FAQ

In general, YES.

An old saying goes, “All medicines are poisons, and all poisons are medicines.” It depends on the person, the setting, the dosage, the route and speed of administration, the frequency of treatments. As an example, we all require oxygen to live. Earth’s atmosphere is about 21% oxygen. If we breath 100% oxygen for longer than 24 hours, the oxygen begins to damage our lungs, eventually killing us.

Ketamine, when used responsibly in a medical setting, is relatively very safe. Blood pressure and heart rate tend to go up very slightly during the infusion and return to baseline within 30 minutes after infusion. Breathing rate tends to be unchanged; airways dilate (beneficial for asthma). Kidney and liver function are maintained. There are no blood clotting problems.

For some people with pre-existing problems, even responsible use can cause significant problems, and ketamine may not be appropriate. These pre-existing problems include:

1. Coronary artery disease with frequent angina
2. Heart rhythm abnormalities
3. Poorly controlled blood pressure
4. Presence of thoracic/abdominal aneurysm
5. History of cerebral aneurysm or hemorrhagic stroke
6. In New Mexico, Familial Cerebral Cavernous Malformation
7. Cirrhosis
8. History psychosis/schizophrenia
9. You are in manic phase of bipolar disorder
10. Previous misuse/abuse of ketamine
11. Pregnancy

Any drug can be misused or abused.

Some drugs, such as opiates, have a relatively high addiction potential.

Ketamine has relatively low addiction potential, especially when used in a responsible medical setting.

Higher dosages and more frequent administration may increase the risk of addiction.

When misuse/abuse does occur, in addition to the socio-behavioral problems that occur with any addiction, ketamine misuse is associated with (bladder) cystitis, renal failure, hepatic (liver) toxicity, cholangitis (gall bladder), and, especially when combined with alcohol or other drugs, can cause death.

If you begin to crave the “feeling” you have when you’re receiving ketamine, let your provider know. The “feeling” that you have during ketamine infusion is not necessary for any sustained benefit from your treatment. Craving is a potential warning sign for misuse.

The short answer: we are still learning about the multiple effects of ketamine upon the mind-body.

We do know some of the effects that seem very important in changing depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, fibromyalgia, substance/alcohol abuse, irritable bowel, etc.

Ketamine acts upon the glutamate system in the body as what is called an NMDA receptor antagonist. In the brain, this results in a period of neuroplasticity following an infusion. This neuroplasticity is associated with an increase in Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor which is associated with a rapid growth of new nerve endings, new connections between different parts of the brain. The neuroplasticity begins as early as 30 minutes of completing the infusion, is most intense for about 3 days, and then wanes over the next 4 days. The initial 3 days is often referred to as the “neuroplastic window.” The actual “neuroplastic window” is up to 7 days, although certainly most pronounced in the first 3 days. During the “neuroplastic window,” new emotional patterns and new behavioral patterns emerge. With integration practices, these new patterns have the chance to become permanent.

Ketamine also acts upon the gut-brain axis (see FAQ: GUT-BRAIN AXIS). Quickly following ketamine infusion, the makeup of the gut bacteria changes. Bacteria that promote inflammation in the gut, and secondarily promote inflammation throughout the body/brain, are replaced by anti-inflammatory bacteria. The mechanisms by which ketamine causes these changes is not clearly understood. With integration practices, these new patterns have the chance to become permanent.

Ketamine acts directly upon immune cells in the brain and the periphery (body outside the brain). The exact mechanisms by which ketamine alters the immune system are not currently known. The overall effect is that ketamine is anti-proinflammatory. I need to go into a little more depth here. Inflammation in the right amount is essential for our health. If we cut our hand, or breath in a virus, our immune system kicks in to provide optimal healing. If the immune system over-reacts, or is constantly under attack, immune pathways begin to cause damage to our own body – we experience things like rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, asthma, multiple sclerosis, depression, anxiety, PTSD, fibromyalgia, etc. Medications like prednisone are anti-inflammatory – they can lessen the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, but also lessen our ability to heal cuts and fight off infections. Ketamine in appropriate doses is anti-proinflammatory, in that it lessens the over-reactivity of the immune system without impairing wound healing or fighting infections. If ketamine is abused (taken in too high doses, taken too often), it becomes proinflammatory and can lead to cystitis, cholangitis, etc.

