What Are Ketamine Infusions?

Ketamine is a drug with a long history that stretches back more than half a century. Gaining attention as an effective anesthetic back in the 1960s and 1970s, today ketamine is recognized as a cutting-edge treatment for people with depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and chronic pain.

At Ketalink Ketamine Center our providers offer custom ketamine infusion therapy, serving patients in Long Island, NY using the most advanced technology for optimal benefits. In this post, learn the basics about ketamine infusions, including how they work and what to expect during and after your session.

How ketamine works

Ketamine’s use as a medication for mental health issues and chronic pain is relatively new, and researchers are still learning how ketamine works to help patients feel better. What they know is that ketamine binds with special receptors on your nerves called N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. 

NMDA receptors respond to glutamate, a neurotransmitter chemical involved in mood and pain perception. By binding with NMDA receptors, ketamine blocks glutamate, leaving more of the chemical available to trigger other chemical reactions associated with mood regulation.

Ketamine also supports nerve-to-nerve communication and neuroplasticity, improving nerve signaling and optimizing brain function. Together, these effects help your brain manage mood-related signaling and pain pathways more efficiently than medications typically used to treat these problems.

What to expect during a ketamine infusion

Ketamine infusions use IV (intravenous) administration to deliver the medicine directly to your bloodstream. Each infusion takes about 45 minutes to an hour, and the infusion is administered right in our office.

During your infusion, you relax and recline in a comfortable chair. Our team places the IV in your arm and sets the rate of administration. You’re monitored throughout your infusion, so you can feel relaxed and confident.

As the medication takes effect, you may feel lightheaded, and the dissociative effects of the drug may cause mild hallucinatory effects or a sensation of floating. These effects resolve very rapidly following your treatment, although you can expect to feel groggy for a few hours.

Because of that grogginess, you need to arrange to have someone drive you home afterward and should plan to spend the remainder of the day resting. Most people experience marked improvement within 1-3 infusion sessions.

Find out if ketamine is right for you

Ketamine has proven to be a safe, effective therapy for many people with treatment-resistant mental health issues and chronic pain, but it’s not an ideal solution for everyone. To find out if it’s right for you, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Ketalink Ketamine Center today.