Before Ketamine Therapy: What To Do & What To Expect
Synopsis: This blog provides essential guidance for anyone considering ketamine therapy; covering key preparation steps and what to expect during treatment. Learn about the questions to ask your clinic, the impact of medications and media consumption, and how to maximize the benefits of ketamine therapy through proper preparation and integration.
This blog is adapted from the transcript of the above video Before Ketamine Therapy: What To Do and What To Expect.
Intro: What to Do & Expect Before A Ketamine Treatment
If you’re considering ketamine therapy, you might be wondering how to prepare and what to expect before you start your treatments. In this blog, you’ll discover key information to help you get the most out of your therapy. There’s a lot so here’s what we’re covering:
Read them all or jump to the information you want now!
Before starting your treatment, it is important to ask the right questions to your ketamine clinic.
10 Key Questions to Ask Before Your Ketamine Treatment
You may be wondering what questions to ask the ketamine specialist before starting treatment. In this section, we’ll go over what to ask! First, will someone be with me the entire time? Ketamine can put you in a vulnerable state. Being alone during the experience can be frightening, especially if you feel exposed or if this is your first time. So clarifying if someone will be with you throughout the infusion is helpful.
Next, ask how they determine the dose of ketamine. Typically, ketamine infusions begin at roughly 0.5 milligrams per kilogram over a 40-minute infusion. But different clinics may follow different protocols, so asking about their dosing process is important.
Will my vital signs be monitored throughout the session? Ketamine can affect blood pressure, oxygen levels, and heart rate. Have a safe experience and ensure the clinic monitors your vital signs throughout the entire session.
Ask how much experience the clinic has with ketamine. Some providers may be newer to ketamine therapy and may not have completed residency training with the drug. Understanding their expertise can help you make an informed decision.
Ask about the clinic’s preparation protocol for ketamine therapy. Some offer extensive guidelines, while others may have none. Preparation is key to optimizing your treatment experience.
Next, ask about integration—what is the plan after treatment to ensure you apply the insights gained from ketamine therapy? A solid integration plan can maximize your results.
Some clinics provide eye shades, blankets, and music to enhance the experience. Check whether the clinic offers these, and if not, consider bringing your own.
You might also want to ask, why did you open this clinic? Understanding the reason or motivation behind the clinic can offer insight into their intentions. Going to a clinic that is profit-driven versus driven by purpose will result in different experiences.
Ensure the clinic staff is certified in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS). While ketamine is generally safe, having trained medical personnel is important in case of any potential bad outcomes.
Lastly, ask about refunds. Ketamine therapy might not be the right fit for you. It’s important to know if you can get a refund if you decide to cancel future sessions after the first treatment. Get this awkward question out of the way before you even begin.
Now you have the ten questions to ask before you start your treatments! Happy healing.
Consult with your ketamine specialist regarding the medications you are currently taking to see if they alter the effectiveness of your treatment.
Medications That May Decrease Ketamine Therapy’s Effectiveness
Certain medications can alter the effectiveness of ketamine during your treatments. Two commonly known medications that can decrease the effect of ketamine are lamotrigine and benzodiazepines. Multiple studies have indicated that these medications can reduce both the effectiveness and duration of the ketamine experience.
There are also other medications that could interact with ketamine, including clozapine, haloperidol, and risperidone. More research is needed to fully understand these interactions, but so far, current data suggests that these medications might influence how ketamine works.
Patients taking SSRIs and SNRIs have not shown significant interactions with ketamine, meaning that these antidepressants may not inhibit ketamine’s effectiveness.
It’s important to not stop any medications without consulting with your prescribing provider. Plus speak with your ketamine specialist to review your current medications and understand how they may affect your ketamine therapy. Your specialist can provide personalized guidance to ensure you get the most out of your treatment experience.
Why Is Fasting Important Before Ketamine Treatment?
