This is almost always the first question we hear — and it makes complete sense, particularly if you have spent years trying treatments that haven't delivered the relief you were hoping for. Research shows that ketamine has demonstrated a response rate of approximately 70-80% for treatment-resistant mood disorders and chronic pain conditions, which is remarkable by any clinical standard. What we can tell you from our own direct experience here at Kismet is that we witness meaningful, sometimes life-changing results on a regular basis. We cannot promise outcomes for any individual, but we can promise that we will work collaboratively with you to give ketamine every possible opportunity to do what it does extraordinarily well.

One of ketamine's most remarkable qualities — and one that sets it apart dramatically from traditional psychiatric medications — is the speed at which many people begin to feel its effects. Some clients notice meaningful shifts after just one or two infusions. Others experience a more gradual unfolding across the initial loading series of six sessions. Unlike conventional antidepressants, which can take weeks or months to show results, ketamine works at the level of the brain's neural architecture directly and rapidly. We monitor your progress carefully throughout the process and adjust your treatment plan accordingly.

Ketamine produces a dissociative experience — most clients describe it as peaceful, floaty, and dreamlike. You may feel a sense of not being entirely anchored to your body, and your perception of time, color, and sound may shift in ways that feel unfamiliar. This is completely normal, and it is actually an important part of how the healing unfolds neurologically. Our medical staff monitors your vital signs and overall wellbeing continuously throughout the entire experience — you are in skilled, attentive hands from the moment the infusion begins until well after it ends. Most clients are genuinely surprised by how manageable — and even pleasant — the experience turns out to be.

No — psychotherapy is never a requirement at Kismet, but certainly highly recommended. Ketamine infusions alone have demonstrated significant clinical benefit and many of our clients come to us for the medical treatment exclusively. That said, the research is increasingly clear that combining ketamine with targeted psychotherapy produces deeper and more lasting results, particularly for those dealing with trauma, PTSD, and complex mood disorders. Because we have specialized trauma psychotherapists on staff, that integration is available to you here under one roof whenever and if ever you feel ready for it.

The window of neuroplasticity that ketamine opens in the brain — that period of heightened capacity for new connections and new ways of experiencing yourself and the world — is a genuine opportunity. What you do with that window matters enormously for the longevity of your results. Rest, reflection, and intentional integration of what surfaced during your sessions all support lasting change. For clients working with one of our psychotherapists, this integration work happens in a structured, supported way that we believe significantly extends and deepens the benefits of the medicine. Maintenance booster infusions are also available and tailored individually to your needs as they evolve. Oral ketamine may also be an option. Click here for more information.

The good news is that most common psychiatric medications — including SSRIs, MAOIs, and tricyclic antidepressants — do not interfere with ketamine therapy and do not need to be stopped before treatment. Benzodiazepines are the notable exception, as research suggests they can reduce ketamine's effectiveness. It is recommended that these meds not be taken at least 12hrs prior and after an infusion, with 24hrs being preferable. We will review all of your current medications carefully before your first infusion and give you clear, specific guidance. Please do not stop or adjust any prescribed medication without first consulting your prescribing physician.

Ketamine as administered clinically — at carefully controlled, low doses in a supervised medical setting — has not been shown to be chemically addictive, and none of our clients have reported addiction symptoms. The concerns around addiction and organ damage that occasionally surface in public discourse are associated with the long-term, high-dose recreational abuse of street ketamine — an entirely different context from what happens here. There are no known long-term side effects of IV ketamine infusion therapy when administered responsibly by trained medical professionals. Short-term effects such as mild fatigue, temporary disorientation, and occasional nausea typically resolve within hours.

Ketamine is not appropriate for everyone. Conditions that typically preclude treatment include pregnancy, uncontrolled high blood pressure, unstable heart disease, active substance abuse, certain neurological conditions, untreated thyroid disease, and active psychosis. Our intake process is thorough precisely because we want to make sure ketamine is genuinely the right fit for you.