My IV Ketamine Experience

I remember sitting in my doctor's office discussing alternative options to managing my pain and helping my PTSD. The topic of ketamine infusions had come up before but between the finances and needing someone to take me and pick me up, I was never able to logistically make it work.

To be clear, my doctor flat out told me he didn't think the treatment would help with my chronic pain, but there had been a lot of positive feedback on its use for various mental health conditions. He did emphasize that he felt it could be a good treatment option for debilitating insomnia.

I asked every question I could think of. I went home, did more research and continued to ask questions. While a lot of the responses were along the lines of - "it really depends on the individual" - I did feel as prepared as I could for the treatment. After all, you can only know so much prior to actually experiencing it.

Some barriers I faced

Once I made the decision to try the treatment, the cost became the next factor. Insurance did not cover this treatment so everything was out of pocket. Price can vary depending on the place, but it was a few thousand dollars for 6 infusions - which was the protocol. It took a while but once I was financially able to go through with it, I started making plans.

The place I would be receiving the treatment was over an hour away which I needed to figure out logistically. You are also not allowed to drive for the remainder of the day after the infusions, making it a bit more challenging to coordinate. However, I was really suffering and willing to try everything reasonable at this point. Having such atrocious sleep really impacted my mental and physical health. I was unable to focus, I had minimal energy and I felt like I was constantly on guard.

Despite the expense and feeling like a burden on those who had to drive me and pick me up, I also knew if this treatment could help, it would be completely worth it. Not just for me, but for my loved ones as well. While I was obviously not in the best mood when I don't sleep, I have been dealing with this for so long that my moods are stable. I have found ways to make sure I am not a miserable person to be around, but my inability to really function like a "normal" human being took its toll.

The process

There is usually an intake but since my doctor knew me so well, I didn't have to have one. We discussed everything during a regular appointment and he passed all of the information along to the treatment center. At that appointment, we went through dose frequencies and other procedural things. I ended up having 2 infusions over the course of 3 weeks for a total of 6.

Side note

Depending on the situation and individual, there might be different frequency schedules. This was what my doctor felt was best for me personally. He judged this based on the current data for those suffering with PTSD, and associated anxiety, hypervigilance, and severe insomnia. Those were the symptoms impeding on my life the most.

For most people though, the intake is really just a way for the care team at the clinic to get to know you. Most people who try ketamine have tried many other treatments for whatever they are suffering with.

It is important that those caring for you to be aware of what they are, your reaction to them, and any other pertinent details about your history. The intake is also a time to get your questions answered and have them explain the process to you.

Immersed in the experience

After checking in, I went into a private room with a comfortable chair. I was given a blanket, headphones, and an eye mask. They recommended I listen to their special ketamine playlist on Spotify to help compliment the treatment. The music had no lyrics since words could elicit memories and emotional responses. The goal was to feel completely relaxed and immersed in the experience.

I did need an IV each time which was always difficult for me since I have terrible veins. I was weighed since the dose is very much weight dependent. I was told that if tolerated, the dose would gradually increase with each treatment. I had a button to press in case I needed someone. I was told it could be very intense for some people and if I told her I wanted to stop it, she would go through certain questions and exercises with me first.

Laying out the "what if's" prior really helped me feel more in control of the situation. Especially since of course at the end of the day, if I needed it to be stopped... It would be stopped!

It was never too intense for me, but I did need IV nausea medication prior. This was very common and I wanted to be proactive since I suffer from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It was a very different experience and one that is hard to explain. I sort of felt like my brain was in this weird fantasy world. After it was done, I felt very groggy and kind of drunk. That feeling didn't last long though.

My opinion on ketamine therapy

To be honest, I didn't see any noticeable improvements. My mental health has been a bit better since I received them, but I was also doing a lot of other work so it was very hard for me to know. I didn't notice any improvements with my sleep though.

If you are at a place where you (and your doctor) feel ketamine infusions are right for you, I highly recommend it. I know the experience I just shared likely did not spur too much hope, but it is important to remember that everyone is different. I have absolutely no regrets about going through it because I know I needed to; any measures that could possibly improve my mental or physical health are worth the effort!

I am also planning on beginning the nasal spray ketamine treatment once I am able to. If possible, I highly recommend getting treatment at a facility that has therapists there. I believe it could have made a difference for me.

Have you gone through ketamine infusions? Did it help your insomnia? What about mental health in general? How about pain? We would love to hear your experiences!