What Is Ketamine Therapy?

Ketamine is a medication that has been used safely as an anesthetic in medical settings for more than fifty years. In the last two decades, research has demonstrated that ketamine—at much lower doses than those used for anesthesia—produces rapid and meaningful antidepressant effects in patients with treatment-resistant depression, severe anxiety, PTSD, and acute suicidal ideation. It works through a different mechanism than traditional antidepressants, which is why it can help patients who haven’t responded to SSRIs or SNRIs.

How ketamine works in the brain. Most antidepressants work through the serotonin or norepinephrine systems. Ketamine works on the NMDA receptor and the glutamate system, which is a fundamentally different pathway. The current understanding is that ketamine promotes rapid changes in synaptic connectivity—the way brain cells communicate with each other—which appears to underlie its rapid antidepressant effect. This is why ketamine can produce improvement within hours when standard antidepressants take weeks.

Not an opioid. One of the most common patient questions is whether ketamine is an opioid. It is not. Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic, specifically an NMDA receptor antagonist. It does not produce the kind of dependence pattern associated with opioids, and it doesn’t carry the same overdose risk profile when administered in a clinical setting. The recreational misuse of ketamine that occasionally appears in headlines involves uncontrolled, unmonitored use—very different from medically supervised infusion therapy.

Why ketamine therapy exists. Standard treatments help many patients, but about a third of depression patients don’t respond fully to the first medication tried, and many cycle through multiple medications without sustained benefit. For these patients—and for patients in active mental health crisis where conventional antidepressants are too slow—ketamine represents a different option with a different mechanism and a different timeline.

Conditions Ketamine Therapy Treats

Ketamine therapy is most established for several specific conditions:

Treatment-resistant depression. This is the primary use of ketamine therapy. “Treatment-resistant” usually means depression that hasn’t responded fully to one or more antidepressant medications, typically with adequate doses and adequate trial durations. For these patients, ketamine offers a fundamentally different mechanism and can produce response when other treatments haven’t.

Acute suicidal ideation. Ketamine has one of the most distinctive features in psychiatry: rapid reduction in suicidal thoughts, often within hours. For patients in active suicidal crisis who can be safely managed in an outpatient setting, ketamine can provide rapid relief while longer-term treatment is being established. Ketamine therapy is not a replacement for emergency care during an acute crisis; if you are in immediate danger, please call 988 or go to your nearest emergency room.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Growing evidence supports ketamine for treatment-resistant PTSD, particularly in veterans, first responders, hurricane and disaster survivors, and patients with severe trauma symptoms that haven’t fully responded to trauma-focused therapy and standard medications. Ketamine is typically used as part of a broader treatment plan that includes therapy.

Severe anxiety. Ketamine shows benefit for severe or treatment-resistant anxiety, particularly when it co-occurs with depression. Patients with disabling anxiety who haven’t responded to SSRIs, SNRIs, or benzodiazepines may benefit from ketamine.

Addiction and substance use disorders. Ketamine has shown promise for certain substance use disorders, particularly alcohol use disorder, when integrated with broader addiction treatment. This is an evolving area of practice.

Whether ketamine is right for your specific situation is a conversation we have during evaluation.

What a Ketamine Infusion Session Is Actually Like

Many patients searching for ketamine therapy have heard about it but don’t know what to expect. Here’s what actually happens during a session:

You arrive at the clinic. Sessions take place in a private, comfortable treatment room. We typically recommend you eat lightly beforehand and avoid heavy meals immediately before treatment. You can bring a book, headphones, eye mask, or anything else that helps you settle in.

You meet with the nurse who administers your infusion. An experienced registered nurse establishes the IV, reviews your vitals, and discusses the plan for the session. We monitor blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen throughout the session.

The infusion begins. Ketamine is delivered slowly through the IV over about 40 minutes. The dose is much lower than the dose used for surgical anesthesia—calibrated for therapeutic effect, not unconsciousness. You remain awake and able to communicate throughout.

