How Safe is Ketamine Therapy?

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is still a relatively new treatment for various mental health issues, and it’s normal to wonder if the treatment you’re receiving is safe. Although no medical procedure is completely risk-free, the risks associated with ketamine treatment are minor, and often less severe than risks or side-effects associated with more traditional mental health therapies. We’ve administered ketamine-assisted psychotherapy in the safe, controlled setting of our CPSO Level 2 clinic. On audit of our experience with clients since 2022, we have encountered high blood pressure requiring treatment, nausea or intense emotion release, all at a rate of less than 10% and all resolved with medication or psychological support on the day of treatment.

Are There Risks to Ketamine Therapy?

In the past, you may have heard of ketamine being used as a recreational drug. As a result, it’s understandable to be concerned about addiction when undergoing ketamine infusions.

We administer ketamine in very small doses—a fraction of what a recreational user would take. We also only administer ketamine in a controlled, clinical setting, where our doctor and nurse will monitor you during and after the treatment to ensure that everything goes smoothly. In this environment, the potential for addiction is extremely low, and it’s exceptionally rare for a patient to develop dependency. Patients receiving treatment in our clinic do not report craving the medication after they complete their treatment cycle.

Does ketamine cause bladder dysfunction?

We’ve also heard concerns about bladder dysfunction. Like addiction, bladder dysfunction may be the result of higher doses of unmanaged, recreational ketamine use. Microdosing ketamine in a clinical setting, as we do, is not strongly associated with bladder dysfunction. This symptom is one that appears at low frequency in existing meta analysis literature pooling the results of multiple studies. The risk factors for it are not well understood at this time (Source: Orhurhu VJ, Vashisht R, Claus LE, Cohen SP. Ketamine Toxicity. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing, Treasure Island (FL); 2022. PMID: 31082131).

What are the side-effects of ketamine infusions?

As with any medical treatment, there is a risk of side-effects with ketamine infusions. You may experience psychedelic effects, such as double vision, feelings of euphoria, mild nausea, or a dream-like state. These effects are typically minor and temporary. If you find that your side-effects are particularly severe, we may also prescribe additional medication to help you manage them (source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2019.11.028)

How Caledon Clinic Ensures a Safe Experience

At Caledon Clinic, we strive to provide every patient with the highest quality care. Our clinic is a CPSO-regulated, Level 2 facility with high standards for patient safety.

We conduct a comprehensive screening with every patient to determine that ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is the correct course of treatment. We evaluate each patient’s health with a general medical assessment and physical examination to ensure that they meet the criteria for treatment.

After screening, our experienced anesthesiologist and consulting psychiatrist create a personalized treatment plan for each patient, considering their unique needs. Dr. Cooper administers each treatment, and our staff monitor patients for 30 minutes post-treatment, ensuring that it is safe for them to go home with a designated driver.

Our trained psychotherapist provides tools and techniques for self-care before, during, and after treatment so that patients remain properly supported throughout the process.

Begin Your Path to Healing with Caledon Clinic

If you’re struggling with your mental health and other treatments haven’t worked, you’re not alone. Contact us today to learn more about whether ketamine treatments are right for you.