IV Ketamine Treatment in Los Altos, CA

Every patient may experience their IV ketamine treatment differently, but there are some common experiences expressed among a variety of patients, with most patients finding the sensations during the treatments to be pleasant. It is common for patients to feel happy or euphoric, providing almost immediate relief from symptoms of depression, and relieving pain and worry. Since ketamine is a dissociative medication, patients will also commonly experience deep relaxation during treatment, often describing feeling “light” and “floaty” or as if they are in a dream. Some patients will experience heightened senses, making them more aware of sounds, or textures of things they are touching, or the colors of objects around them. IV ketamine treatment allows patients to process emotions without also feeling the intense associated emotions, making it a great option for the treatment of mental health conditions that are associated with traumatic events. This means that many patients will be able to process difficult feelings or memories that they would otherwise not be able to access or not have the capacity to process, which can sometimes be challenging but is an essential step for their healing process.

Ketamine can be administered through a variety of methods, with the most common including intravenous infusion of the medication throughout 30 to 40 minutes within a clinical or hospital setting. This method has proven to be currently the most effective ketamine treatment and is fairly safe as it is easily controlled and is closely supervised by qualified medical professionals. Other types of ketamine treatments include intramuscular injections, which are injected into the leg or arm of the patient and are also administered in a healthcare setting, making them fairly similar to the intravenous method. There are also oral lozenges available that are to be taken at home or within the clinical setting and are often used as maintenance dosages for ketamine, or nasal sprays that will only be provided within a clinical setting with close medical supervision to monitor for side effects.

Ketamine is proving to be an effective alternative treatment option for those suffering from a few specific types of mental health conditions, including treatment-resistant depression and PTSD. This form of treatment is effective for mental health issues because it works by binding to brain receptors that produce glutamate, which is a chemical that is essential in mood regulation. By binding to these receptors, the ketamine essentially activates the glutamate to increase its levels, effectively reducing symptoms associated with depression. The medication also supports neuroplasticity, which is our brain’s ability to adapt to new experiences, meaning that it may be able to interfere with negative thought patterns that are known for contributing to symptoms of depression. Ketamine also works much faster than anti-depressant medication, providing benefits almost immediately or within a couple of hours following administration, whereas patients taking anti-depressants often won’t be able to notice significant changes for multiple weeks. Working similarly for other types of mental health conditions, ketamine infusions can also prove to be effective in treating anxiety, PSTD, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

It is fairly uncommon to find an insurance provider that will offer even partial coverage for IV ketamine treatment, but patients are always encouraged to reach out to their specific insurance provider to check their healthcare policy. Because of this, the Bay Area Ketamine Center offers financing options to help relieve some of the financial burden that can be associated with medical treatments that are not eligible for any insurance coverage. Patients can learn more about our financing options through Advance Care or can directly apply through our website to determine whether they are eligible for monthly pricing rates to make the cost of intravenous ketamine treatments more attainable. We serve patients from Los Altos, CA, Sunnyvale CA, Palo Alto CA, Stanford CA, Atherton CA, and Cupertino CA.