Ketamine has been used safely in medical settings for more than fifty years, but most people scheduling their first infusion arrive with the same question: what is actually going to happen to me? That gap between the decision to try it and knowing what to expect is one of the most common reasons people delay getting started. At Valor Health Solutions, we hear it regularly, and the answer is usually less complicated than people expect.
What Ketamine Infusion Therapy Is
Ketamine infusion therapy is the intravenous (IV) administration of ketamine at carefully controlled, sub-anesthetic doses to treat conditions including depression, PTSD, anxiety, and chronic pain. The medication has been used as a surgical anesthetic since the 1960s, and Johns Hopkins describes its transition into mental health treatment as one of the more significant shifts in psychiatric medicine in recent decades (Johns Hopkins, 2024).
What sets ketamine apart from most psychiatric medications is the mechanism. Standard antidepressants primarily target serotonin or norepinephrine, neurotransmitters involved in mood regulation. Ketamine works differently: it acts on the glutamate system, the brain’s primary excitatory signaling network, by blocking receptors called NMDA receptors. That distinction matters clinically because it means ketamine can produce measurable antidepressant effects within hours rather than the weeks that standard medications typically require (Translational Psychiatry).
At Valor Health Solutions, we offer three IV ketamine infusion durations depending on what a patient needs. The 40-minute protocol is our standard mental health infusion, used most often for depression, PTSD, and anxiety. The 2-hour protocol is designed for chronic pain or more complex mental health presentations. The 4-hour protocol addresses more intensive pain syndromes. This blog focuses on what to expect from the 40-minute mental health infusion, which is the most common starting point for new patients.
Who Typically Seeks Ketamine Infusion Therapy
Most patients who come to us have already tried other approaches. Many are dealing with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), a clinical designation for a major depressive episode that has not responded adequately to at least two antidepressant medications at appropriate doses and for an appropriate duration. Others are managing PTSD, anxiety that has not responded to standard treatments, or chronic neuropathic pain conditions such as complex regional pain syndrome or fibromyalgia.
We also see patients who want to combine ketamine with psychotherapy as part of a more deliberate healing process. Our Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) program pairs infusions with licensed therapist support in a preparation, medicine session, and integration structure, and we consider it a meaningful addition for many patients.
Whether ketamine infusion therapy is appropriate for you depends on your full medical and psychiatric history, which is why every patient at Valor Health Solutions goes through a clinical evaluation before any treatment is approved. We encourage you to bring your questions to that conversation and to discuss your options with your provider before making any decisions.
What Happens Before Your First Infusion
After your initial $49 consultation, which is applied toward your first treatment if you proceed, your provider reviews your history and determines whether ketamine infusion therapy is appropriate. If it is, our team then reviews insurance and payment options with you before you commit to a treatment schedule.
Most IV ketamine infusions are self-pay. Our 40-minute infusion sessions start at $360, and the standard initial course is six infusions spread over two to three weeks. For patients who need help with the cost, we offer financing through CareCredit with promotional periods of 6, 12, 18, or 24 months depending on approval, and we accept HSA and FSA cards. Veterans who qualify through the VA Community Care program may be eligible to receive IV ketamine and psychotherapy at no cost to them.
Before your first session, our team will give you specific preparation instructions. These typically include fasting guidelines for a set period beforehand. Plan ahead: you will not be able to drive yourself home after any infusion. You will need to arrange a driver. Total time at the clinic for a 40-minute mental health infusion, including check-in and post-infusion recovery monitoring, is approximately one and a half to two and a half hours.
What the Infusion Itself Feels Like
The infusion takes place in a private room. A licensed clinician monitors you throughout the entire session, tracking vitals and available if anything needs to be addressed.
Ketamine at infusion doses produces a dissociative state. That term simply means an altered sense of your surroundings: a floating or dreamlike quality, shifts in how time feels, and sometimes vivid imagery or changes in perception. Most patients describe it as relaxed rather than distressing. The dissociative effects are temporary and resolve during the recovery period after the infusion ends.
The National Institutes of Health has documented that side effects from a single antidepressant dose of IV ketamine are generally mild and brief (National Institutes of Health). The most common during an infusion are temporary dizziness, mild nausea, or a brief increase in blood pressure. These are things our clinical team monitors in real time and can address. They typically resolve well before you leave.
The 40 minutes passes faster than most patients expect. Having something calming to listen to helps most people settle into the session. We can discuss what works best for you during your preparation.
