Living with chronic pain can often feel like you are alone, especially when traditional treatments seem to fall short. If you are tired of living with chronic pain and feeling like it has affected your quality of life, you may have searched for other treatments like ketamine therapy.
Ketamine therapy is rapidly gaining attention due to its fast-acting relief for those who struggle with chronic pain and other mental health conditions, such as depression, PTSD, and anxiety.
If you’re new to ketamine therapy, you’re likely wondering, “How often do I need to get ketamine infusions?”
Here, we are going to break down everything you about how often do you get ketamine infusions for pain, what to expect, and how ketamine infusion therapy works to help manage chronic pain.
- Ketamine therapy is an innovative treatment for chronic pain, depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
- Initial schedules typically involve several infusions in the first two weeks, followed by ongoing maintenance sessions.
- The frequency and duration of treatment vary but are personalized to your unique needs.
- Ketamine therapy is safe when administered by qualified professionals and offers both immediate and long-lasting benefits for many patients.
- At Ketamine Wellness NY, we tailor treatment plans to fit your goals and ensure your comfort.
Ketamine therapy is when you get administered a low dose of intravenous (IV) infusions of ketamin, which is a drug that was traditionally used as an anesthetic. When it’s used in controlled medical environments, ketamine can help alleviate chronic pain and mental health disorders.
What makes ketamine stand out over other chronic pain management therapies is its rapid and often dramatic effects, particularly amongst those who have tried other therapies without any success.
Ketamine works by interacting with the brain’s NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors. This interaction helps regulate the pathways responsible for long-term pain and emotional distress.
By disrupting these pain pathways, ketamine reduces symptoms of chronic pain and enhances neural connectivity, meaning it can improve mood and emotions. However, there is more to ketamine therapy.
Here are some of the other benefits of ketamine therapy:
- Quick Relief – Many patients report significant pain or mood relief, often within hours of their first infusion. This means you don’t have to wait until you have 2-3 sessions to experience the benefits.
- Long-Lasting Effects – When you use ketamine long-term, it may improve brain plasticity, making symptoms more manageable even between sessions.
- Non-Addictive – Unlike opioids, ketamine is non-addictive, making it safer for long-term use.
- Broad Applications – Effective for various conditions, from chronic pain to treatment-resistant depression.
Most patients begin their ketamine therapy with an initial phase of intensive treatments.
- Initial Sessions – Typically, you’ll receive 6-8 infusions over 2-3 weeks. This initial phase helps “reset” your brain’s pain and emotional pathways.
- Maintenance Therapy – After the initial phase, infusions are spaced out to maintain results. Maintenance schedules often involve 1 infusion every 4-6 weeks, but this may vary depending on your progress and symptoms.
At Ketamine Wellness NY, we understand there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Your treatment plan will be customized based on your unique goals, medical history, and response to ketamine therapy.
Contact us at + 1 (516) 203-1041 and book your first call. We can create for you a personalized ketamine therapy plan to help you manage your chronic pain.
Now, keep in mind that to get the most out of your ketamine therapy, you need to be consistent. Consistency is crucial for sustaining the benefits of this therapy on chronic pain.
Adhering to your infusion schedule ensures the treatment continues to dampen chronic pain pathways and supports long-term brain health. Missing scheduled treatments could lead to a resurgence of pain or other symptoms.
During a ketamine infusion session, you’ll relax in a comfortable, monitored environment. An IV line will deliver precise doses of ketamine into your bloodstream over approximately 40-60 minutes. You may experience sensations such as lightheadedness, vivid thoughts, or a dream-like state, but these are temporary and completely manageable.
At Ketamine Wellness NY, your safety and comfort are our top priorities. Our professional team will closely monitor you throughout the process. Whether it’s your first infusion or a maintenance session, we aim to make your experience as relaxing and comfortable as possible.
After your session, you may notice immediate improvement in pain relief and mood. This typically happens within 1-2 hours of getting your session.
In the next couple of weeks and months of getting consistent ketamine infusions, you can find yourself having long-lasting relief and improved mood.
While ketamine therapy is generally well-tolerated, you may experience some minor side effects, including nausea, dizziness, or fatigue. However, keep in mind that these are short-lived and can often be managed with anti-nausea medications or other supportive care.
If you experience any of the previous symptoms, make sure you speak with your healthcare provider or speak with us at Ketamine Wellness.
We’ve seen firsthand how ketamine therapy changes lives. Here’s what some of our valued patients had to say:
“After years of trying different painkillers and therapies, ketamine was the only thing that worked for me. The team at Ketamine Wellness NY was incredible—they gave me my life back!” – Mike.
“I was skeptical at first, but ketamine therapy at Ketamine Wellness completely transformed my life. It provided me with the relief I had been desperately seeking for years. The team of professionals at Ketamine Wellness were incredibly supportive throughout the entire process, and I am forever grateful.” – Dave.
Living with chronic pain or treatment-resistant conditions shouldn’t define your life. Ketamine therapy offers an effective path to relief, helping you feel like you again.
Many patients start with an intensive phase of 6-8 infusions over 2-3 weeks, followed by maintenance sessions every few weeks. However, your personalized treatment plan will depend on your individual needs and goals.
So, if you are looking to use ketamine therapy for depression or chronic pain, or you’ve tried countless treatments that haven’t worked, we would love to chat with you. We may have the solution you are looking for to help you reclaim your health and your life.
Contact us at Ketamine Wellness NY, where our board-certified team offers in-office and at-home care options for patients across NYC, Queens, and Long Island. We’re committed to helping you feel better with a plan designed specifically for you.
Call us at + 1 (516) 203-1041 to schedule your consultation today. Relief is just a step away.
- Israel, Jacob E., et al. “Ketamine for the Treatment of Chronic Pain: A Comprehensive Review.” Health Psychology Research, vol. 9, no. 1, 2021, p. 25535, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8567802/, https://doi.org/10.52965/001c.25535.
- Le Cornec, Clément, et al. “Ketamine Compared with Morphine for Out-of-Hospital Analgesia for Patients with Traumatic Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial.” JAMA Network Open, vol. 7, no. 1, 29 Jan. 2024, p. e2352844, jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2814327, https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.52844.
- Orhurhu, Vwaire J., et al. “Ketamine in Acute and Chronic Pain Management.” PubMed, StatPearls Publishing, 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539824/.
- Puzio, Thaddeus J., et al. “Ketamine for Acute Pain after Trauma: The KAPT Randomized Controlled Trial.” Trials, vol. 23, no. 1, 27 July 2022, https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-022-06511-6.
- Voute, Marion, et al. “Assessment of Initial Depressive State and Pain Relief with Ketamine in Patients with Chronic Refractory Pain.” JAMA Network Open, vol. 6, no. 5, 19 May 2023, pp. e2314406–e2314406, https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.14406.
DISCLAIMER
If you have any medical questions or concerns, please talk to your healthcare provider. The articles on our website are based on information drawn from medical research, societies, and governmental agencies. However, they are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.