What to expect at your first ketamine infusion
Eat lightly and stop food four hours before; sips of water are fine until arrival. Take your usual medications unless the clinic told you to hold one (benzodiazepines and lamotrigine can blunt the effect and are sometimes paused). Arrange a ride.
Updated · Checked by the Covered Mind editorial team against cited sources
Key facts
- Last checked:
- Sources listed: 1
- Reading time: About 1 minute
- First infusion dose: 0.5 mg/kg over 40 minutes
- Recovery: 30 to 60 minutes
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Last checked | |
| Sources listed | 1 |
| Reading time | About 1 minute |
| First infusion dose | 0.5 mg/kg over 40 minutes |
| Recovery | 30 to 60 minutes |
Preparation
Check your plan in the coverage checker and read ketamine coverage by insurer. See the ketamine therapy overview for the treatment schedule and answers to common questions.
What happens during a ketamine infusion visit?
- Check-in: blood pressure, pulse and oxygen saturation. A brief mood rating.
- IV placement: a small catheter in the hand or arm.
- Infusion: 0.5 mg/kg over 40 minutes. Some clinics adjust the dose in later sessions based on your response.
- Recovery: 30 to 60 minutes seated while dissociation fades and vitals return to baseline.
Read Ketamine therapy for treatment-resistant depression.
What does a ketamine infusion feel like?
Within ten minutes, a sense of detachment from your body and surroundings, changes in perception of light and sound, and sometimes emotional release. Anxiety is common in the first few minutes and usually passes. Nausea affects about a third of patients; ondansetron is typically available. Blood pressure rises modestly and is watched.
Side effects and safety: Spravato, ketamine and TMS covers what clinics monitor.
What happens after the infusion?
Tiredness, mild headache and unsteadiness for a few hours. No driving, no important decisions, no alcohol that day; Driving and monitoring rules for Spravato and ketamine explains the wait. Mood improvement, when it happens, often appears within 24 hours of the first or second infusion and builds over the series.
How can you get the most from each infusion?
Some clinics offer integration sessions with a therapist after each infusion; even journaling for ten minutes afterward helps people notice and keep gains. See ketamine-assisted psychotherapy and the ketamine therapy guide.
Related reading: Maintenance for Spravato, ketamine and TMS and Questions to ask a Spravato, ketamine or TMS clinic.
Sources
Related
Checked by the Covered Mind editorial team · · Editorial policy
Cite this
Covered Mind. "What to expect at your first ketamine infusion." https://www.coveredmind.com/guides/what-to-expect-first-ketamine-infusion. Last checked Sep 1, 2026.
This site provides general information about insurance coverage and treatment options. It is not medical advice, not a guarantee of coverage, and not a substitute for talking with a clinician or your health plan.