An old saying goes “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting diJerent results.”

Ketamine therapy provides a window of opportunity to improve life. By itself, ketamine may help you to experience change in your life for a few weeks to a few months. Integration practice is the life’s blood of lifelong improvement. Through integration practices you can maintain and expand the benefits that you experience from any single infusion.

If you are already engaged with a mental health provider, sponsor, coach, clergy, we recommend strongly that you meet in the first 3-7 days after your infusion, to consolidate your changes.

If you are already engaged with specific healthful practices, we recommend that you re-engage in the first 3-7 days after your infusion and then continue to make your practices a regular part of your life.

If you do not have regular practices to sustain a healthful life, we recommend that you consider: meditation/prayer; rhythmic exercise such as QiGong; walking in nature; moving into a more healthful diet; using probiotics and/or herbs to improve the gut-brain axis; regular energy body work; beginning a relationship with a mental health provider, sponsor, life coach, clergy. 

Begin perhaps one or two practices in the first three days after your infusion. If you are beginning new practices, there is no need to overdo them. If you want to run a marathon, you don’t go out the first day for 26 miles. You might start with a ½ mile a day for 2 weeks, then increase by ½ mile a day every 2 weeks. In a year you will be running a marathon. Start modest, with something that seems doable for you, on a regular basis. Regularity is very important. Over time, modify as you are able. 

An old saying goes “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting diJerent results.”

Ketamine therapy provides a window of opportunity to improve life. By itself, ketamine may help you to experience change in your life for a few weeks to a few months. Integration practice is the life’s blood of lifelong improvement. Through integration practices you can maintain and expand the benefits that you experience from any single infusion.

If you are already engaged with a mental health provider, sponsor, coach, clergy, we recommend strongly that you meet in the first 3-7 days after your infusion, to consolidate your changes.

If you are already engaged with specific healthful practices, we recommend that you re-engage in the first 3-7 days after your infusion and then continue to make your practices a regular part of your life.

If you do not have regular practices to sustain a healthful life, we recommend that you consider: meditation/prayer; rhythmic exercise such as QiGong; walking in nature; moving into a more healthful diet; using probiotics and/or herbs to improve the gut-brain axis; regular energy body work; beginning a relationship with a mental health provider, sponsor, life coach, clergy. 

Begin perhaps one or two practices in the first three days after your infusion. If you are beginning new practices, there is no need to overdo them. If you want to run a marathon, you don’t go out the first day for 26 miles. You might start with a ½ mile a day for 2 weeks, then increase by ½ mile a day every 2 weeks. In a year you will be running a marathon. Start modest, with something that seems doable for you, on a regular basis. Regularity is very important. Over time, modify as you are able. 

We all have an experience of trauma. Something that happened to us that changed our lives. Depending on our age, our environment, our prior level of support, we may be able to regain wholeness on our own. Or not.

Our age is important. Whatever age, we have a certain level of neurodevelopment. Newborns can only cry, and if that doesn’t provide relief, dissociate from the experience. From the brainstem (reptilian brain) development, through midbrain development, through cortex (higher thinking brain) development, we develop the capacities for behavioral responses to trauma including freeze, fight, flight, fawn. These are all efforts to minimize the effect of the trauma. If we are an adult and a clerk in a store ignores us, it may be no big deal. However, if we were frequently ignored as a newborn, we might find ourselves in a state of dissociation. If we were ignored during a phase of midbrain fight/flight development, we might find ourselves in a shouting match with the clerk; or fawning with the clerk to meet their needs rather than our needs.

