing these assessments will be with you while your Ketamine infusion is administered. You are welcome to have a family member or close friend with you throughout your treatment, although most patients choose to be alone. If you would like to bring someone with you into the treatment room, please notify our office in advance of your treatment.

You may feel mild visual hallucinations, out of body experience and other similar mild effects that wear off quickly. This is perfect and what we want to happen! It is a sign you are responding to the infusion therapy and is encouraging, letting us know we are on the right path to helping you.

Yes, you should discuss your treatment with all of your other providers and we will help support you during this focused healing process.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, uncontrolled/untreated high blood pressure, untreated hyperthyroidism and congestive heart failure may preclude treatment with Ketamine.

We typically recommend a series of 6 ketamine treatments over the course of 2-3 weeks. Sometimes changes can be seen after the first ketamine session, and other times it takes 3-5 sessions before change starts to occur. Regular boosters have been shown to prolong the positive benefits and also help with pain/symptom management. Patient and practitioner availability, and patient circumstances can affect the total duration of treatment.

• Studies have shown that being mentally prepared before treatment enables patients to achieve consistent and successful results. To prepare for your treatment, we recommend limiting electronic stimulation. This includes the computer, TV, phone, tablet, etc. We also recommend focusing on getting into the right frame of mind. Some patients find meditation, yoga and goal setting can be helpful to focus your mind on positive and encouraging thoughts. Both should be put into practice at least one week before your appointment.
• It is also highly recommended that you have a licensed therapist in place before your treatment plan begins. We cannot emphasize this enough. Over the course of your ketamine treatment, you may experience thoughts and feelings that you’ll want to discuss and work through with a professional therapist. Many of our patients find that journaling during or right after their ketamine therapy is very helpful and can then be referred to during any psychiatric therapy session later.
• Set Up a Driver. After treatment you will be unable to drive yourself. It is important to have someone reliable to pick you up after your ketamine therapy. Your driver should arrive 15 minutes before your appointment is scheduled to end. When the designated driver arrives, they can either call the front desk at (508) 848-8089 to let us know they have arrived, or they can check in at the Thrive IV front desk. Our team will be able to assist you to the car or to the waiting room to meet your designated driver at the conclusion of your appointment.
• Stay Hydrated Before Your Appointment. Having enough fluids before treatment helps to gain good IV access and makes for a smooth relaxed start to your therapy. We recommend drinking plenty of water and fluids with electrolytes. We also recommend eliminating diuretics like coffee and soda from your diet 12 hours before your appointment.
• No Eating or Drinking Before Your Treatment. You should stop eating six hours before your appointment and stop drinking two hours before. This will help eliminate queasiness during the treatment process and make it less likely you will need to urinate during your treatment.
• Wear Loose, Comfortable Clothing. Your therapy session will last 90 minutes or more. You will also have a chest monitor and electrode stickers attached to your upper body during your therapy so the doctor can safely monitor your progress. If you have chest hair, we ask that you shave a few areas to ensure good adhesion prior to coming in.
• Bring What You Find Most Comforting. During your treatment, we will provide eye covers and sound canceling headphones that have soft music playing. Many patients find bringing a pillow, blanket or journal can be helpful as well. Please feel free to bring any items that will be most comforting to you.

The morning of your treatment, continue to take your medications as usual with the exception of the following:

• Benzodiazepines
• Narcotics/Opioids
• Pain Medications
• Lamictal
• Marijuana

Discontinue taking these 12 hours before treatment. Taking any of the medications mentioned above could result in cancelation of that day’s therapy.

Physical side effects from ketamine therapy are mild, and do not occur in every patient. Nausea, vertigo and headaches are the most common, and can be treated in session. Even if you experience any of these they are typically for only short periods of time and resolve often with no treatment.

Other side effects can include an increase in blood pressure and heart rate, some respiratory depression, or simply a larger degree of mental dissociation than the patient was expecting. We screen each patient for these risk factors, but in the event that they do occur, stopping the experience, and/or treating them with medications are always an option. These side effects generally do not persist, and usually last between 5 and 15 minutes. Most people report feeling sleepy as a side effect in the hours after their treatment, but the feeling dissipates as ketamine is metabolized and eliminated from the body. There have been virtually no long-term side effects reported by practitioners.

According to most recent studies, and testimonies from ketamine therapy practices, about 70-80% of patients respond positively and begin to “feel better” after their first ketamine treatment.

Currently, most insurance do not pay for ketamine treatment for mood/pain disorders. At Thrive IV, we are happy to provide you with a "super bill" after your treatment for you to then submit to your individual insurance carrier. Generally, most mood infusions are scheduled in 2 hour increments and require 6 sessions over a 2-3 week period. Each session is $500. Pain infusions generally are scheduled in 4-6 hour increments and require anywhere between 1-4 sessions or more. Pain infusions begin at $1500.