Why do you need to fast before your ketamine infusion therapy? The main reason is to minimize the risk of aspiration. Aspiration occurs when the contents of the stomach move backward through the esophageal sphincter, potentially entering the lungs. This can be dangerous as it may lead to pneumonia, infection, or choking.
To reduce this risk, it’s important to have an empty stomach, ideally three to five hours before the infusion. This precaution helps prevent any food or other stomach contents from being inhaled into the lungs during the treatment. Remember to always ask the clinic where you are getting your treatment on how long to fast as each clinic may have different guidelines.
Learn more about Why You Need To Fast Before Your Ketamine Treatment in our blog.
Ketamine therapy has four phases that each play integral roles in ensuring the treatment’s effectiveness.
Understanding the Four Phases of Ketamine Therapy
Ketamine therapy has four phases: preparation, intention, experience, and integration. Using the metaphor of gardening, think of preparation as getting the soil ready. In this phase, you’re removing weeds, rocks, and anything that could hinder growth while making sure the soil is nourished and ready for planting.
Next is intention, which is like choosing the seed you want to plant in the garden of your mind. Whether you’re seeking peace, joy, or relaxation, it’s key to have a clear idea of your intention before beginning ketamine therapy.
The third phase is the experience itself. This is like planting the seed in the ground. During the ketamine session, focus on the intention you’ve set, much like carefully placing the seed into the soil.
Finally, the fourth phase is integration, which is all about nurturing the seed to grow. Integration is the process of applying the insights gained during the ketamine experience to your everyday life, fostering real growth and change. Use this gardening metaphor to help you understand that there is more than ketamine to this unique therapy!
Delve into our 4 Phases of Transformational Ketamine Therapy blog for more details about this topic.
The Impact of What You Watch on Your Ketamine Experience
A recent study published in the Frontiers of Human Neuroscience on July 18, 2023, explored how media exposure can affect psychedelic drug action. The article, titled Imprinting: Expanding the Extra-Pharmacological Model of Psychedelic Drug Action to Incorporate Delayed Influences of Set and Setting, found that high levels of media consumption prior to therapy sessions can overpower the intention-setting process. In contrast, participants who reduced their media use before treatment had more profound and focused experiences.
This is crucial to understand because our minds function similarly to our digestive systems—what we consume, whether it’s food or media, becomes part of us. Just as proteins, carbohydrates, and fats from food are absorbed into our bodies, the mental content we absorb—through books, social media, news, or videos—also integrates into our psyche.
That’s why, before ketamine therapy at our clinic, we advise patients to prepare mentally by avoiding violent or horror movies and even crime thrillers. One of our patients watched Grey’s Anatomy right before their session, and during the treatment, scenes from the show resurfaced intensely.
So, be mindful of what you consume, not just physically but mentally, as it can significantly influence your ketamine experience. What you watch can influence your ketamine treatment experience.
Conclusion
We hope this blog has offered valuable insights and practical tips to help you navigate your ketamine therapy journey. Remember, thorough preparation and understanding what to expect can support a successful transformative experience. Following these guidelines, along with the guidance of the clinic you are receiving your treatments, can maximize the benefits of your therapy.
If you found this blog post helpful, you might want to check out these too:
What To Expect After A Ketamine Infusion
You may be wondering what’s going to happen during your first ketamine infusion. How are you going to feel after a ketamine infusion? What should you watch out for? In this blog, we’ll share what you may experience and what you might want to anticipate after your ketamine infusion.
Why You Are Crying During Ketamine Therapy
Uncover the reasons behind the tears during ketamine sessions and learn how this deep emotional release can pave the way for true healing and understanding.
What Will Your Ketamine Experience Be Like?
Often Dr. Ko gets questions about what a ketamine infusion is like. People want to know what to expect! In this video, he shares one way he goes about answering this question, using the analogy of going to a restaurant.
Discover essential tips for a successful ketamine therapy journey. Learn about preparation, key questions to ask, and maximizing benefits through integration.