Ketamine Treatments

When it comes to ketamine treatment, Los Angeles Ketamine Clinic KCLA is leading the way in ensuring more individuals have access to this lifesaving therapy.

For more than 50 years, ketamine has been among the most widely used anesthetics in the world. Now, low-dose intravenous infusions of ketamine are being recognized as the biggest breakthrough treatment for depression, suicidal thinking, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including treatment-resistant cases. The new use of this “old” medicine is called Ketamine Infusion Therapy, which is very effective for several mood disorders.

At Ketamine Clinics Los Angeles, our ketamine treatments feature a series of five to six low-dose, IV infusions of ketamine administered over the course of two to three weeks. While other treatments take weeks or even months to work, if they work at all, ketamine therapy for depression and other mental health conditions can provide significant relief in as early as hours after the first infusion. Most patients see significant improvement by the day after their 3rd infusion, but some results can be almost instantaneous while others may not occur until after the entire series is completed. Ketamine therapy for depression and other mood disorders provides safe, effective, long-term relief without the negative side effects associated with antidepressant medications.

For more than two decades, researchers at most of the top scientific institutions and universities have been researching the efficacy of ketamine in the treatment of depression with overwhelmingly positive results; Yale, Stanford, and Harvard Universities, UCLA, USC, NYU, the National Institute of Mental Health, Cleveland Clinic, and Mt. Sinai Hospital are a few of those leaders. All of them have found that around 70% of patients showed a significant decrease in depressive symptoms after IV ketamine infusions — all of whom had depression that failed to respond to previous, more traditional treatments.

Ketamine Clinics of Los Angeles is a world-renowned provider of Ketamine Infusion Therapy. As Los Angeles’ go-to ketamine clinic since 2014, we’ve administered more than 10,000 infusions, delivering real results to happy patients while establishing an 83% success rate — one of the highest rates of relief among any depression treatment center. There are many reasons for our substantially better results, but some of the things we attribute it to are our ability to individualize treatment, create a calming and safe environment, and a collaborative team dedicated to mastering all of the nuances of this unique treatment.

“Life-changing!” “Meditative.” “Reviving.” — these are just a few of the words our patients use when describing their ketamine infusion experience at KCLA.

Like many people considering ketamine treatment for intractable depression, you may be wondering what to expect during and after treatments. This safe, non-invasive, alternative treatment includes three distinct phases:

The intake process, where we learn about you, your treatment history, and answer all of your questions. We’ll speak with your psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist, or other mental health professional about your condition and treatment history as well. We’ll also review this information with you to better inform how we care for you. Upon your arrival at the clinic, you’ll fill out some paperwork to provide more information on your health and treatment history, complete a few depression/mood assessments, undergo a brief physical exam, and have the opportunity to get any final questions answered. We do not require any additional screenings, scans, labs, or other tests that add additional costs and delay treatment without adding additional value to your treatment outcomes.

The procedure, where your IV is started and we administer the ketamine infusion in a serene, safe private room where you’ll be made comfortable with pillows, blankets, a sleep mask, and premium noise-cancelling headphones filled with relaxing music. Our IV experts have a 95% success rate with establishing your IV on the first try, so that part is almost always quick and painless. You will be continuously monitored by our compassionate, experienced medical team and hospital-grade monitoring equipment to ensure your comfort and safety. A typical ketamine infusion is 40 minutes, but we have pioneered a 50-55 minute long infusion. You’ll be conscious and awake the entire time and likely experience mild dissociative effects, which are often regarded as relaxing or pleasant. In some cases, they can be uncomfortable for a minority of patients and simply lowering your infusion rate, administering some relaxing medicine, or stopping the infusion altogether are all ways to rapidly restore your comfort level. The intoxicating effects of ketamine wear off very quickly. Most people tend to feel much like themselves (aside from some fatigue) within 15 to 20 minutes of the completion of their infusion and typically leave the clinic within 30 minutes. Patients are advised to take it easy for the rest of the day – no driving, no contract signing, operating heavy machinery, etc. A healthy meal, lots of water, and rest are recommended.

The post-procedure aftercare plan, where we review what resources can help you maintain your benefit, what lifestyle changes you can make to keep symptoms at bay, and what signs to look out for so you can recognize when you may need follow up treatment or “booster infusions.” Our commitment to your recovery continues well after your initial series of infusions are completed at our ketamine treatment centers. That’s why we combine our treatment program with an extensive aftercare plan which includes regular follow up and assessments via email, HIPAA-compliant texts, and occasional calls. We’re always available to answer questions and love to hear about your successes too. We remain available to all of our patients by phone and email no matter how long it’s been since they completed treatment and respond to almost all questions and inquiries the same day they are received.

There are many ways that ketamine can be administered, known as routes of administration (ROA). Some of the most common are:

• Intravenously (IV)
• Insufflation (nasal spray)
• Intramuscular (IM)
• Sublingual
• Oral
• Dermal

At KCLA, we specialize exclusively in intravenous ketamine infusions as we have found this method to be more effective at providing fast and reliable relief in the safest manner, and our patients enjoy the relaxing experience. More than 80% of the clinical research published on ketamine for depression and ketamine for mood disorders has been conducted using the IV ROA. With 100% bioavailability, additional safety considerations, superior efficacy, and patient comfort in mind, there are no other ROAs that compare. While we are an approved provider of Spravato, esketamine nasal spray, our patients and the literature both report better success with ketamine administered intravenously.

Over 80% of our mood disorder patients enjoy lasting relief after completing a series of five to six infusions over two to three weeks. Progress after the initial infusions can be dramatic and rapid, but is more often subtle, gradual, or intermittent over several days. Usually by the day after the third infusion, most patients start seeing some noticeable improvement. Regardless of how quickly a patient responds, completing the series is important to ensure a more pronounced benefit and a longer lasting one. A full series of ketamine infusions can typically keep symptoms at bay for 3-4 months. Some patients see a shorter duration of benefit and others see much longer. It is not uncommon for patients to experience six months of relief, or longer, when they implement the recommendations listed in our Aftercare plan, such as healthy lifestyle choices and other therapeutic interventions such as talk therapy.

As a result of ketamine treatment, many patients see a decrease in negative thought processes and behavior cycles and experience increased productivity and energy throughout the day. Multitasking and managing challenges often becomes easier. Without heavy depressive symptoms, you will likely be better able to accomplish tasks that once seemed unattainable or overwhelming, giving your spirits a much-needed lift.

Check out the mood charts of real patients detailing their progress with ketamine therapy.

We provide ketamine therapy to treat a variety of depressive conditions and other mood disorders, including:

• Therapy for anxiety in Los Angeles
• Ketamine treatment for depression, including unipolar depression, bipolar depression, postpartum depression, and others
• Suicidal ideation or suicidal thoughts
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Ketamine therapy at a ketamine treatment center like KCLA offers rapid relief that is often long-lasting. Disrupting obsessive, destructive habits and negative thought patterns can enable patients to get at the root of conditions such as:

• Alcohol addiction
• Cocaine dependence
• Heroin addiction
• Opioid withdrawal
• Eating disorders

If you or someone you care about struggles with mental health issues, it may be time to pursue personalized care at one of the top ketamine treatment centers in the US.

Ketamine Clinics of Los Angeles is internationally-recognized as one of the top ketamine infusion treatment centers in the United States. New patients are always accepted without delay and all consultations are free of charge, so call now to start feeling better today. Call 310-270-0625 or schedule a time for us to call you.