What happens physiologically when trauma occurs. It is often called a stress response. The body/brain mobilizes to try to restore balance. Hormones like cortisol are released; neurotransmitters like adrenaline (fight/flight) and acetylcholine (freeze) are released; inflammatory and immune cells are mobilized to ward off the intruder (whether physical/sexual, visual, auditory, emotional, psychic, spiritual). An inflammatory reaction always occurs. If the trauma is relatively mild and short-lived, we may return quickly to balance. However, if there are frequent “mild” traumas, or infrequent “severe” traumas, the inflammatory response continues without relief, damaging the body and brain. Perhaps arresting neurodevelopment at a particular age. Or perhaps leading to depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, diabetes, high blood pressure, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, substance/alcohol abuse.

Trauma is a threat to our wellbeing, to our safety. If we do not feel safe in a situation, the situation can amplify our previously experienced trauma.

We strive to make AIK safe for you!

We listen to you. What happened to you to cause your difficulties? What has worked for you in the past? What has not worked for you? What are your goals? If something during an infusion is stressful, we will make every effort to change the experience. Informed consent.

We provide a physically comfortable atmosphere, through chairs, lighting, privacy screens. If having a friend, support person, loved one at your side, we will endeavor to provide this (although this is less possible during group infusion, as there is just not enough physical space). If having a support person present is essential for you, we recommend individual sessions only.

Music provided through noise-cancelling headphones will not have lyrics. Rhythmic drumming is our music of choice. If you wish to listen to your own music, we will discuss this option, perhaps make suggestions. In the end, the choice is yours.

We will only engage in medical touch (BP, checking pulse, if necessary listening to heart and lungs, if necessary doing a neurological exam) during an infusion.

We will not try to engage you in “talk” therapy during your infusion. If an insight comes to you during your infusion, and you wish to verbalize it, we will of course listen attentively.

Trauma is what happened to us. It’s not who we are. With help, we can reclaim the healthful balance of who we are.

It appears neuroplasticity can improve all of these problems. It also appears that systemic inflammation, neuroinflammation, and changes in the gut-brain axis are common to all these problems.

To our knowledge, there are not replicable studies that show significant long-term pain relief after ketamine infusions for these diagnoses. There are anecdotal reports of long-term pain relief.

You should be aware that the ketamine infusion protocol for pain such as CRPS is considerably different than the infusion protocol for depression, etc. This protocol calls for higher doses of ketamine infused over 4-8 hours daily on 4-5 consecutive days. This obviously entails a much higher cost. If these longer infusions were documented to provide significant long-term relief, I would be happy to offer them.

If you wish to try ketamine infusion for the sole purpose of alleviating your pain, we can talk about that. For this purpose, I would likely recommend a series of 45 minute infusions, once a week for 8-12 weeks with very close attention to integration practices.

It is also true that at least 70% of people with chronic pain also suffer with depression, or anxiety, or PTSD. And some percentage of people with chronic pain have sought relief in misuse of drugs or alcohol. In fibromyalgia, the neuroinflammation causes wide-spread body pain that is decreased by ketamine. Therefore, ketamine infusion for these aspects is beneficial.

Call 911 and/or 988 (NM LIFELINE)

 If you have suicidal ideation AND you are already under the care of a mental health provider, you likely have discussed this with your provider. In addition to the other treatments that you are receiving with your provider, ketamine infusions may be very beneficial. While you are awaiting your ketamine infusion appointment, please avoid alcohol and please remove guns from your home.

If you have suicidal ideation and you are not under the care of a mental health provider, please call 988 (NM LIFELINE). And then call us for help as well. If, for instance, you have spoken with a provider and they feel that it is safe for you to wait for a mental health appointment in say 4-6 weeks, we’d rather try to get you in for a ketamine infusion quickly than to have you act on an impulse while you wait the 4-6 weeks. Please remove alcohol and please remove guns from your home.

Going back to the basics. Just breathing. No need to accomplish anything. No need to be different than we are. Simply breathing. The rhythmic rising and falling of the belly as we breath like a baby. Energy accumulating in our lower abdomen. Rhythmically stimulating our vagal nerve. Reminding us that we are safe and relaxed. Rediscovering, reinvigorating, the foundation of our brain, the brainstem. Just breathing is enough for now, these few minutes. Reminding us that it is possible to re-engage with life.

