Frequently Asked Questions

Ketamine can be used as an induction agent and sedation for general anesthesia; however, at lower doses, there is evidence that it can be used in the treatment of depression, PTSD, and pain. For pain, it can be used for patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), but can be utilized for chronic back and neuropathic pain as well.

For depression and PTSD, ketamine can improve symptoms between 7 hours to 7 days. A series of infusions is beneficial and can be repeated if necessary. For pain, ketamine has been shown to provide significant lasting pain relief in up to half of the patients being treated. About 30% of patients experience relief for 3 weeks or more. In addition, most patients report less need for pain management medications after receiving a ketamine infusion.

On the day of your infusion, you can expect to be here for 2-3 hours. You will have an IV started to administer your medication by a trained healthcare professional, and have individualized treatment based on your body weight. Vital signs will be monitored closely during and after the infusion. You will need a driver to transport you home.

Side effects can be dose-dependent and can become more noticeable at higher doses. Patients who are over the age of 65 may experience more side effects with this medication. These side effects usually resolve within 2 hours after the infusion but can occur up to 24 hours after the infusion was stopped.

Increased blood pressure (hypertension), heart rate (tachycardia) and drowsiness (sedation) are the most common reported side effects. Other side effects include hallucinations, double vision, increased pressure in the eye, and jerky arm movements.

Rare side effects include allergic reaction, irregular heart rate or slowing of heart rate, and low blood pressure. If you have a pre-existing history of hypertension, talk to your doctor about using ketamine prior to the infusion.

Do not stop any medications for hypertension before the infusion.

We strongly recommend avoiding driving or operating heavy machinery for 24 hours after your infusions.

Hallucinations can range from pleasant dreams to intense visual and auditory hallucinations.

It can also change behavior, and because of this, we recommend to having supervision for 24 hours after infusion and avoiding major life decisions for 24 hours as well.

Yes! We work with all major insurance companies. Please call to inquire more.

• Lexicomp online. Hudson (OH); 2014 (cited 2014 March 13).
• Patil S, Anitexcu M. Efficacy of Outpatient Ketamine infusions in
• Refractory Chronic Pain Syndromes: A 5-year Retrospective Analysis. Pain Medicine 2012; 13: 263-269.

You will meet with a board-certified physician, who will obtain a complete history, physical, and review your medical records. A lab assessment will be performed if needed to identify the appropriateness of therapy, immune or nutritional deficiencies, and any potential underlying health considerations.

A treatment plan will be developed to boost and strengthen your overall health, wellness, and longevity.

Yes! We work with all major insurance companies. Please call to inquire more.

Insurance plans will often cover the cost of lab tests however we cannot guarantee this. You may want to speak with your insurance carrier for more details.

Although IV infusion therapy may not a stand-alone therapy, it is a highly beneficial mechanism to support the body at a cellular level. Ongoing therapy may improve nutritional levels to a therapeutic range and restore health to patients who have suffered years with chronic disease.

Every patient is different, and while we cannot guarantee success, we use a scientifically based approach using our training and experience to customize a safe and reasonable treatment plan.

There are a number of factors to be taken into account for the improvement in health and wellness:

• Pre-treatment baseline nutrient levels- patients with very low levels and multiple deficiencies typically respond well
• Patient commitment (patients who successfully integrate the regimen consistently achieve desired outcomes more quickly and maintain a consistent level of health and well being. Commitment also refers to follow up visits with scheduled lab testing
• Participating in diet plans and exercise as prescribed, as well as practicing sleep hygiene, stress management, and taking recommended supplements if applicable.

A board-certified physician will spend about 30 minutes in a collaborative setting, discussing your reason for visiting, symptoms, and taking a detailed medical history and a physical exam. Laboratory tests may be ordered to obtain baseline information on your overall health and nutritional health. At the end of your consultation, you and your physician will determine the preliminary course of treatment. A comprehensive treatment plan will be discussed with you based on your history.

A: Side-effects are often minimal and manageable when receiving IV nutritional therapy. Some patients report fatigue or flu-like symptoms that are common as the body begins detoxing, usually these symptoms subside in 24- 48 hours. However, the following are potential but exceedingly rare side effects:

• fluid retention,
• high blood pressure,
• heart failure,
• injection site reactions,
• kidney damage,
• electrolyte abnormalities

You may continue treatment as long as you wish to see relief of symptoms and positive results in your health.

A personalized weight optimization plan is established after a consultation with one of our providers. Whether it’s 5 lbs or 100 lbs, we can help.

The initial thorough consultation is $200 and subsequent follow up visits are $100 each, which will potentially include vitamin B12 injections.

At this time, we do not accept insurance. However, we can supply you with a receipt that you may submit to your insurance to see if they will cover any of the cost.

Our goal is to keep you at your healthy goal weight. Weight optimization is a constant battle that may require frequent monitoring. However, with the development of good habits, continued weight optimization is definitely possible.

Your safety on this journey is our priority. You will be continuously monitored by a team of board-certified physicians and nurse practitioner while participating in this program.

Vitamins are essential for body functions. You can do oral supplements; however, the body only absorbs a small percentage when vitamins are taken by mouth. However, absorption is essentially 100% when given intravenously.

You can pay as you go and no contract is necessary.

We are not a typical weight loss clinic. We focus on a healthy and safe way to optimize your weight. We customize individual treatment plans and incorporate a diet/exercise plan, functional medicine, IV vitamin/nutrient supplementation, and potentially an FDA approved the medication for weight loss.

Functional Medicine determines how and why illness occurs and restores health by addressing the root causes of disease for each individual.

The Functional Medicine model is an individualized, patient-centered, science-based approach that empowers patients and practitioners to work together to address the underlying causes of disease and promote optimal wellness. It requires a detailed understanding of each patient’s genetic, biochemical, and lifestyle factors and leverages that data to direct personalized treatment plans that lead to improved patient outcomes.

By addressing root cause, rather than symptoms, practitioners become oriented to identifying the complexity of disease. They may find one condition has many different causes and, likewise, one cause may result in many different conditions. As a result, Functional Medicine treatment targets the specific manifestations of disease in each individual.

Functional Medicine is a systems biology-based approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of disease. Each symptom or differential diagnosis may be one of many contributing to an individual’s illness.

As the graphic illustrates, a diagnosis can be the result of more than one cause. For example, depression can be caused by many different factors, including inflammation. Likewise, a cause such as inflammation may lead to a number of different diagnoses, including depression. The precise manifestation of each cause depends on the individual’s genes, environment, and lifestyle, and only treatments that address the right cause will have a lasting benefit beyond symptom suppression.

Functional-Medicine

The Functional Medicine model evolved from the insights and perspectives of a small group of influential thought leaders who realized the importance of an individualized approach to disease causes based on the evolving research in nutritional science, genomics, and epigenetics. These thought leaders found ways to apply these new advances in the clinic to address root causes using low-risk interventions that modify molecular and cellular systems to reverse these drivers of disease.

Inform yourself. We recommend gathering information about your condition or complaint before talking with your doctor so that you can have a thoughtful exchange and ask proactive questions about your treatment options. But be selective about your sources — not all information is created equal.