What the experience feels like. Most patients experience a mild to moderate dissociative state during the infusion. This can include feeling detached from the body, time distortion, sensory effects (colors, music, or images feeling unusually vivid), or a sense of looking at thoughts and feelings from outside them. Some patients describe this as relaxing or even profound; some find it uncomfortable but tolerable; few find it overwhelming when properly dosed. The dissociation itself appears to be related to the antidepressant effect—the experience isn’t a side effect to tolerate, but appears to be part of how ketamine works.

The infusion ends. After the ketamine stops, the dissociative effects fade over the next 15-30 minutes. You’ll rest in the treatment room until you feel ready to leave, typically about an hour after the infusion ends. Most sessions are completed within two hours total.

You’re driven home. You cannot drive yourself home after a ketamine infusion. You must have someone trusted available to drive you. We may be able to help arrange Uber or Lyft if needed, but planning ahead is important.

The rest of your day. Most patients feel tired, mildly groggy, or quiet for the rest of the day. By the next morning, most feel back to normal—and many notice the antidepressant effect by then.

The Treatment Course

A standard course of ketamine therapy for depression typically involves about six infusion sessions, usually scheduled twice a week for the first two to three weeks. After the initial course, some patients benefit from periodic maintenance infusions—every few weeks to every few months—to sustain response. Others don’t need additional infusions and instead transition to maintenance approaches like medication, therapy, or TMS.

Why six sessions. A single infusion can produce notable improvement within hours, but the effect of one infusion typically lasts only days to weeks. The repeated sessions of the initial course are designed to produce a more sustained response—and patients who complete the full course generally maintain benefit longer than patients who do single sessions.

What patients typically notice during the course. Many patients notice improvement after the first infusion, often within 24 hours. Sleep often changes early. Mood and energy typically follow. Patients with active suicidal ideation often report rapid relief from the most intense thoughts. The full benefit of treatment is usually clear by the end of the standard course.

After the initial course. The duration of response varies significantly between patients—some maintain benefit for months without further treatment, others need periodic maintenance infusions, and others transition to other treatments to sustain the response ketamine produced. We work with you on the maintenance plan that fits your response and your situation.

Gulf Coast hurricane season scheduling. Between June and November, hurricane preparation, evacuation, and recovery occasionally affect session scheduling. The six-session ketamine course is more flexible to weather disruption than treatments requiring daily sessions, and we work with patients on rescheduling as needed when storms affect the metro.

Ketamine for TMC Healthcare Workers, Physicians, and Trainees

The Texas Medical Center is the world’s largest medical complex, with more than 100,000 employees across Memorial Hermann, Houston Methodist, MD Anderson, Texas Children’s, Ben Taub, the VA, and training programs through Baylor College of Medicine, UTHealth, and others. Depression and PTSD are common in this workforce—often resistant to standard treatment and often underdiagnosed because of specific barriers to care that affect clinicians. For TMC clinicians with treatment-resistant depression, ketamine has several distinctive advantages:

No prescription records or pharmacy data. Many clinicians delay or avoid seeking psychiatric medication because of concerns about prescription records appearing in pharmacy benefit data, credentialing documentation, or future licensing applications. The reality is that treatment for depression generally does not affect medical licensure or credentialing, and mental health treatment records are protected by HIPAA—but the concern is real and persistent. Ketamine sidesteps it entirely: there’s no prescription, no pharmacy fill, and no medication record in benefit data. Treatment is delivered in-clinic, ends when the course ends, and doesn’t generate the kind of pharmacy data some clinicians prefer to avoid.

No side effects affecting clinical work. Antidepressants commonly cause fatigue, cognitive blunting, sexual side effects, and weight gain. For physicians, surgeons, nurses, and trainees whose work depends on sharp cognition, sustained attention, and physical stamina, these side effects can be career-affecting. Between ketamine sessions, there are no medication side effects to manage.