Studies show significant improvements in depression and anxiety, as well as positive changes in the gut-brain axis, with even short-term meditation. Imagine the benefits of a long-term, regular meditation practice. The regularity of the practice, rather than the length of each meditation session, seems most important. Five minutes every other day may be more beneficial than 5 hours of meditation hit-or-miss.

Rhythmic exercise is documented to decrease inflammation in the body as a whole, including the brain. Rhythmic exercise has positive effects upon sleep. Rhythmic exercise has positive effects on the gut-brain axis.

Walking is an excellent form of rhythmic exercise. However, due to environmental factors such as cold, rain, wind, heat, walking in nature can be difficult.

I have a personal preference for QiGong exercise. Qi Gong is a component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (as are acupuncture, herbs, massage). It is rhythmic standing movement designed to stimulate the flow of Qi, or energy, throughout the body-mind. It only requires a space about 4’ X 4’ and therefore can be done almost anyplace, indoors or outdoors. I’ve sometimes done some QiGong movements in the grocery store check-out line.

If you already have another form of rhythmic exercise, by all means continue. Dancing, Jazzercise – yes. If you have a yoga practice, I recommend a form that emphasizes continuous movement rather than static postures.

If you do not have rhythmic exercise as a regular part of your life, or if you’ve had rhythmic exercise that hasn’t seemed to help, or has been too challenging for you, I recommend that you explore QiGong.

If you decide to explore QiGong, I recommend that you begin during the first three days after a ketamine infusion. Take advantage of the neuroplasticity.

I have been practicing QiGong for 15 years. During the last 6 years, I’ve been learning and practicing with Fabrice Piche, LAc. I consider Mr. Piche a genius at guiding people of all ability levels in developing a personally effective QiGong practice. Please go to the link            to learn more about Fabrice Piche, DOM, and QiGong.

Experiences vary, but many patients report a sense of calm, detachment from negative thoughts, or a new perspective on past emotions. You remain conscious, but in a relaxed, altered state. The environment is designed to feel safe and supportive, whether you’re in a private or group session. Some describe it as a dreamlike or spiritual journey, with feelings of insight, release, and relief.

Some patients notice improvement within hours or days after their first session—especially with depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts. However, ketamine works differently for everyone. Most treatment plans include a series of sessions to build sustained results, and we recommend combining therapy, energy work, and integration practices to maximize your healing.

Currently, ketamine therapy is not covered by most insurance providers. At AIK, we offer transparent, out-of-pocket pricing and more affordable group sessions to make treatment accessible. Payment plans and support resources may also be available — just ask during your consultation.

At AIK, we don’t just give you a dose — we walk with you through the entire healing process. Every treatment is customized and medically supervised. We pair ketamine therapy with integrative support tools like body energy work and breathwork, helping you process, integrate, and transform. You’re not just getting a treatment—you’re entering a healing relationship.

Studies have shown improvements in depression and anxiety. If spirituality is an important part of your life, your form of prayer done regularly is likely to be of benefit.

Breathwork is similar to meditation in that it focuses upon the breath. There are many styles of Breathwork. Some styles utilize long, slow deep breaths; this tends to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, associated with the vagal nerve. Some styles utilize rapid, deep breaths; this tends to stimulate the sympathetic nervous system. The style of Breathwork should be tailored to the individual. A person with anxiety, where the sympathetic nervous system is already ramped up, is likely to do better with breathing style that enhances the parasympathetic nervous system. A person who tends to “freeze,” a symptom of parasympathetic hyperactivity, may benefit from brief periods of rapid breathing interspersed with slow breathing.

Chines Medicine employs acupuncture, herbal treatments (oral, topical, foot soaks), QiGong exercise, massage.