What Happens After Your Infusion
After the infusion ends, you stay in recovery with a clinician present until you are confirmed stable and ready to leave. Because ketamine temporarily affects coordination and cognition, your driver needs to be ready when you are.
The dissociative effects typically resolve within a couple of hours of the infusion ending. Some patients feel tired afterward. Others notice a meaningful lift in mood within hours or by the following day. Clinical research has demonstrated that ketamine can produce significant antidepressant effects rapidly, often within a short window after treatment (Translational Psychiatry). Results vary by individual, and a single infusion is not the complete picture for most patients.
If you have added KAP to your treatment plan, your integration session with your therapist will happen after the medicine session, giving you the opportunity to process what came up during the infusion while the therapeutic window is still open.
The Standard Six-Infusion Course
The clinical standard for treating depression, PTSD, or anxiety with IV ketamine is a course of six infusions spread over two to three weeks. Sessions work cumulatively, and the structure of the course reflects that. After completing the initial series, some patients move to maintenance infusions on a schedule that reflects their individual response. Others transition to our oral ketamine program as a step-down or bridging option between infusion series.
Our team reviews how you are responding throughout the course. Your feedback after each session is part of how we adjust and individualize your care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ketamine infusion therapy the same as recreational ketamine use?
No. Recreational ketamine is taken in different doses, through different routes, and without any clinical oversight. IV ketamine infusion therapy is administered at precisely controlled sub-anesthetic doses through a monitored IV line, with a licensed clinician present throughout and vital signs tracked in real time. The dose, route, setting, and purpose are entirely distinct.
Do I have to stop my current medications before starting infusions?
That depends on your specific medications and history, which is exactly what our clinical evaluation is designed to assess. Some medications interact with ketamine and may need to be adjusted; others do not. We review your full medication list as part of the intake process. Do not stop or change any medications before speaking with your provider.
Will I remember the infusion?
Most patients retain some memory of the experience, though the dissociative state can make the session feel dreamlike in retrospect. Some remember it clearly; others have only a general impression. Memory of the session is not required for the therapeutic effects to occur.
What if I feel anxious going in?
Pre-session anxiety is common and something our team is experienced at working through with patients. We talk through what to expect before your session begins, and a comfortable private environment helps most people settle in. If anxiety about the experience is a significant concern, mention it during your consultation so we can address it directly.
Can I go back to work the same day?
We recommend taking the remainder of the day off after your infusion. While most patients feel reasonably clear-headed within a few hours, the combination of temporary cognitive effects and the emotional weight of the experience typically makes a quiet afternoon a better plan than returning to work. Schedule accordingly.
Key Takeaways
- Ketamine infusion therapy delivers ketamine intravenously at sub-anesthetic doses, acting on the glutamate system rather than serotonin to produce rapid effects on depression, PTSD, anxiety, and chronic pain.
- The standard mental health infusion at Valor Health Solutions is 40 minutes; total visit time including check-in and recovery is approximately one and a half to two and a half hours.
- Side effects during a single IV ketamine infusion are generally mild and brief, and a licensed clinician monitors vitals throughout every session.
- A full course of six infusions over two to three weeks is the clinical standard; results vary by individual, and a single session is typically not the full picture.
- Adding Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) to an infusion course may extend and deepen the therapeutic benefit by combining the neuroplasticity window ketamine opens with active therapeutic work.
If your current treatment has not gotten you where you need to be, IV ketamine infusion therapy may be worth exploring as a next step. At Valor Health Solutions, we serve patients in Clearwater, FL and Johnson City, TN with a licensed clinical team experienced in treating depression, PTSD, anxiety, and chronic pain. Your first step is a $49 consultation, applied toward your first treatment if you proceed. Call us at 727-615-5104 or book through our patient portal to schedule.
References
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. (2024). What to know about ketamine. https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2024/what-to-know-about-ketamine
- National Institutes of Health. Side effects mild and brief for single antidepressant dose of intravenous ketamine. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/side-effects-mild-brief-single-antidepressant-dose-intravenous-ketamine
- Translational Psychiatry. Antidepressant efficacy of ketamine in depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-021-01327-5
Medical Disclaimer
The information in this blog is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Ketamine infusion therapy should only be pursued under the supervision of a licensed medical provider with full knowledge of your medical and psychiatric history. Individual results vary. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or thoughts of self-harm, please call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or go to your nearest emergency room.
