Originally used as a tranquilizing agent, Ketamine has recently been found to be effective for the treatment of a number of psychiatric conditions, including, but not limited to therapy-resistant depression (TRD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and bipolar disorder. Its mechanism of action is unclear at this time, but it appears to somehow allow for the neurocircuitry of the brain to rewire itself by increasing brain plasticity.

We welcome patients that suffer from therapy-resistant depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, and anxiety amongst other issues. Any issue that your licensed mental healthcare provider thinks may benefit from treatment will be considered. We accept pain patients who are currently under the care of a pain management specialist.

We do not require that you have a therapist or psychiatrist. However, we highly recommend you do because it will increase the safety and efficacy of your infusion journey. Don’t have a therapist? We built a network of local therapists to which we can refer you. If you’re already established with one, we are more than happy to include them in your treatment regimen.

Most infusions are 50 minutes, and you can expect to be in our clinic for a total of about 90 minutes. Infusions for pain can sometimes require a longer duration in treatment.

Yes, there are some medications that can decrease the efficacy of the infusion, but most medications will not interfere. Dr. Gasper will discuss your medications during your consultation and determine if any adjustments need to be made. Most patients will continue taking their medications as prescribed.

You will initially have 6 treatments over the course of 2-5 weeks. This is called the “stabilization series.” Many patients will need to return for maintenance infusions to maintain the effectiveness of the ketamine therapy. The frequency with which you will need a maintenance infusion differs for each patient. One infusion every 1-3 months is most common.

No, there are no serious health or addiction risks with ketamine therapy. Ketamine has been safely used for over fifty years on patients in hospitals. Although ketamine has a history of being abused as a hallucinogen, the dose and rate of administration used for therapy is insufficient to experience those effects or become habit-forming.

Yes. Ketamine treatments for depression, PTSD, etc. do not require being admitted to the hospital.

There are few medical conditions that will prevent you from qualifying for infusions. Patients with a history of schizophrenia and patients in acute psychosis or mania cannot receive this treatment. If you are pregnant or nursing, you are not able to undergo treatment. If you have uncontrolled high blood pressure or heart failure, your symptoms will need to be managed before we can treat you. Dr. Gasper will go over your medical history in detail to make sure it is safe for you to receive infusion therapy.

We understand the urgency many patients feel in their desire to find relief from their symptoms, so we aim to see patients quickly. The process to begin infusions will require a consultation with Dr. Gasper. Typically, we are able to see you within 1-4 business days. If you are a candidate for ketamine therapy and wish to proceed, we will book all 6 of your infusions to secure your schedule, and your first infusion will typically begin 1-4 business days after your consultation.

No, we do not accept insurance plans, Medicare, Medicaid or any other insurance plan. Because ketamine is considered an off-label use by the FDA, insurance companies usually will not cover it when used to treat mental health conditions. We will be able to provide you with a superbill so that you may try to obtain reimbursement from your insurance company. Payment is due prior to your infusion. We accept cash, credit card, HSA, and FSA. We also accept payments from third-party financing companies, like Advance Care Card and Care Credit.

Hydrate well. Ensure that your friend or family member is still able to take you to and from your appointment. Prior to your first infusion, we will send you a detailed guide on what to expect and how to prepare.

Consultations require a $50 payment to book. If you cancel or reschedule 24 hours prior to your appointment, your consultation fee is refundable. If you do not inform us of your need to reschedule or cancel or no-show, the consultation fee is non-refundable. Infusions that are not rescheduled or cancelled 24 hours or more prior to the appointment time are subject to a $100 fee.

The majority of providers who have extensive experience with ketamine work in anesthesia or emergency medicine. Even though ketamine is a very safe medication, patient safety during the treatment requires a qualified and experienced provider who can respond to emergencies.

The safety of ketamine has been demonstrated repeatedly over the last five decades; however, not all patients are ideal candidates for this treatment. Dr. Gasper will determine if ketamine treatment is right for you during your consultation.

No, you cannot drive after receiving an infusion. You will be required by our clinic to have a driver on your infusion days. The driver can be a family member or a trusted friend or neighbor, someone to get you to and from our clinic safely. You also should not operate heavy machinery, make significant decisions or enter into contracts for the 24 hours after infusion.

Please do not have anything to eat for 3 hours prior to your scheduled infusion time. You may drink clear liquids up to 2 hours prior to your scheduled infusion time. You may eat and drink as you wish after release.

Side effects are relatively uncommon due to safety precautions and the use of low-dose ketamine for our infusions. Increased blood pressure and heart rate, light-headedness, the sensation of floating, euphoria, dysphoria, and nausea are the most common short-term side effects and subside shortly after the infusion ends. At our clinic, each patient is monitored continuously with each infusion; heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation. Medication can be administered to you if you develop increased blood pressure or nausea. Currently, there is no data documenting long-term side effects with low doses of ketamine administered for short periods of time.