Ketamine therapy can relieve various types of depression, suicidal thinking, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), other mood disorders, and chronic pain conditions.

Ketamine is an FDA approved dissociative anesthetic developed in 1962 used for general anesthesia in surgery for children and adults. It is remarkably safe as it doesn’t affect respiration. Yale University discovered that a subanesthetic dose of Ketamine can be used to treat depression, anxiety, PTSD, chronic pain such as fibromyalgia and even addiction.  Ketamine is very unique as it works on the neurotransmitter glutamate as its mechanism differs from antidepressants which work on the serotonergic pathways.

The effects of a single infusion typically last up to two weeks. After a series of six sessions based on evidenced based research, most remain symptom free for months. We also offer the option of booster sessions which can be given monthly or a few times per year as needed.  The idea with Ketamine is that you’re building up new neural pathways in your brain to offset the trauma or pain. Ketamine can help you depattern and adapt and be less affected by triggers allowing you to create a healthier pathway down a new ski slope instead of assuming your usual ride. 

Using ketamine in a medical setting through IM injection, IV infusion or oral route with guidance and psychotherapy are the best options. We rarely prescribe ketamine for at home or daily use to avoid addiction minimizing repetitive use. The idea is that a series of sessions using ketamine may have long lasting effects so that we can decrease pharmaceutical use and addiction and feel well. We also do not prescribe the intranasal Esketamine route. 

No, Ketamine is not a hallucinogenic it’s a dissociative. It can aid in connection to self. Most patients describe Ketamine as being one of the most peaceful, meaningful experiences in their lives.

Our setting allows for a very calming and peaceful experience as most describe a “floating” feeling. Dr Weiner and the therapist or coach prepares each patient with a specific intention for each session healing trauma and pain. We typically begin with a starter dose which is based on your body weight and previous experiences and can increase the dose with each session as tolerated. Unlike other treatments, the ketamine session helps get to the root of your trauma, pain or depression. Most people find the experience very healing, and afterwards they report feeling less reactive or triggered and “lighter.”

Ketamine is extremely safe, that is why they use it on children for surgery. Some report nausea, so we give you an anti-nausea medication before your treatment and recommend no eating for 4 hours before. Your blood pressure, which is monitored may elevate temporarily during the treatment but resumes to baseline following. You will need a ride home from the treatment.  

We recommend you continue your medication. We do not recommend taking stimulants or benzodiazepines that morning. We have noticed that healing through ketamine assisted psychotherapy allows us to taper off pain medications as well as antidepressants and anti anxiety medications. You can continue seeing your psychiatrist while doing ketamine treatments.

Dr Weiner will see you for an initial evaluation through insurance to establish a plan including the route of administration and help prepare you for the first session. We charge $300 for an intramuscular ketamine treatment, and $500 for an IV infusions with the protocol being to receive 3-6 treatments.

Unfortunately, it is not covered by insurance. We hope this insurance coverage changes in the future. We want Ketamine to be an option for those suffering and unfortunately most who try ketamine have already tried and failed other medications. 

Ketamine can provide a catalyst for change, lifting depression and minimizing pain and allowing people to more easily engage in other activities that will protect against relapse. People wake up and realize how much time was lost to their illness, how much money was spent, how many relationships ruined, how many opportunities missed. We encourage regular exercise and movement, healthy eating, socialization, behavioral activation, work/life balance, addressing activities or relationships that clash with personal values and setting better boundaries.