Ketamine Therapy Consultation in Sandy, UT

At Nervana Medical, we require a consultation to assess whether you’re a good candidate for ketamine infusion treatment for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health conditions. You will meet with a member of our experienced medical team to ensure this treatment is safe for you.

Ketamine Treatment Appointment Instructions

  1. Please have someone available to drive you home after the infusion
  2. Plan to be at the clinic 1.5 hours minimum for a 40 min infusion or 5 hours for a 4-hour infusion
  3. Please do not eat 8 hours before the infusion
  4. You may drink 2 hours before the infusion
  5. Avoid benzodiazepines (for example, Xanax and Ativan) and marijuana on the day of your procedure
  6. Do not take opioid pain medications 6 hours before the procedure

We recommend finding a soothing music playlist to listen to during your infusion, as it can help with its calming effects. We recommend music specific to psychedelic ketamine therapy. You are welcome to bring your own headphones, eye mask, and blanket as well, though we will have these accommodations available should you need them.

Ketamine Patient FAQs

Ketamine is approved by the FDA for use in children and adults for anesthesia and as a pain reliever during medical procedures. Ketamine has an excellent safety record and several applications in medicine: since 1970, it has been a successful anesthetic used in hospitals, dentist offices, and veterinary practices. In the past 10 years, Ketamine has also been identified as having beneficial effects on patients with depression, suicidal ideation, and certain neuropathic pain syndromes.

Ketamine Scheduling/Survey Information

We track your progress by administering three simple surveys before each ketamine treatment in Sandy. The three surveys we utilize are: a self-assessed mood score, a more in-depth PHQ-9 to benchmark and monitor overall depression symptoms, and the GAD generalized anxiety disorder survey. Please answer the questions to the best of your ability, as we actively collect data to continue improving future research/best practice standards, and protocols.

After completing your initial paperwork and first survey, you will need to schedule a medical history and exam clearance appointment prior to your first infusion. The cost of this exam is $50 and does not include lab costs if labs are indicated (primarily for patients with a history of extensive comorbidities or those interested in chronic pain infusion therapy). If you and the provider decide to pursue a series of six infusions, the $50 exam fee is applied to the cost of the infusions. If you have had a recent physical exam, then you are welcome to email it to us for our review, and this fee will be waived.

Scheduling

Our mental health protocol recommends 6 infusions over 2 weeks (please ensure you are able to block off time to ensure you are able to complete the recommended protocol). If you desire your current therapist to be present during the infusion for psychotherapy assistance, you will need to arrange that with them. If they are unable to attend but you would still like psycho assisted therapy during your infusion, then we are happy to provide you with referrals (the price of this would be dependent upon the therapist).

  • Appointment 1: Medical History and Exam/Clearance
  • Appointment 2: Infusion #1
  • Appointment 3: Infusion #2
  • Appointment 4: Infusion #3
  • Appointment 5: Infusion #4
  • Appointment 6: Infusion #5
  • Appointment 7: Infusion #6

We will provide you with a recommended book list that we find useful to accompany your infusions as you work on improving your mental health. Please consider looking into these books in further detail, as they can be beneficial in your overall progress.

Ketamine and Dissociation- The Degree of Dissociation DOES NOT Correlate with Treatment Efficacy

What Dose Is Used?

The dose used for depression treatment is very small; typically 0.5 mg/kg of body weight, given as a slow intravenous (IV) infusion over 40 minutes. This is the dose that has been studied the most in clinical research. Studies that compared different doses found that going higher, up to 1.0 mg/kg ,did not provide additional benefit for depression but did cause more side effects. For this reason, the standard and most well-supported dose remains at or below 0.5 mg/kg. No studies have used doses above 1.0 mg/kg for depression treatment.

What About the “Dissociative” Feeling?

During a ketamine infusion, some people experience what is called “dissociation.” This can feel like being detached from your body, feeling like things around you aren’t quite real, or having a dreamlike or floating sensation. These feelings are temporary and typically fade within one to two hours after the infusion ends.

It is natural to wonder whether this unusual experience is “part of the treatment” in other words, whether you need to feel dissociated for the treatment to work. The research on this question has been carefully studied, and the current scientific understanding is:

Dissociation is not required for the treatment to work. Multiple studies have specifically tested whether the degree of dissociation predicts or drives the antidepressant effect, and the most rigorous analyses have found that it does not.

More dissociation does not mean better results. There is no reliable evidence that patients who experience stronger dissociative effects get a better antidepressant response than those who experience little or no dissociation.

The antidepressant effect works through different brain pathways. The dissociative feelings fade within about 80 minutes, but the antidepressant effects develop over the following hours and can last up to a week or longer. This difference in timing suggests that the two effects involve separate processes in the brain.

What Does This Mean for You?

– If you experience little or no dissociation during your infusion, that does not mean the treatment isn’t working.

– If you do experience dissociation, know that it is a temporary side effect, not the source of the benefit

– There is no reason to seek out or prefer a higher dose in hopes of a stronger experience. The evidence shows that the standard dose (0.5 mg/kg) is the most effective, and higher doses add side effects without adding benefit.

What to Expect During Treatment

– You will be monitored by medical staff throughout the infusion and for a period afterward.

– Common side effects besides dissociation may include mild nausea, dizziness, or a temporary increase in blood pressure. These typically resolve quickly.

– You should not drive or operate heavy machinery for the rest of the day after treatment.

– Multiple sessions are usually recommended, often two to three times per week over several weeks.

If you have any questions or concerns about your treatment, please don’t hesitate to ask your care team.

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Grant, R., Berg, J., Mestayer, R., Braidy, N., Bennett, J., Broom, S., & Watson, J. (2019). A Pilot Study Investigating Changes in the Human Plasma and Urine NAD+ Metabolome During a 6 Hour Intravenous Infusion of NAD. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 11, 257. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2019.00257

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Monday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

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