Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ketamine?

Ketamine is an anesthetic drug that was developed in the 1960s. It is one of the most widely used anesthesia drugs and is commonly used in everyday anesthesia practice. If you have had any sort of surgery, there is an excellent chance that you have received some amount of this drug. It is considered safe and effective and has been declared an essential medication by the World Health Organization

Is Ketamine Safe?

Yes. Ketamine is safe for administration in patients of all ages. Ketamine is in common use in all anesthesia practice settings. Ketamine is an anesthesia drug and should be administered in a controlled environment with proper monitoring and an anesthesia expert supervising the treatment.

How Does Ketamine Work?

Ketamine has a mechanism of action on the brain that is different than any other medication given for the treatment of depression, anxiety, chronic pain, etc. These problems create neuron (brain cells) pathway connections in the brain that are more easily activated as time goes on. Ketamine Infusion Therapy promotes the reconnection of healthy pathways between neurons, providing a “reset” to a healthy pattern.

Do Other Routes of Ketamine Administration Work?

No. Ketamine has been commonly abused over the years as a party drug because of a feeling of euphoria that a person experiences when using Ketamine. Other routes of administration such as pills, nasal sprays, or lozenges can produce the temporary euphoria, but only the iv infusion of Ketamine produces the resetting of the neural connections that are the source of the long-term benefits of Ketamine Infusion Therapy.

What is the Success Rate for Ketamine Infusion Therapy?

Over 70% of patients who receive Ketamine Infusion Therapy experience relief of their symptoms. This relief from depression, suicidal ideation, anxiety, etc. frequently occurs in hours and almost always within 24 hours from the first infusion. You will know for sure by your second infusion if Ketamine Therapy will work for you. If after your second infusion you haven’t seen any improvement in your symptoms, Ketamine Therapy will not be effective for your condition and there will be no need to continue Ketamine Infusion Therapy.

Are There Any Age Restrictions for Ketamine Therapy?

No. Ketamine has been proven to be safe for administration in all age groups.

Are There Any Health Conditions That Would Stop Me From Receiving Ketamine Infusion Therapy?

Yes. Uncontrolled Hypertension, Unstable Angina, Uncontrolled Hyperthyroidism, Untreated Congestive Heart Failure, Manic Phase of Bipolar disorder, and Active Psychosis. These medical conditions will need to be addressed by your Physician before you consider Ketamine Infusion Therapy. Manic phase and active psychosis can be exacerbated by Ketamine and will need to be resolved prior to Ketamine Infusion Therapy.

Do I Need a Referral from a Physician of a Mental Health Care Provider?

No. While many of our patients are referred to us by their primary care Physician or a Mental Health Professional, we do accept self-referrals. You will be interviewed and evaluated by our medical staff, and a consultation with Dr. David Hanley will determine if you are a candidate for Ketamine Infusion Therapy.

Do I Need To Be Treated By a Mental Health Professional in Addition to Ketamine Infusion Therapy Treatments?

At Red River Ketamine Wellness Center, we work closely with mental health professionals to ensure that our clients have the best outcomes possible. We strongly recommend that anyone having problems with depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, PTSD, etc. work with a mental health counselor. While we do not require you to see a counselor in order to receive Ketamine Therapy, we do feel that counseling will maximize the effectiveness of your treatment.

Can Ketamine Infusion Therapy Help with Chronic Pain?

Yes. Chronic pain activates pathways within your nervous system that require progressively weaker or less stimulating signals to transmit a feeling of pain. Ketamine Infusion Therapy reactivates the healthy nerve pathways and resets these defective pain pathways within your nervous system. Ketamine Infusion Therapy can successfully treat: Complex Regional Pain Syndrome(CRPS), Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy(RSD), Phantom limb pain, Post-herpetic pain, Fibromyalgia, Diabetic Neuropathy, Failed Back Surgery Syndrome, and migraine headaches.

What is the Procedure for a Ketamine Infusion?

You will be shown to a private room that is peaceful and relaxing. You have the option of being accompanied to your treatment room by one family member or friend if you choose. You will be seated in a comfortable recliner. You will be connected to medical monitors that will measure your oxygen level, heart rate and rhythm, and blood pressure. IV access will be obtained by one of our healthcare professionals using a small IV catheter. We have multiple methods to numb the skin prior to starting the IV to make this procedure as painless as possible. After the IV is started, we will start your ketamine infusion at a dose which is based on your weight. We will dim the lights to a comfortable level, provide relaxing music, and provide a new eye cover if you desire one in order to provide the most relaxing atmosphere possible for your treatment. We use syringe pumps which employ the latest technology to administer your medication dose at a precise rate. Infusions for depression and mood disorders take 50 minutes. Infusions for chronic pain syndromes require infusions lasting for three hours. After your infusion is complete, you will have a recovery period of about 15 minutes after a 50 minute infusion to an hour after a three hour infusion. Your Iv will be removed and you will be able to leave with a friend or family member to drive you home.

How Many Infusions Will I Need?

Ketamine Infusion Therapy is a series of infusions every other day. The series of infusions is from three to six infusions. The minimum number of infusions required to get a lasting effect is three. Many practitioners have found that a series of four infusions is an effective number. It is commonly agreed that a series of six infusions is the most effective treatment regimen. The reconnections in the neural network, which is the amazing effect of ketamine infusion therapy, is cumulative with these stacked infusions. The more infusions that your time and budget will support, the more profound and long lasting your benefits will be. At Red River Ketamine Wellness Center, we work with each client to tailor their infusion therapy to their symptoms, available time, and desires to find the right number of infusions for that individual.