Chinese medicine has an over 2000-year history of treating multiple medical problems with herbal therapies through the gut-brain axis. This is a gross oversimplification of the effects of Chinese Medicine, but it is clear that Chinese herbal treatments effect the gut microbiome. Herbal treatments are a practice that you can continue on a regular basis at home as part of your integration.

The beneficial effects of QiGong have been repeatedly documented in scientific studies for a wide range of problems. QiGong is a practice that you may choose to do on your own, anytime and anyplace, as a part of your integration process.

Yes. And. There are over 3000 species of bacteria, with over a trillion individual bacterial cells, in the human gut. Imagine the variability from person to person, from diet to diet. It is impossible to tell precisely for any person what bacteria they need more or less of. We will however make some general recommendations for you.

The short answer: It depends on the problem that you are healing, your intentions and goals, and your response to treatment.

If you have one or two infusion treatments and reach your goals – great, that’s it.

If you have one or two infusion treatments and reach your goals – and then new goals emerge for you requiring more infusion treatments – great, that’s what we do.

If you find that one or two infusions every 6-12 weeks allows you to reach and maintain your goals – great, that’s what we do for as long as you need us.

Our intention is to provide sufficient ketamine treatment to allow you to achieve your goals. Ideally jump-starting you into the life you dream of, including the integration practices that work best for you, promoting long-term healthful living.

We do have some models of what you might think of in terms of specific problems.

For treatment resistant major depression, we recommend up to 6 infusion treatments over the first two months. If integration practices are effective in maintaining long term maintenance of your goals, then further infusion therapy may not be needed. However, some individuals may benefit from infusions every 4-12 weeks for years to maintain wellbeing. We are committed to finding the treatment plan that is most beneficial for each you.

The model for treatment resistant depression applies also to treatment for anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome.

For substance/alcohol abuse treatment, we recommend weekly infusions, beginning at the time of detox or discharge from rehab, for 4 weeks, followed by biweekly treatments for 5 months. This is the maximum number of treatments recommended. Your response to treatment will dictate the total number of infusions given. During this time, active engagement in INTEGRATION practices will be encouraged. Following the initial 6 months of treatment, further treatments on a less frequent basis may be beneficial. If INTEGRATION practices are effective, no further ketamine treatments may be necessary.

The initial intake process $350.00 + tax. This includes: reviewing complete medical history (history medical/psychological diagnoses; allergies; medications; supplements; treatments in the past; current treatment; social history, etc); physical exam (vital signs; heart; lungs; neurological; etc); answering your questions; develop treatment goals and plan with you.

If you decide to proceed with ketamine infusion, $200.00 will be applied towards your first infusion.

Ketamine infusion individual: $550.00 + tax, paid in advance and non-refundable. This includes pre-infusion BARS energy-body work; infusion; post-infusion recovery period. Package of 3 infusions for $1500

Ketamine infusion group: $330.00 + tax, paid in advance and non-refundable. This includes pre-infusion BARS energy-body work; infusion; post-infusion recovery period. Package of 3 infusions $900 + tax.

15% discount for veterans, military, police, firefighters, first-responders, school teachers; retired and active duty.

Yes. And. Buprenorphine and methadone clearly have significant benefits in terms of harm reduction for individuals recovering from opiate addiction. Therefore, deciding to wean buprenorphine/methadone is not a casual decision. If, after careful discussion with your substance abuse treating physician, you wish to begin a process of weaning with ketamine infusion support, please contact us.

In general, yes. We will discuss your medications prior to your first infusion.

Benzodiazepine medications tend to make ketamine less effective.

And, ketamine infusions can be very helpful in weaning off benzodiazepines.

Yes. And. Deciding to wean anti-depressant medication is not a casual decision.  If, after careful discussion with your treating mental health provider, you wish to begin a process of weaning with ketamine infusion support, please contact us.

Yes. And. Deciding to wean benzodiazepine medication is not a casual decision.  If, after careful discussion with your treating medical and/or mental health provider, you wish to begin a process of weaning with ketamine infusion support, please contact us.