The on-call constraint. The honest tradeoff: you cannot be on call the day of a ketamine infusion. The dissociative effects during and immediately after treatment make clinical responsibilities unsafe for that day. We schedule sessions around clinical rotations, on protected non-clinical days, during research stretches, or during vacation time. Most TMC patients work this out without difficulty, but it requires planning—we discuss this during consultation.

The driver-home question for solo clinicians. Some TMC physicians, particularly those who’ve recently relocated for training or who live alone, find the driver-home requirement is a practical barrier. Options include colleagues, friends, family members, or Uber/Lyft. We work through this honestly with each patient.

Trainees specifically. Medical students, residents, and fellows often experience clinical depression during training—the volume, the loss of autonomy, the cumulative sleep debt, the moral weight of certain rotations, and the financial stress of training all contribute. For trainees whose depression hasn’t responded to standard treatment and who are concerned about how psychiatric medication might appear in residency applications, fellowship matching, or future credentialing, ketamine can be a meaningful alternative.

Treatment for clinicians caring for the dying. MD Anderson, the broader oncology community, palliative care, hospice, and ICU clinicians work with serious illness and death in ways that produce real cumulative grief and trauma. For clinicians whose depression or trauma relates to this dimension of clinical work, ketamine can be part of recovery that doesn’t pull them out of work they care about.

Ketamine for Cumulative Storm Trauma in Houston

Houston has lived through multiple catastrophic events in recent years, and the cumulative impact on our community is real. We want to name this directly because patients searching for treatment-resistant depression or PTSD care in Houston often have specific experiences in mind.

The events. Hurricane Harvey in August 2017—the most extreme rainfall event in U.S. history at landfall, with catastrophic flooding across the metro. The February 2021 freeze that produced widespread power outages, infrastructure failures, and dozens of deaths. Hurricane Beryl in July 2024, which produced extended power outages during summer heat. The broader pattern of intensifying storm seasons that has meant repeated evacuations, repeated structural damage, repeated financial stress, and the chronic state of preparedness Houston now lives with.

Who carries the trauma. Direct survivors and people who lost homes or family members. First responders who worked Harvey rescue operations, freeze welfare checks, and Beryl recovery. Healthcare workers who maintained TMC operations through power outages, infrastructure failures, and surge demand. Construction and recovery workers. Insurance adjusters. Community members who experienced anniversary effects, who have been displaced repeatedly, or who live with the ongoing weight of “what’s next.”

Why ketamine may help patients in this population. For some patients, a specific storm experience produced acute PTSD that has been resistant to standard treatment. For others, the accumulating effect of repeated storms has built into depression and anxiety that haven’t responded fully to medication. Ketamine’s growing evidence for treatment-resistant PTSD and depression makes it a meaningful option for patients in this population—particularly when storm-related trauma overlaps with other vulnerabilities like prior trauma, occupational exposure, or the cumulative weight of multiple seasons of disruption.

Ketamine for Veterans at the DeBakey VA and Across Greater Houston

Houston has a substantial veteran population served in part by the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in the TMC—one of the largest VA medical centers in the country. The DeBakey VA provides important VA care, including increasingly comprehensive mental health services. For veterans whose treatment-resistant depression or PTSD hasn’t fully responded to VA medication management or trauma-focused therapy, ketamine offers a different mechanism that has growing evidence in veteran populations specifically.

Insurance considerations. We accept Tricare alongside private insurance. However—and this is important to name directly—IV ketamine infusion therapy is generally not covered by Tricare or most other insurance plans, so it is primarily a cash-pay treatment. For veterans who need treatment-resistant depression care covered by insurance, TMS therapy is an alternative that is generally covered by Tricare, with growing acceptance and use in veteran populations. We discuss both options honestly during consultation.

Coordination with VA care. For veterans already receiving care through the DeBakey VA, ketamine therapy can complement, not replace, existing services. Some veterans use Serenity’s specialty treatments alongside their VA primary care and therapy.