Will I Be Treated on an Out-Patient Basis?

Yes. Ketamine Infusion Therapy utilizes a sub-anesthetic dose of Ketamine. You are not incapacitated and will usually be ready to go home fifteen minutes after your infusion is complete.

Will I Sleep During My Infusion Therapy?

No. While there is nothing wrong with sleeping during a Ketamine Infusion Treatment, the dose of Ketamine administered is a subanesthetic dose and will not make you sleep. Most patients report a mild feeling of euphoria with some reporting a mild feeling of an out-of-body experience.

Will There Be Any Negative Side Effects from Ketamine Infusion Therapy?

No. Most patients report a mild feeling of euphoria and feeling “really good”. Rarely, patients will report feelings of anxiety which we can treat with anti-anxiety medications like versed and valium. Occasionally patients report nausea which we treat with the best anti-nausea medications available.

Do I Have to Stop My Other Medications Before I Receive Ketamine Infusion Therapy?

There are very few medications that cannot be taken during Ketamine Infusion Therapy. Anti-depression medications do not interfere with Ketamine Therapy and will not have to be stopped prior to Ketamine Infusion Therapy. Benzodiazepines (like valium and Xanax) and lamictal at high doses will blunt the response to Ketamine and make your treatment less effective. If you are on these medications, we will discuss reducing or stopping them with you during a telephone consultation prior to your first Ketamine Infusion.

Can I Eat or Drink Before My Appointment?

We recommend that you do not eat for six hours or drink anything for two hours prior to your Ketamine Infusion Therapy. While the dose of Ketamine will be a sub-anesthetic dose and will not cause you to go to sleep, some patients report nausea and an empty stomach will decrease your chances of feeling nausea. We will provide you a beverage and snack after your treatment if you desire one.

Should I Continue Seeing My Therapist After My Ketamine Infusion Therapy?

Yes. Therapy is an essential part of treating depression and mood disorders. While Ketamine Infusion Therapy can provide rapid relief from symptoms, it does not replace the valuable help a therapist can provide in understanding and dealing with depression and mood disorders. The relief from symptoms will allow you to make better progress with your therapist since this “huge weight has been lifted from you”.

How Long Will My Relief From Symptoms Last After My Series of Ketamine Infusion Therapy?

Relief of symptoms typically lasts from a minimum of four weeks to a maximum of six months. Some patients have a relief of symptoms with no return, but this is not the typical result. Whether your relief of symptoms is one month or six months, you will not need to repeat the series of infusions. Clients can receive a “booster” infusion when symptoms start to return. This is a single 50 minute infusion that can be administered when the client feels it is warranted, at any time from four weeks to six months.

How Much Does Ketamine Infusion Therapy Cost?

The cost for each infusion is $500. We have worked hard to bring our cost down to the lowest price available nationally, in order to bring this amazing treatment to as many individuals as possible. Chronic pain management infusions are $1100, which is the same $500 for the first hour as our standard infusion plus $200 for each additional hour of the chronic pain infusion.

Is There A Payment Plan Option?

The Ketamine Wellness Associate Program offers a payment plan option designed to make Ketamine Infusion Therapy financially feasible. The program is an automatic withdrawal from your bank account for $200 each month for a 10 month contract, much like an annual contract at a gym. The Client receives the initial evaluation and infusion series for an upfront payment of $500 (evaluation + 1st infusion). The cost of the remaining 5 infusions will be automatically withdrawn from your bank over the next 10 months. The Client may cancel their contract after 10 months or allow it to continue in order to cover booster payments.

Is There a Discount for Active Duty Military and Veterans?

Yes. Red River Ketamine Wellness Center offers a 25% discount to all active duty and prior military service members. The majority of the staff at the Wellness Center are veterans and we have a strong commitment to the military community and the treatment of PTSD.

What Type of Payment Does Red River Ketamine Wellness Center Accept?

We accept cash, money order, cashier’s check, Ketamine Wellness Associate Enrollment, payments from a health savings account, and offer medical care financing through Care Credit.

Can I Use My Health Savings Account to Pay for Ketamine Infusion Therapy?

Yes. Some patients use their Health Savings Account to pay for Ketamine Infusion Therapy.

Will My Insurance Cover Ketamine Infusion Therapy?

No. Generally, insurance companies are not covering Ketamine Infusion Therapy at this time. Some patients have had moderate success recovering some of the costs which they have paid for out of pocket. It has been reported that up to 30% of patients have been able to recover some portion of the cost for ketamine infusion therapy from their insurance company. While Red River Ketamine Wellness Center does not bill insurance, we will provide you with the necessary paperwork to submit to your insurance company to seek reimbursement.

How Soon Can I Be Seen?

We can usually work you into the schedule within two or three days. In cases that are urgent, we will see you the same day although it may have to be late in the day.

Quick help

FREE CONSULTATION REQUEST

    Your Name (required)

    Your Email (required)

    Phone

    Treatment Area

    Comments

    OFFICE HOURS

    • MondayBY APPT ONLY
    • TuesdayBY APPT ONLY
    • WednesdayBY APPT ONLY
    • ThursdayBY APPT ONLY
    • FridayBY APPT ONLY
    • SaturdayBY APPT ONLY
    • SundayBY APPT ONLY