IV KETAMINE FAQ, KEY QUESTIONS
Is IV ketamine FDA-approved for depression?+
No. It is used off-label.
Is CNY Psychiatry simply an infusion clinic?+
No. Every IV ketamine treatment includes a psychiatric visit.
How long does an infusion take?+
Antidepressant ketamine is commonly administered over approximately 40 minutes, with additional time for psychiatric assessment, preparation, monitoring, and recovery.
Do I need to dissociate?+
No particular degree of dissociation is our treatment objective.
How many infusions will I need?+
Treatment generally begins with an induction series, with response assessed throughout rather than assuming indefinite treatment.
How quickly can ketamine work?+
Some patients experience improvement within hours or days, but not everyone responds rapidly or at all.
Will I need ketamine forever?+
Not necessarily. Maintenance is individualized.
Can ketamine treat suicidal thoughts?+
Research supports rapid effects on suicidal ideation, but outpatient ketamine is not a substitute for emergency psychiatric care when imminent risk requires a higher level of care.
Can I drive myself home?+
No.
Can ketamine be addictive?+
Ketamine has abuse and dependence potential; appropriateness is reassessed over time.
Can ketamine damage my bladder?+
Serious urinary complications appear uncommon in supervised psychiatric treatment, but urinary symptoms should be reported and long-term exposure periodically reconsidered.
Is ketamine-assisted psychotherapy the same as IV ketamine treatment?+
No. Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is a distinct model. CNY Psychiatry offers psychodynamically oriented KAP with Georgian Mustata, MD, for selected patients.
What is WET?+
Written Exposure Therapy is an evidence-based trauma-focused psychotherapy for PTSD. CNY Psychiatry coordinates ketamine with WET-trained community therapists for selected patients.
Do I need to change therapists for Ketamine + WET?+
No. The patient’s therapist remains the therapist.
What is the first step?+
A psychiatric consultation.