Ketamine can be administered intravenously (IV), intramuscular (IM), orally, or intranasally. We offer intravenous and intramuscular routes of administration which has a rapid between 2-4 minutes and duration typically between 40-60 minutes. Administration is painless, and patients do not experience a “come down” or negative aftereffects. Both forms of administration require supervision and is only given by a practitioner specifically trained in the use of ketamine. Patient’s vital signs are monitored throughout treatment to ensure patient safety.
The infusions are administered in a comfortable chair with a soft blanket, eye shades, and noise canceling headphones with music curated for the ketamine experience. Aromatherapy is used with a diffuser that includes essential oils specifically made with intention and for Innerbloom Ketamine Therapy by Seshen. After the infusion, we talk about you experience including any insights you may have gained and offer tea made with intention and for IKT by Secret Garden.
It is not safe to drive or operate heavy machinery after the treatment, and we ask that you have another person available to take you home. Timing for effects to wear off depend on route of administration. Intravenous wears off quicker than intramuscular, with effects typically wearing off within minutes to hours.
The science has shown that multiple infusions or injections over a short period of time are the best ways to get results. Although not required, we encourage patients to set up multiple appointments over a one-month period, which typically involves treatments 1-3 times per week. We follow up with each patient to assess the effects of the ketamine. Some patients experience long lasting relief from their symptoms while others need an occasional booster dose. While other patients are satisfied with the results of just one signal treatment.
IV infusion typically requires one needle stick to start the IV. Intramuscular routes may require multiple, but typically not more than two injections.
IV infusion rates can be increased, decreased, or even stopped depending on the patient’s response during the treatment. Intramuscular administration cannot be adjusted or “taken back” after injection and patients who choose intramuscular routes need to understand that it is not possible to stop administration. Thus, they must mitigate any adverse side effects through reassurance and allow the medication to “run its course."
The rate of onset and recovery is also different, there is the possibility of an intense onset and slower recovery with intramuscular injection versus IV infusion.
Some experiences include the sensation of movement, imagery that may include familiar people, places, colors, nature, or other psychedelic visions.
It’s important to understand that the healing process and antidepressant effects occur after infusions. The dissociative state/ “trip” is simply part of the process. Some individuals find meaning in their ketamine experiences with things being brought up to the surface, which offers them something to work with internally or with the therapist. Others will have an experience that is filled with random thoughts and imagery that is difficult to understand. Individuals are reassured that it’s OK to have unusual or seemingly meaningless experiences, because the healing is caused by structural changing the brain, such as neurogenesis, which happened days to weeks after infusions.
Some experiences will be very pleasurable and euphoric, while others with be challenging. The ketamine experience may bring out subconscious issues such as memories or trauma that can be overwhelming.
A challenging trip (rather than the term “bad trip”) can be very therapeutic and potentially even more can be gained and used from these difficult experiences.
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