About Ketamine Therapy

About Ketamine

Ketamine’s use in mental health represents one of the most significant shifts in psychiatric treatment in decades. Its mechanism is fundamentally different from traditional antidepressants.

Here’s what to expect for mental disorders like depression:

The Phases of Treatment

Pre-Treatment Evaluation & Preparation

Medical & Psychiatric Review
Informed Consent
Preparation
- Clarifying intentions and personal goals for treatment
- Preparing emotionally and mentally for what may arise
- Establishing a sense of safety, trust, and readiness

The Treatment Session

The Setting

You’ll be in a private, quiet, dimly lit room,in a comfortable recliner.
Monitors for blood pressure, heart rate, and blood oxygen are used.
A trained clinician (paramedic or nurse) and medical provider (doctor/PA/NP) is present throughout.
A therapist may be requested or required during your treatment.

Administration

IV Infusion (most common): A small needle is placed in your arm or hand for a slow, low-dose infusion over 40-60 minutes.
Intramuscular (IM) Injection: A shot is given, leading to a quicker onset.

The "Ketamine Experience" (The Acute Dissociative Effects)

After 5-15 minutes into the infusion, you will enter an altered state of consciousness that lasts 45 minutes. This is a key part of the treatment. Sensations can include:

Dissociation: A feeling of being separate from your thoughts, body, or surroundings (“floating,” “expanding”).
Sensory Changes: Altered perception of time, space, colors, or sounds.
Introspection: Vivid, dream-like thoughts, memories, or metaphors may arise. It can feel deeply meaningful.
Emotional Release: Some experience a cathartic release of emotion. Important: The clinician is there to ensure you feel safe. The experience is generally not recreational; it can be intense, strange, or emotionally challenging, but it’s temporary.

Immediate After-Effects (The "Coming Down" Period)

The dissociative effects fade within 15 minutes after administration ends.
You may feel groggy, unsteady, or “spacey” for 1-2 hours.
You are monitored until you are alert and stable on your feet.
There is no driving or making critical decisions for the next 12 hours.

Post-Treatment & Integration

This is arguably the most critical part for long-term benefit.

Observation & Discharge: You’ll rest in the clinic until you are safe to leave with your driver (usually within 1 hour post-infusion).
The “Afterglow” Window: For several hours to a couple of days after, your brain is in a state of increased neuroplasticity. This is a prime time for therapy and new, positive thinking patterns.
Integration: We strongly recommend scheduling a coaching or therapy session 24-72 hours after your ketamine treatment. This helps you process insights and reinforce new neural pathways. Journaling, meditation, or light creative activities are also encouraged.
Side Effects: Common short-term effects include headache, nausea, dizziness, or fatigue. These usually resolve within hours.

Important Caveats & Risks

It’s Not a Cure: It’s a treatment that requires maintenance. The goal is to induce remission and then sustain it.
Potential for Abuse: Ketamine is a controlled substance due to its dissociative and potential for recreational use. Clinical use is closely supervised.
Side Effects: Can include dissociation, increased blood pressure, nausea, dizziness, and in rare cases with heavy long-term use, bladder issues.
Access and Cost: Treatment is often expensive and not always covered by insurance.

Is This the Right Treatment for You?

Ketamine Therapy May Be Ideal If:

Standard treatments have failed
Your symptoms are severe and debilitating
Rapid intervention is needed
Line of work (military) has an absolute-no-tolerance for daily psychiatric medications

Important Considerations & Risks

Not a First-Line Treatment
Medical Supervision is Crucial
Potential Side Effects: Can include dissociation (“out-of-body” feelings), increased blood pressure, nausea, dizziness, and headache.
Contraindications: It may not be safe for individuals with certain conditions (e.g., uncontrolled high blood pressure, psychosis, certain heart conditions, active substance use disorder).
Maintenance is Needed: The effects are often temporary, requiring repeated treatments or integration with ongoing therapy.

What to Realistically Expect in Terms of Improvement

Timing: Most feel their mood improves after each session. For others, they may feel worse after infusion, and dejected that it isn’t working. It is important to understand that this gradually improves over the initial series and does get better for the majority who stick with it.
Not a Linear Path: Progress can be uneven. Some sessions feel more impactful than others. At times, it might feel like it’s not helping or even hurting. It’s common to feel more pain after “”The veil of depression has been lifted”. This is not the time to stop, but is a sign that significant change is occurring.

Key Patient Responsibilities

Complete Honesty: Disclose all medical/psychiatric history and any substance use.
Commit to the Process: Attend all scheduled sessions and integration work.
Safety: Never drive or operate machinery on treatment days. Have a support system in place.
Communication: Report any concerning side effects or lack of progress to your clinician.

Rapid-Relief Ketamine Therapy for Depression. , Chronic Pain.

A New Path to Relief - Fast

At Bridgeway in Indianapolis, we provide IV ketamine therapy for veterans, first responders, healthcare professionals, and other service-oriented individuals facing PTSD, treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, migraines, and chronic pain.
When traditional treatments take too long — or haven’t worked — ketamine offers a proven, rapid-acting solution. Our trauma-informed team understands the unique challenges faced by those in high-stakes, service-driven roles, and we’re here to help you find relief quickly and safely.

What We Treat

Here’s what we treat with Ketamine Therapy—conditions where fast, effective relief can make all the difference.

How Ketamine Therapy Works

Unlike traditional antidepressants, which may take weeks or months to show results, IV ketamine therapy often begins working within hours. Ketamine stimulates neuroplasticity — helping your brain create new connections and “reset” areas impacted by trauma, depression, and stress.

Many patients report: