Are you interested in ketamine but want to know more about our treatment process?

At Ketamine Center of Central Georgia, we proudly offer evidence-based IV ketamine therapy for mental health struggles (including substance use disorder) and various chronic pain syndromes. We prioritize patient preparation and education as well as doing everything we can to facilitate a successful outcome . We believe it’s essential for every patient to understand how ketamine works and to have realistic expectations. While some of our patient's responses to treatment are nothing short of miraculous - that is not a guarantee and there is a minority of patients who do not improve despite our best efforts. That being said, the odds are in your favor!

What to Expect at Your Consultation

Your journey begins with a consultation before which you will receive a comprehensive education and information packet by email. During this meeting, Dr. Greenberg will assess your suitability for therapy and identify any potential contraindications. We will discuss your mental and physical health history and thoroughly explain the ketamine infusion process. You’ll have ample opportunity to ask questions and voice any concerns.

Feel free to bring a friend or family member for support, though it’s not required. Having someone informed about ketamine therapy can be beneficial, especially if they have questions about how to support you.

If you are a good candidate for ketamine infusion therapy, our team will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan. We aim to foster the best possible environment throughout the entire treatment journey. Here are some considerations for your treatment plan:

- Is this a good time to start therapy?

-Would applying to Care Credit be helpful?

- If managing chronic pain, should you consider physical therapy?

- Are you satisfied with you current medications?

- Who will transport you to and from your infusions? If you need help getting to or home from your appointment - let us know - we can help!

When you're ready to begin treatment, our staff will assist with logistics, ensuring that paperwork, payments, transportation, and scheduling are organized before starting the induction phase.

Induction Phase

The induction phase involves your initial series of infusions. The exact number of induction infusions will depend on if you are a mental health or a pain patient. Patients experiencing both mental health symptoms and pain can work with Dr. Greenberg to create a hybrid schedule. The standard mental health infusion schedule is a total of six infusions over the course of three to six weeks. The standard pain protocol requires four infusions as close together as possible and each infusion lasts up to four hours. The doses needed for optimal outcomes is also higher when treating pain than when treating mental health. It is important to know what you experience during the infusion does not influence the success of treatment! That being said we strive to make your time with us as comfortable and positive as possible.

During Your Infusion

You may have a trusted comfort person stay with you during the infusion. If so, we recommend that they avoid conversation, and remain quietly present unless you request otherwise. If you experience anything unpleasant during the treatment you can ring the bell or simply call out- we monitor the infusions using audio and visual monitors and are standing by ready to help.

From time to time staff will quietly enter to check on you but will try to disturb you as little as possible. Once the infusion has completed and your vitals have returned to baseline, your IV will be removed and you are welcome to relax until you feel ready to stand. We will take notes on your experience and any side effects so that we know if there is anything to improve upon for subsequent infusions.

While ketamine leaves your system relatively quickly - it is still important to refrain from driving, operating any heavy machinery or making any big decisions for 24 hours. For the most part, once you arrive home you will be able to gauge your own limitations —some may wish resume normal activities, while others might prefer to rest. You should feel ready to return to your regular routine the following day.

The Maintenance Phase

The rapid improvements from ketamine Infusion therapy mark just the beginning of what is possible. Through tailored maintenance plans and booster infusions, we help you sustain progress and enhance your quality of life. We will continue to monitor you during the maintenance phase using the mood monitoring app "osmind". It is very important that patients keep up with filling out their surveys as this allows us to track your mood and progress across time and reach out to you if we are concerned about your symptoms.

Ketamine therapy improves intra-brain communication, allowing you to use the neurological gains made inside the treatment room and apply them to every area of your life. Engaging in psychotherapy to develop coping skills, process past traumas, and refine daily habits is often highly effective after completing our program (even if it hadn't been helpful in the past). Patients dealing with chronic pain may also benefit from physical therapy to enhance muscle strength and flexibility. Each patient’s journey is unique and should be customized to their specific needs. If you notice any decline, it might be time to schedule a booster appointment.

Ketamine boosters serve as sturdy foundation that maintains the increased neural plasticity as you work on coping strategies, environmental adjustments, and medication management. Typically, patients receive their first booster about 3 months after stabilization, with the timing and frequency tailored to patient's individual needs and responses to treatment. As coping skills and habits improve, the need for regular treatments diminishes.

Achieving and maintaining good mental and physical health is an ongoing process that requires dedication and self-prioritization. We have curated a reading list of beneficial material that can help

- ask us if you are interested!