Getting Started with Virginia Infusion Therapies

While the success rate of ketamine is notably high, it doesn’t work for everyone. Fortunately, in most circumstances, it only takes three infusions to determine whether or not you will benefit from this therapy. If there is not an adequate response after three infusions, we typically recommend discontinuing ketamine therapy.

If you do not respond significantly after 3 ketamine infusions, you will be considered a non-responder. In this case it is unlikely further doses will be of benefit to you.

Yes you should. You may find in time, with the help of your psychiatrist or other managing physician, a decreased need for other depression medications. We do not encourage you to change any medications for depression or anxiety until you get on maintenance Ketamine therapy and in direct consultation with your psychiatrist or managing physician. Failure to continue your current medication regimen, could compromise your Ketamine response and potentially put you in danger of worsening your condition. We will need to correspond with your provider before you make any medication changes.

Ketamine infusion treatment is successful and immediate after only one treatment in about 70% of patients. The relief after the first treatment, however, can be only hours to days. Research has determined that the depression-relief can be extended like many drugs by increasing the number and dose of early treatments before determining a maintenance treatment regimen.

For Pain patients, patients will need three, approximately 4-hour infusions in the first week. Depending on your response after the third infusion, a maintenance plan will be customized individually for you. Maintenance Ketamine infusions for pain syndromes, are every 1-3 months, depending on your response to therapy.   

Data is limited on immediate response and duration across all pain syndromes.  Pain relief rates depends on the pain condition being treated. However about ⅔ of patients have meaningful benefits. Some patients may have significant pain relief and can even be pain free for 6 months or more.

Shortly after you arrive here at Virginia Infusion Therapies, you will be escorted back to our infusion room. You will be with seated in a comfortable reclining chair and soft lighting.  Prior to this, you will be asked to empty your bladder before the infusion starts.  You will not be able to get up and walk to bathroom during the infusion. A bedside commode for women and a bedside urinal for men will be provided if necessary.

The physician will answer all the questions you have. Next, a small IV will be placed for the ketamine infusion.  We will monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen, using a state-of-the-art monitor and you will be observed for any signs of adverse side effects. During the infusion you will be able to communicate with the physician and family, but may have difficulty with any conversations. We do not encourage conversations, as your experience will be enhanced in a quiet environment.  You are strongly urged to bring soothing music and your headphones to make the experience even more enjoyable.

Shortly after the infusion starts, you may start feeling strange and possibly have an “out of body” experience. You may also experience some blurred vision, double vision, decreased coordination, and mild dizziness. You can still talk and communicate your needs. These effects are the normal and expected response to the dissociative effect of ketamine. Having the music helps you stay connected to reality and decreases any fears you may have. During the infusion, the physician or nurse will try to minimize stimuli in the room and give you your space, but will be immediately available for any questions or concerns.

Ketamine will heighten your senses and make you feel like you are in a dreamlike or illusionary state. Please note that during the infusion you will not process information in the usual way. Therefore, you may patient feel anxious. Medication is available to help during the infusion, if it is necessary.

Near the end of the infusion you may feel nauseous, due to the blurry and double vision associated with the infusion. Closing your eyes may help stop or diminish the nausea feeling. Medication is available if this occurs. Remember, you are being treated by Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physicians and we are trained to deal with any complications that may occur.

After the infusion we will monitor you for approximately 1 to 1.5 hours or until we feel you are safe to be able to get up and walk around safely. Even though the majority of the side effects of ketamine resolve at the end of the treatment, some studies have shown minimal effects lasting up to 4 hours after infusions.

We ask that  you don’t eat any solids or non clear liquids for 4 hoursor drink clear liquids for 2 hoursbefore appointment as you are getting a sedative medication.  Failure to comply with this requirement could potentially require us to cancel you infusion for the day and reschedule you for another day. There will be a $100 cancelation fee if this happens. Please setup a ride back home or to your hotel room. You may not drive or use heavy machinery for 24 hours after the infusion.