Who Ketamine Therapy Particularly Helps in Greater Houston

Beyond TMC healthcare workers, storm survivors, and veterans, several other patterns we see often in Houston benefit from ketamine therapy:

Patients with treatment-resistant depression after multiple medications. This is the largest ketamine patient population. Houston residents who have cycled through SSRIs from primary care, then second-line agents, and still haven’t found relief have a treatment option that works through an entirely different mechanism.

Patients with active suicidal ideation who can be safely treated outpatient. Ketamine’s rapid reduction in suicidal thoughts is its most distinctive clinical feature. For patients in significant suicidal distress who don’t require inpatient care, ketamine can provide rapid relief while longer-term treatment is being put in place. Anyone in immediate danger should call 988 or go to an emergency room first—ketamine therapy is outpatient care that works alongside, not instead of, emergency services.

First responders with treatment-resistant PTSD. Houston Fire Department, Houston Police, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, the surrounding suburban departments, and Houston-area EMS all have populations carrying accumulated trauma. First responders who worked Harvey, the 2021 freeze, Beryl, and the high-volume daily work of a city this size carry exposures that can produce treatment-resistant PTSD. Ketamine has growing evidence specifically for this population.

Energy industry professionals. Houston’s energy industry produces boom-bust cycles, repeated layoffs, project disruptions, and the broader chronic stress of cyclical work. For energy industry professionals whose depression has built across years of these patterns and hasn’t responded fully to standard treatment, ketamine is one option.

Patients in Hispanic, Vietnamese, and immigrant communities. Family attitudes toward psychiatric medication can be barriers to standard treatment in some cultural contexts. Ketamine’s finite course and absence of daily medication can sometimes fit better with family and cultural preferences. We provide care that is respectful of the cultural contexts patients bring with them and make therapy referrals in Spanish, Vietnamese, or another language when we can.

Patients who need help faster than antidepressants can provide. SSRIs and SNRIs typically take 4-8 weeks to show full effect. For patients who can’t wait that long—a worsening trajectory, a life event making delay untenable, a treatment timeline that needs to be compressed—ketamine’s rapid onset matters.

Patients who haven’t responded to TMS. Many patients try TMS first because insurance covers it, and most respond well. For patients who don’t, ketamine represents a different mechanism that may help.

The Cost Question: Being Honest About Insurance

We want to address this directly because it matters: IV ketamine infusion therapy is generally not covered by most insurance plans, including most commercial plans, Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, and Wellpoint. This makes ketamine primarily a cash-pay treatment, and the cost is real.

Why coverage is limited. Although ketamine has been used safely as an anesthetic for more than fifty years, the FDA has not separately approved IV ketamine for depression. (Spravato/esketamine, a related but different nasal spray formulation, is FDA-approved and insurance-covered, but is a separate treatment with separate requirements.) The lack of FDA approval for IV ketamine specifically means most insurance plans don’t cover the infusions, even when they cover other treatments for the same condition.

What patients typically pay. Costs vary by treatment plan and number of sessions. We walk through the full financial picture during consultation, including the total cost of the initial six-session course and any anticipated maintenance, so there are no surprises.

If cost is a barrier. For patients who would benefit from rapid-acting treatment but for whom ketamine isn’t financially feasible, TMS therapy is an alternative that most insurance plans cover, including Tricare. TMS works through a different mechanism but addresses many of the same patients (treatment-resistant depression, OCD, PTSD). We discuss both options during consultation and recommend the path that fits your situation, not just the path that’s most expensive.

Honest framing. Some patients value ketamine highly enough to invest in it; others find the cost makes it impractical regardless of clinical fit. Both responses are reasonable. We don’t push patients toward ketamine when other options might serve them well.

