Frequently Asked Questions

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We do everything we can to keep costs down for our patients.  Insurance billing raises our costs and subsequently will raise the cost of treatment for our patients.  Insurance billing also slows the start process for patients in need of immediate care, and restricts our ability to give the best patient care possible.  We prefer to not bill insurance for this reason.

Most health insurance companies are NOT accepting assignment for Ketamine infusion therapy and other services we provide.  At this time, our office is not billing insurance companies for our services.  

We are happy to provide our patients with any documentation necessary for them to submit a claim for reimbursement.  Many of our patients have reported getting some reimbursement.

Our office is able to take cash, check, credit/debit, and health savings cards as forms of payment.  We do offer a discount for cash/check payments since we do not get charged any fees for accepting them.

YES!  We are happy to mix up a formula that suits your individual needs.  The off-the-shelf formulas that we stock are very versatile, and can be customized.

No. You will not require any testing prior to IV Nutrition therapy. Our eligibility criteria are based on the same decision making algorithms utilized in hospitals. We do not make any medical diagnoses and our therapies are not intended to treat any medical condition. However, there are a number of medical conditions that may improve with regular infusions. Our therapies are designed to restore balance to your body and help you maintain wellness. 

 IV drips introduce fluids and essential elements directly into the body with 100% delivery of benefits straight to the target organs. While IV Infusions are not meant to be a substitute for oral intake, they serve as a supplement or alternative solution to quickly rehydrate and replenish nutrients, restoring the body to peak balance. Drinking large amounts of fluids can result in a sensation of bloating and fullness that does not happen with IV hydration. 

Everyone is different. As a general rule, the more deficient and unbalanced your system is, the greater and more immediate an effect you will feel. Just because you do not feel an immediate difference, doesn’t mean the therapy is not beneficial. IV therapies are the clinical gold standard in “flushing” out the body of unwanted toxins and helping achieve balance. 

Again, this will vary on the individual and the physical health status. The noticeable effects typically last 2-4 days; however, the underlying clinical benefits can continue beyond that. 

Ketamine, a derivative of phencyclidine, is an anesthetic drug that was developed in 1962 and has been widely used in a variety of settings. Ketamine acts as an antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor and targets glutamate, which is an excitatory amino acid neurotransmitter.

Ketamine has been used to induce and maintain general anesthesia for more than 30 years and is on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines. Ketamine is FDA-approved as an anesthetic and has a remarkably safe track record in clinical settings.  Ketamine is so safe that it is commonly used surgically for children and animals. It does not depress breathing, and it supports blood pressure. Ketamine is commonly used to treat Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), sometimes referred to as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD). 

Over the past two decades, researchers have consistently found that low doses of ketamine, administered intravenously (ketamine infusions), produce a rapid and long-lasting anti-depressant effect.

 You haven’t heard of ketamine for the treatment of refractory depression because the practice of using ketamine to treat depression is relatively new. It's benefits for mental health have been in practice since the early 2000's. Ketamine is most commonly known as a general anesthetic, used in surgical procedures. You may know of ketamine as a rave drug, used recreationally since the 1980s. 

Esketamine, an inferior cousin to Ketamine has been FDA approved in the form of a nasal spray for depression since 2019.  Some forms of Ketamine therapy are still considered off-label, as the FDA approval process can take many years, due to the amount of funding, research and time required. Fortunately, the research being conducted continues to demonstrate that IV ketamine is extremely effective in treating depression, and the use of ketamine in this population is becoming increasingly common. 

 When ketamine is administered in a controlled medical setting by a properly trained and licensed clinician using established methods, it is very safe.

Ketamine is the only anesthetic that does not suppress the body’s cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

When used recreationally, or outside of a controlled medical setting, ketamine use can have very serious adverse effects.

Spravato (esketamine) is administered via a nasal spray that is given under the supervision of a physician.  Esketamine is not really ketamine. It is a derivative of ketamine that is patented and being commercially manufactured by Johnson & Johnson under the brand name Spravato.

The key difference between the two therapies is the success rate. IV Ketamine infusions have been shown to be up to 80% effective in the treatment of severe depression. This is in contrast to the studies of Esketamine nasal spray, which only show up to 40% effectiveness. 

Esketamine has to be administered much more frequently than IV Ketamine, and requires much more supervision post infusion.  Spravato patients must wait approximately 1 hour longer than IV Ketamine patients for discharge from their therapy appointment.

Esketamine (Spravato) requires more frequent booster treatments than IV Ketamine.  The average booster treatments for esketamine is about every 2 weeks.  In contrast, IV Ketamine boosters are often every 4-6 weeks, and often get further extended over time. 

We consider IV infusions the “gold standard” for any ketamine treatment. The main benefit is a more precise administration of the drug via an IV into the bloodstream, which means better absorption and better control.  Wouldn't you feel better about your treatment knowing that your physician has control over the dosage of your medication?  Esketamine only comes in 2 dosages, and are not able to be adjusted in any way.

Our goal is to get you well.  This is why our preferred method of treatment is IV Ketamine infusion therapy.  We are confident that you will get a much better outcome, and long-term success with IV Ketamine than you would using the inferior cousin esketamine (Spravato).

 We do not diagnose here in our office.  We feel that it is a conflict of interest and sends the wrong message.  Instead, we require confirmation of diagnosis from your diagnosing physician.  This can be in the form of a referral, prescription, or we can get in contact with your physician with a signed release of information which we include in our new patient forms.