Accepting New Patients in Bend, Oregon 12-1-24

Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic. What in the world does that mean? In broad terms, to dissociate is to disconnect – disconnect from earthly surroundings, thoughts, emotions, memories and even your sense of self. Perception of time and space is often warped. Each person’s experience is unique and each session can differ for each individual.

Lay back, uncross your legs and relax. Get centered, breathe, and let go of thoughts the best you can. There will be music to help guide you through the experience. If there are visuals, watch and enjoy. If there are thoughts or ideas you want to explore, do so. If there is emptiness, enjoy the peace. For most people receiving low dose ketamine, the experience is peaceful. For some, however, the feeling of disconnection can provoke anxiety or fear. The best advice we can give you is to surrender and know you’re safe. It is not always easy to predict who will have the latter.

There are things that we can do to make each session as pleasant as possible. There are also things that you can do to help set the stage for a positive and beneficial experience. We will help to prepare you before, during, and after and guide you on your healing journey.

Ketamine’s application of treating mental health and chronic pain conditions is considered “off-label” use. Therefore, treatments are typically not covered by insurance. Though we have seen some providers cover the costs in certain conditions. We can provide you with a superbill that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. 

We will review your current medications at your initial consultation. We ask that you do NOT make any medication changes during your induction series as this can complicate treatment. If you are on medications that have been known to lessen the effectiveness of ketamine (e.g. benzodiazepines, lamotrigine) we may ask you to make some adjustments to your dosing schedule.

Great question! You may hear us talk about “set and setting” when it comes to preparing for an infusion. We are mostly in charge of the setting – providing a comfortable, low stimulus, and safe environment. On the other hand, you are the master or your own mindset. Try to clear your mind and prepare yourself for the experience. For some, this may mean doing yoga, breathwork, listening to music, or meditation. Others may want to take a nature walk or sit by the lakeside and listen to the lapping of the waves. Setting the stage for yourself can lead to a more profound and peaceful infusion.

Ketamine therapy sessions last about 60 minutes but you should plan on being at Daytryp for at least 3 hours to account for the preparation time needed prior to your infusion and the time needed to recover afterwards. Some clients won’t need this much time but some may need even a bit longer. 

If you would like to bring your own blanket, pillow, or eye mask with you then please feel free to do so. Otherwise we can provide you with any of the above for use during your treatment. We also provide noise cancelling headphones, but if you have a favorite pair bring them along.

We ask that you don’t eat anything for 4 hours prior to your first treatment so we can see how you respond. Also, we don’t want you to drink just before coming in as getting up to go to the bathroom in the middle of your infusion is no fun! Please limit liquids to 2 hours prior to treatment. Avoid caffeine or any other stimulants. Avoid alcohol the night before your infusion.

You are welcome to bring a family member or loved one to accompany you for your treatment. 

Get comfortable! Wear loose fitting clothes and layers are advisable. Avoid heels. Keep in mind that we will need access to give a shot or put an IV in your arm.

Ketamine can cause nystagmus – involuntary movement of the eyes. While this is generally very mild at low doses, trying to focus your eyes on anything may prove difficult and can lead to feeling dizzy or nauseous. We encourage you to wear an eye mask for this reason. Also, we encourage you to let go of any outside stimulus and focus on what your own mind is experiencing. Allow yourself to explore. Music, on the other hand, can play an important role and act as a guide through your infusion. Music is very personal and everyone responds differently to different types of music. We recommend you listen to something that relaxes and comforts you in some way. It is not advisable to listen to music with lyrics as they can become distorted and distracting. We can provide music playlist recommendations and a listening device for use during your infusion. We highly discourage listening to music on your phone as all too often a call, text or email notification will manage to sneak through and ruin your session. In fact, we will ask that you turn off your phone and put it away until after your infusion is complete.

Absolutely not. You will be asked to sign a form stating that you understand this. You cannot drive for at least 12 hours after an infusion. Doing so will put you and others in danger. Please arrange for a trusted friend or family member to pick you up. Public transportation is NOT recommended! It is simply too much stimulus after an infusion. Taxis and rideshares are an option but not ideal. Please discuss any transportation concerns with us. If you’d like to schedule our Cosmic Travel Agency Van, where we pick you up and drop you back at home after your treatment is over, please let us know. It’s a great option!

We recommend that you go home and relax the rest of the day, particularly following your initial infusion. Some people recover very quickly from any side effects while others need time. Until you know how your body reacts, plan on just taking it easy. When the effects wear off, pay attention to your mood. Has it shifted and, if so, how? Take some time to reflect on your experience. Take notes and consider journaling. You should definitely not operate heavy machinery, make any big life decisions, or plan on taking care of young children following your treatment.,

Your health and safety is our highest priority. If for any reason we do not feel it is safe for you to undergo a ketamine journey, then we will not give it. Hopefully we can help to resolve any issues and you will be able to reschedule for another day.