Side Effects and Safety

Ketamine, when administered in a controlled clinical setting with appropriate monitoring, has a strong safety record. The most common side effects:

During the infusion. Dissociation (detachment, time distortion, sensory effects) is expected and is part of the treatment experience. Other during-session effects can include mild nausea, dizziness, temporary increase in blood pressure or heart rate, and feeling sleepy. These are monitored continuously by the nurse administering the infusion.

Immediately after the infusion. Grogginess, mild fatigue, and continued mild dissociation can persist for an hour or so after the infusion ends. Most patients feel ready to leave the clinic about an hour after the infusion completes.

Later that day. Tiredness, mild quietness, and occasionally a transient mood lift. Most patients feel back to baseline by the following morning.

Less common. Headache, more pronounced nausea, vivid dreams the night following treatment, and—rarely—temporary increase in anxiety the day after a session. Most of these effects resolve quickly and are manageable with supportive care.

Long-term considerations. Long-term high-frequency unmonitored ketamine use (the kind sometimes seen in recreational misuse, not clinical care) has been associated with bladder problems and cognitive effects. Therapeutic ketamine delivered in a clinical setting at appropriate doses and intervals has a different and far more favorable safety profile, and we monitor for any concerning patterns across the treatment course.

Contraindications. Ketamine is generally not appropriate for patients with active psychosis or schizophrenia, uncontrolled high blood pressure, certain cardiovascular conditions, certain liver conditions, or active substance use disorders involving dissociative substances. We screen carefully during evaluation.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Ketamine Therapy?

Ketamine therapy is appropriate for adults with significant depression, PTSD, anxiety, or related conditions that haven’t responded fully to standard treatments. Specific considerations:

Established diagnosis. A clear diagnosis of a condition for which ketamine is appropriate. We confirm this through our standard evaluation process before recommending ketamine.

Prior treatment history. Ketamine is typically reserved for patients who haven’t responded to at least one or two standard treatments, though there are exceptions—particularly for patients with rapid clinical needs or specific intolerances to standard medications.

Medical screening. Pre-treatment evaluation includes review of cardiovascular history, blood pressure, current medications (including any substances that could interact), and other medical conditions that affect ketamine candidacy. Most patients clear this screening, but some patients with specific medical conditions are not candidates.

Reliable transportation plan. Because you can’t drive yourself after a session, you need a reliable plan for getting home. For patients coming from Katy, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, or further out, this means planning a round trip for the driver. This is non-negotiable for safety reasons.

Financial considerations. Because IV ketamine is generally not insurance-covered, patients need to consider the cost realistically before starting a course. We walk through this transparently during consultation.

Treatment integration. Ketamine works best as part of broader psychiatric care, not as a standalone treatment. Patients should be willing to engage with therapy, medication management, or other supports as part of the overall plan.

1335149

Ketamine Therapy vs Other Treatments

Ketamine isn’t the only option, and it isn’t always the best option. A few comparisons:

Ketamine vs antidepressant medication. Antidepressants work gradually (4-8 weeks to full effect), require daily dosing, are typically covered by insurance, and produce systemic effects including potential side effects. Ketamine works rapidly (hours to days), is delivered as a series of in-clinic sessions, is generally not insurance-covered, and produces a time-limited dissociative experience during sessions. For patients who can wait for medication to work and who can tolerate medication side effects, medication is often the first-line choice. For patients who can’t wait, who haven’t responded to medication, or who can’t tolerate medication side effects, ketamine is a meaningful alternative.

Ketamine vs TMS. Both treat treatment-resistant depression but through very different mechanisms and patient experiences. TMS is a brain stimulation treatment (no medication, no dissociation), delivered daily over 4-6 weeks, generally insurance-covered, with no driving restrictions and minimal side effects. Ketamine works faster, requires fewer sessions, but is not insurance-covered, requires a driver home, and produces a dissociative experience during treatment. Many patients are appropriate for one or the other; some are appropriate for both. We discuss which fits your specific situation.

