What to Expect From an In-Home Ketamine Session
From the knock at your door to the reflective hours afterward — a step-by-step look at a monitored, in-home IV ketamine session.
One of the most common questions we hear is simply: what actually happens during a session? If you've only ever experienced medicine in a clinic, the idea of a monitored IV treatment at home can feel unfamiliar. Here's exactly what to expect, start to finish.
Before your session
Everything begins with screening. Before any treatment, our Medical Director reviews your medical and mental-health history to confirm ketamine therapy is a safe, appropriate fit — it isn't right for everyone, and certain conditions can make it unsuitable.
Once you're cleared, we'll send simple preparation guidance: typically light fasting for a few hours beforehand, comfortable clothing, and a quiet space where you won't be disturbed. We ask that a trusted adult be available at home during and after your session.
When your CRNA arrives
A board-certified CRNA — a nurse anesthetist — comes to you with everything needed for a monitored infusion. They'll set up a calm treatment space, review the plan, answer your questions, and place a small IV line, similar to a routine blood draw.
During the infusion
The infusion itself usually takes around 45 minutes to an hour, and your CRNA monitors you continuously throughout, under physician oversight. Many people experience a dissociative, dreamlike state — a sense of distance from ordinary thoughts and surroundings. This is expected and temporary.
Because it's an IV, the dose can be adjusted or paused at any point based on how you're doing. Plan for roughly 1.5 to 2 hours in total, including preparation and a monitored recovery period before your CRNA leaves.
Afterward
Acute effects typically resolve within about two hours. You should not drive or make important decisions for the rest of the day, and your support person should be with you as you settle. Rest is normal.
The hours and days after a session are where integration happens — making sense of the experience and applying it. We provide structured support between sessions to help translate insight into lasting change.
Safety, throughout
Ketamine can temporarily raise heart rate and blood pressure and cause dissociation, which is precisely why every session is monitored in person by a board-certified CRNA under physician oversight. If you have questions about whether it's right for you, a consultation and screening come first.
A note on ketamine: IV ketamine is used off-label for mental-health and pain indications. This differs from esketamine (Spravato®), an FDA-approved intranasal formulation administered only in certified healthcare settings. Evidence for one route does not automatically transfer to another. Ketamine therapy is not appropriate for everyone; every prospective client is medically screened, and individual results vary.
Medical oversight by Shaheen Mizyed, MD, Medical Director, Arcane Neuro Optimal. Infusions administered by Anita Medolla, CRNA, Chief Clinical Officer. Meet the team.
References
- Ross C, et al. Ketamine for the treatment of PTSD in veterans — six-infusion protocol, tolerability and side-effect duration. 2023.
- Feder A, et al. JAMA Psychiatry, 2014.
This article is educational and is not medical advice or a diagnosis. Full citations and DOIs are available from our medical team on request. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 or dial 911.