FAQ

We do not require you to have a referral from your medical or mental health care provider, however, collaboration with your providers will assist in delivering your care in the most optimal way.

Ketamine therapy is primarily for individuals who suffer from treatment-resistant depression, meaning they have not responded adequately to other traditional antidepressant medications or therapies. It has also shown great benefit for individuals with other mental health conditions, such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, certain autoimmune disorders, and chronic pain conditions. It is important to note that ketamine should only be administered under the direct supervision of a qualified healthcare professional.

Ketamine infusions, which are administered intravenously with a small-gauge IV catheter. This route allows for precise dosing and control over the rate of administration and is the most studied route for therapeutic purposes.

For Ketamine-Assisted-Psychotherapy (KAP), we have 2 different options.
1) An intramuscular injection, generally in the upper arm region, with a small-gauge needle.
2) A lozenge that is held under the tongue for several minutes.

KAP helps to facilitate deeper exploration, and processing of emotions and traumatic experiences during talk therapy sessions. It has great potential to enhance the effectiveness of traditional talk therapy by reducing barriers and resistance to emotional expressions.

After speaking with our medical director, you will be offered an individualized treatment regimen.

On the day of your session, you will be offered eye covers and headphones, which play music created specifically for ketamine therapy. You are welcome to bring your own music as well, but we recommend choosing music created specifically for ketamine and psychedelic therapy.

For the infusions, a small gauge IV will be placed by our highly experienced anesthesia provider, and you will receive an infusion of ketamine over a specified amount of time. You will be supervised by a board-certified anesthesia provider, as well as having other members of the Quest team on site, to help with any needs that may arise.

For KAP, you will be given an intramuscular injection with a small gauge needle or will be given a lozenge to hold under your tongue for several minutes. You will have a licensed mental health provider, who specializes in psychedelic therapy, in the room with you for the entirety of your session. Your psychedelic therapist will help guide the experience and will be there to support you the entire time. With many patients, this can lead to deeper results over infusions alone, as you will be able to work through issues that may surface during your therapy. You will also be supervised by a board-certified anesthesia provider, who will be on the premises for the entirety of your session.

Ketamine Infusions are administered intravenously via a small gauge IV over a specified amount of time. The infusions have been the most studied and have shown great benefit in the vast majority of patients who receive the therapy. It has shown great promise in the treatment of chronic pain syndromes, especially neuropathic, migraines, fibromyalgia, as well as many other mood disorders (depression, especially treatment resistant, anxiety, substance use disorders and many others). New emerging data is showing its effectiveness with many autoimmune disorders by decreasing inflammatory markers. Here at Quest, we have successfully treated patients with lupus and other autoimmune disorders with great success. Many studies on this are currently being performed at major institutions around the world, and we will update as more data emerges

Studies have shown that intensity and duration of the infusions helps to cultivate new nerve cells and synapses, which are the vital connections between the brain cells.

There are also a subset of patients who have already completed their psychotherapy course, so follow up infusions have shown great benefit for maintenance and solidification of the results.

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) shows great promise by synergistically combining psychotherapy with ketamine therapy. Instead of receiving ketamine in an infusion over a specified amount of time, it is administered by a single intramuscular injection (usually in the upper arm with a small gauge needle). Throughout your psychedelic experience, you will be accompanied by a licensed mental health provider who specializes in psychedelic therapy. For many, this can lead to deeper results than either treatment alone.

Ketamine therapy helps to maximize talk therapy, as the medication aids in breaking down barriers to communication, which can lead to deeper results than traditional talk therapy alone. Many gain powerful insights into the root causes of the issues holding them back, and are able to talk through them more effectively. This generally leads to significantly deeper therapy over a much shorter amount of time. This method is especially effective in treatment resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, substance use disorders, etc. 

Ketamine has shown its favorable safety profile, dating back to the 1960’s. Out of the standard treatments for depression, PTSD, and chronic pain (ECT, SSRI’s, SNRI’s, benzodiazepines, opioids, etc.), ketamine is the far safer alternative, and has shown superior results. The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed ketamine as an essential medication, adding it to the “WHO Essential Medications List” in 1985.

Ketamine temporarily raises blood pressure and heart rate, which rarely requires intervention. Patients with uncontrolled high blood pressure will need to have their blood pressure within normal limits before starting ketamine therapy.

In rare cases, patients have been found to have a mild allergic reaction to ketamine. Here at Quest, our board certified anesthesia provider has the knowledge, equipment and medications to handle any allergic reactions and other rare side effects that may arise.

Ketamine is not addictive and does not cause physical dependence. The DEA classifies ketamine as a Schedule 3 substance. Schedule 3 substances are far less abused than Schedule 1 substances, such as Heroin or Schedule 2 substances, such as Oxycodone or other opioids. On the contrary, ketamine therapy has successfully helped many with the cessation of addictive substances, such as alcohol, opioids and other addictive substances.

The positive effects from ketamine therapy can last from weeks, to months and in some cases, indefinitely. Adding the integrative psychotherapy component has demonstrated longer lasting effects. These positive changes have been shown to increase and continue days to weeks after the infusion or KAP series ends. We recommend you engage in activities you previously found joy in during the treatment process and beyond. This can include taking walks, hiking, biking, playing sports or talking to an old friend or family member you haven’t spoken to in a while. This has been found to heighten the healing process.

We recommend taking it easy on the day of your treatment, as there will be some slight physical and mental impairment. This impairment will resolve by the following morning after your treatment. You will need a ride home after your treatment, and this can be from a family member, a friend, or a taxi/Uber/Lyft, etc. You may return to work and resume normal activities the morning after your ketamine therapy session.