Ketamine vs ECT. ECT remains an important treatment for severe and treatment-resistant depression, particularly in the most severe cases. It involves general anesthesia and induced seizures, typically in a hospital setting with significant recovery time. Ketamine is much less invasive but generally appropriate for somewhat less severe presentations. Patients who haven’t responded to ketamine and TMS sometimes do well with ECT.

Our Ketamine Therapy Consultation Process

Starting ketamine therapy isn’t a same-day decision. Here’s how the process typically unfolds:

Initial consultation. A thorough evaluation that includes review of your diagnosis, current symptoms, prior treatment history, medical history, and goals. We assess whether ketamine is likely to help your specific situation and answer your questions about what treatment involves, including the cost, the driver-home requirement, and the dissociative experience. For TMC clinicians and others with specific career or duty-status considerations, your first visit is also a good time to ask the questions you’ve been carrying.

Medical screening. Review of cardiovascular history, blood pressure, medications, and other medical conditions to confirm ketamine is safe for you specifically.

Financial planning. Direct conversation about the cost of treatment and what your specific course is likely to involve. We don’t move forward until you understand the financial picture.

Treatment scheduling. Once you decide to proceed, we schedule your sessions to fit your schedule—around clinical rotations, shift work, hurricane season, or whatever your week looks like.

Treatment course and follow-up. Typically six sessions over a few weeks, with check-ins to track response. End-of-course evaluation and planning for what comes next—whether maintenance infusions, continued medication or therapy, transition to TMS, or simply ongoing monitoring.

Comprehensive Care, Not Just Treatment

Ketamine therapy is most effective when delivered as part of comprehensive psychiatric care, not as a standalone procedure. Our approach integrates ketamine with medication management, therapy referrals, and ongoing clinical follow-up. We assess whether co-occurring conditions—anxiety, ADHD, sleep disorders, substance use, medical conditions—are affecting outcomes, and we adjust the broader plan as needed. For patients who prefer therapy referrals in Spanish, Vietnamese, or another language, we make those when we can.

Many patients arrive at ketamine after years of feeling stuck. Our goal isn’t just to deliver infusions; it’s to help patients build a sustainable approach to their mental health that works after the initial course ends.

Meet Our Houston Team

Our Houston clinic is led by a board-certified psychiatrist with training in mood, anxiety, PTSD, and related conditions, supported by experienced registered nurses who administer ketamine infusions:

Dr. Muhammad Atif Akhtar, MD — Board-certified Psychiatrist. View profile.

Our Houston team takes a patient-first, evidence-based approach: careful evaluation, transparent conversations about what ketamine can and can’t do, honest discussion of cost and alternatives, and a steady pace that respects how you’re actually doing. With same-week consultations, extended hours, Tricare accepted (for evaluation, medication management, and TMS—not for ketamine infusions, which are generally cash-pay), ketamine therapy delivered on-site in Upper Kirby just minutes from TMC, and integrated psychiatric care, we’re committed to making this important treatment genuinely accessible in a city where access to specialty psychiatric care is often the hardest part.

Crisis Support

If you or someone you love is experiencing a mental health crisis, immediate help is available:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Call or text 988 for free, confidential support 24/7.
Veterans Crisis Line. Call 988 then press 1, or text 838255.
911 or your nearest emergency room. For immediate danger.

Ketamine therapy is an outpatient treatment that requires evaluation, planning, and follow-through. It is a meaningful option for many patients, but it is not a substitute for emergency care during an acute crisis.


Houston Ketamine Therapy FAQs

Where is your ketamine therapy clinic located in Houston?

Our clinic is located at 3355 West Alabama Street, Suite 1100 in Houston, TX 77098, in the Upper Kirby area just inside the West Loop and minutes from the Texas Medical Center, River Oaks, Montrose, and the Galleria. Ketamine therapy is delivered on-site by experienced clinical staff. We serve patients from across Greater Houston, including The Heights, West University, Bellaire, Katy, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, Pearland, and the surrounding Harris and Fort Bend County communities.

