IV ketamine infusions are a supervised medical treatment delivered in a clinical setting over a 40–60 minute session. Each treatment plan is individualized, including dosing tailored to the patient’s needs and clinical response.
If you suffer from the crippling symptoms of depression, PTSD, anxiety, OCD, or bipolar disorder, then ketamine infusions could be a new option for your care. At this time, we are only offering treatments to patients with treatment-resistant conditions and patients with severe symptoms that need immediate intervention.
Only individuals with serious cardiac, cardiovascular, neurological, liver, kidney, or respiratory issues will be excluded from treatment for preexisting medical conditions.
Unlike other psychiatric medications, ketamine therapy typically has no lasting side effects and usually only produces drowsiness and fatigue for a short period of time. While ketamine has been shown to occasionally cause bladder issues for chronic users, it is typically from higher doses and frequency than what New Pathways offers.
New Pathways Clinic always prefers to work with your existing mental health and primary care providers. However, we understand that not all patients have easy access to a psychiatrist or physician. Our experienced psychiatric nurse practitioners can independently prescribe your ketamine infusions if you are deemed appropriate for treatment after our mental and physical assessments.
While we are experts in providing ketamine infusions, we do not provide primary care or other treatments for migraines. We require a referral from the physician overseeing your care for all patients receiving infusions solely for migraines.
Your appointments will be blocked off in two-hour time slots. While the infusion itself usually only lasts about 45 minutes, we always allow time before for preparation and assessment, and 15-30 minutes after for recovery.
Yes, you cannot be treated without a responsible adult to drive you home for your own safety. You cannot drive the day of the infusion after treatment. Your companion for your treatments is welcome to sit in the treatment or waiting room and can also drop you off and pick you up.
Avoid negative or stressful situations and content if possible. Your mental state coming into the clinic can shape your ketamine infusion experience.
Avoid eating heavy meals the day of the infusion; we recommend not eating 4 hours before treatment.
We recommend staying hydrated, but no fluids 1-2 hours before the infusion.
Wear comfortable clothes
Please refrain from taking benzodiazepines, amphetamines, and opioids the day of treatment, if possible, without harm. I.E., Xanax, Ativan, Valium, Klonopin, Adderall, Percocet, and Oxycodone). Any other medication, including SSRIs and other antidepressants, can be taken normally.
You can also read our informative blog post, Preparing for a Ketamine Infusion, for more helpful info that will allow you to maximize the benefits of your ketamine treatment.
Relax! Ketamine infusions are most therapeutic when your mind is at peace.
Based on patient feedback, we recommend listening to music that is most calming to you.
Because ketamine infusions can provide profound realizations and self-psychotherapy, we do not recommend other uses of electronic devices.
We also provide eye masks upon request for enhanced focus.
Simply enjoy the precious, uninterrupted time for healing.
Most patients report a soothing and therapeutic experience. It is generally reported to provide a loose and abstract state of mind. This allows observations about thought patterns, trauma, and life to be made at higher levels without the normal accompanying emotions that can be distracting or painful.
While some patients occasionally experience dizziness, nausea, and anxiety during treatments, medications can be given as needed to reduce those effects, and your nurse will always be with you to help. If the treatment ever becomes overwhelming, it can be immediately stopped. A return to baseline usually happens within minutes.
Dozens of scientific studies have proved why six infusions are the standard treatment plan for mental health conditions. Each treatment results in more neuron growth and repair in the brain.
By the end of six infusions, about 20% respond so well that they don’t feel the need for further treatment. Some patients require more than six infusions to get the maximum response. A majority of patients experience significant or complete relief but require booster infusions to sustain an optimal remission. We offer customized booster infusion plans based on patient response, ranging from every month to once a year.
With our experience working with insurance companies for ketamine infusions, we will always do our best to maximize your insurance coverage for the treatments. All you have to do is provide your health insurance card, and we will do the rest! Based on experience, we know most patients will have a significant portion covered.
Insurance coverage varies from patient to patient, even if they have the same health insurance plan. Because ketamine is not an FDA-approved treatment for mental health, we cannot guarantee that there will be coverage.
As an independently operated clinic, please understand that we require upfront payment for co-pays, co-insurance, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs. HSA/FSA cards, credit cards, debit cards, money orders, or patient financing with Advanced Care are all acceptable forms of payment.
See our Insurance and Payments Page for more details.
New Pathways’ team has over a decade of experience treating psychiatric conditions with ketamine, including ten years of research at the Cleveland Clinic. With a high success rate in significant reduction of depression and other symptoms, ketamine treatments provide new hope for relief for those suffering from oppressive symptoms.
fMRI brain scans have shown that ketamine also promotes the growth of new synapses in the prefrontal cortex, resulting in greater connectivity in the brain, while also switching certain connections on and off. This combination of events is thought to be the main reason for the rapid antidepressant effect.
Have medications and counseling left you feeling like no treatment works for you? Then we believe you owe yourself an opportunity to see if ketamine can provide you with lasting relief.
New Pathways has expanded our services in Ohio in an effort to serve the whole state and now offers ketamine and Spravato at our Columbus and Cincinnati locations.
