Any clinic worth choosing will welcome these questions
Ketamine therapy has grown quickly, and clinics vary widely in how carefully they screen, monitor, and follow up with patients. This guide is written to be useful no matter where you seek care. If a provider is evasive about credentials, screening, FDA status, monitoring, or pricing, treat that as meaningful information.
Bring this list to your consultation — with us or with anyone else. We're glad to answer all fourteen about our own practice; just ask.
Screening & medical oversight
1.Who performs the medical evaluation, and what are their credentials?
Why it matters: Ketamine is a medical treatment. A licensed clinician — not a salesperson — should review your history, medications, and diagnoses before anything is scheduled.
2.Will you review my full medication list and health history before treatment?
Why it matters: Certain cardiovascular conditions, uncontrolled blood pressure, some psychiatric histories, and specific medications can make ketamine unsuitable. A provider who doesn't ask is a warning sign.
3.Under what circumstances would you tell me ketamine is NOT right for me?
Why it matters: A trustworthy clinic screens people out, not just in. Ask how often they decline candidates and refer people elsewhere.
4.Do you coordinate with my existing psychiatrist, therapist, or primary care provider?
Why it matters: Ketamine generally works best as one part of a broader care plan, not a replacement for it.
The treatment itself
1.What route of administration do you use, and why?
Why it matters: IV infusion, intranasal esketamine (Spravato), and compounded troches differ in bioavailability, dosing precision, and FDA status. The provider should explain the tradeoffs honestly rather than claim one option is universally best.
2.Is this use of ketamine FDA-approved or off-label?
Why it matters: Ketamine is FDA-approved as an anesthetic; its use for depression and related conditions is off-label. Only Spravato (esketamine) holds FDA approval for specific psychiatric indications. A provider should state this plainly.
3.How is dosing determined and can it be adjusted during a session?
Why it matters: Dosing should be individualized — typically weight-based and titrated to your response — not one-size-fits-all.
4.Who monitors me during the infusion, and what exactly is monitored?
Why it matters: Blood pressure, heart rate, and how you're feeling should be checked throughout, with a clinician present or immediately available the entire time.
5.What side effects should I expect, and how do you handle them?
Why it matters: Temporary dissociation, dizziness, nausea, and blood pressure changes are known effects. The answer should be specific and calm — not dismissive, not alarmist.
Cost, expectations & follow-through
1.How many treatments will you recommend, and how do you decide?
Why it matters: Be cautious of fixed packages sold before any evaluation. The number of sessions should follow from your response to treatment, with reassessment built in.
2.What does treatment cost, and what is included in that price?
Why it matters: Transparent per-infusion pricing — and clarity on what the consultation, monitoring, and any add-ons cost — lets you compare clinics fairly.
3.What happens if I don't respond to the initial series?
Why it matters: No provider can guarantee results. Ask how they define response, when they reassess, and whether they'll recommend stopping if it isn't helping.
4.How do you handle transportation and the rest of my treatment day?
Why it matters: You should not drive after a session. A responsible clinic addresses ride-home planning up front rather than as an afterthought.
5.How do you support integration between sessions?
Why it matters: Reflection, journaling, and coordination with a therapist can help translate the experience into lasting change. Ask what the clinic actually does here.
Answers that should give you pause
Be cautious if a clinic…
Guarantees results or uses the word "cure" · claims IV ketamine is FDA-approved for depression · sells multi-session packages before any medical evaluation · can't tell you who monitors patients or what their credentials are · dismisses questions about side effects · pressures you to book the same day · won't discuss pricing until you're in the door.
None of these alone proves a clinic is unsafe — but each is a reason to slow down and ask more questions. Reputable providers expect informed patients and are glad to meet them.
Ready to talk it through?
Begin with a consultation. We'll review your history, answer your questions, and help you decide if IV ketamine therapy is right for you.
Book a Consultation — reach us your way.
Consultations are scheduled privately by phone and email — no online intake form.
Medical disclaimer. This page is for educational purposes only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Ketamine is used off-label for mental health conditions, is not appropriate for everyone, and individual results vary. Candidacy is determined only after a clinical evaluation by a licensed medical provider. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 or go to the nearest emergency room.