What conditions does ketamine therapy treat?

IV ketamine therapy is most established for treatment-resistant depression—meaning depression that hasn’t responded fully to one or more antidepressant medications—and for treatment-resistant or severe PTSD. It is also used for severe anxiety, certain addiction conditions, and patients with acute suicidal ideation, where ketamine’s rapid onset of effect (often within hours) is particularly valuable. Ketamine therapy is generally reserved for situations where standard treatments haven’t been enough.

Do you treat TMC healthcare workers, physicians, and trainees with ketamine therapy?

Yes. A meaningful share of our ketamine patients work across the Texas Medical Center—at Memorial Hermann, Houston Methodist, MD Anderson, Texas Children’s, Ben Taub, the VA, and through the Baylor College of Medicine, UTHealth, and TMC training programs. Ketamine is particularly well-suited to clinicians with treatment-resistant depression who want to avoid the side effects of antidepressants that affect demanding clinical practice, and who prefer treatment that doesn’t generate pharmacy or prescription records. The one practical consideration: you cannot be on call the day of an infusion. We work with you on scheduling to fit around clinical responsibilities.

Do you treat patients affected by Harvey, the 2021 freeze, Beryl, and other Houston storms?

Yes. Houston has lived through multiple catastrophic events in recent years—Hurricane Harvey in August 2017, the February 2021 freeze, Hurricane Beryl in July 2024, and the broader pattern of recurring major storms. For patients whose depression or PTSD has built across these cumulative exposures—and many Houstonians have had years of treatment that helped some but hasn’t been enough—ketamine has growing evidence as a meaningful additional option for treatment-resistant cases.

What is a ketamine infusion session like?

You’ll receive ketamine through an IV in a comfortable, monitored setting. The infusion itself takes about 40 minutes, and most sessions are completed within two hours including the rest period afterward. During the infusion, most patients experience a mild to moderate dissociative state—a feeling of being detached from the body, time distortion, and sensory effects. These effects subside within an hour after the infusion ends. You’re monitored throughout by an experienced registered nurse. You must arrange for someone to drive you home afterward; you cannot drive yourself.

How much does ketamine therapy cost, and does insurance cover it?

We want to be honest about this: IV ketamine infusion therapy is generally not covered by most insurance plans, including most commercial plans, Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, and Wellpoint. This makes it primarily a cash-pay treatment. Costs vary by treatment plan, and we walk through the full financial picture during consultation so there are no surprises. The treatment is valuable for the right patient, but the cost is real and should be part of your decision. For patients who need treatment-resistant depression care covered by insurance, TMS therapy is an alternative that most plans (including Tricare) do cover.

Do I need someone to drive me home?

Yes. You cannot drive yourself home after a ketamine infusion. The dissociative and sedative effects of ketamine require a trusted person to drive you, and we typically recommend you have someone with you for the rest of the day. For patients coming from Katy, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, Pearland, or further out in Greater Houston, this means planning a round trip for the driver. If you don’t have someone available, we may be able to help arrange Uber or Lyft, but planning ahead is important.

Related Videos

Related Posts

A medical professional discussing TMS therapy and benzodiazepines with a patient seeking relief from persistent anxiety

TMS vs. Benzodiazepines: Which Treats Persistent Anxiety Without Risk of Dependency?

When anxiety becomes a daily shadow instead of an occasional

A medical professional administering clinical TMS therapy to a patient in a safe, controlled outpatient environment

Why TMS Therapy Is Proven Safer Than At-Home Brain Stimulation for PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can make daily life feel like

A side-by-side conceptual image showing a patient receiving TMS therapy in a modern clinic next to an individual peacefully practicing mindfulness meditation.

Is TMS Therapy More Effective Than Mindfulness Meditation for Ongoing Depression?

If you’re living with ongoing depression, you’ve likely explored many

*Individual results are not guaranteed and may vary from person to person. Images may contain models.
zoom