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What to Expect During a Ketamine Infusion

Your first infusion, hour by hour

It's completely normal to feel nervous before your first session — most of our patients did. Here's exactly what happens from the moment you arrive at our San Marco clinic to the moment your driver takes you home, so nothing about the day surprises you.

See the timeline →

Private room for every patient Continuous 1:1 monitoring Board-certified psychiatric providers

Private ketamine infusion room at The Practice in Jacksonville, FL
Check-in lobby at The Practice in San Marco, Jacksonville

Before your visit

Four simple ways to prepare

There's very little you need to do — the medical preparation happened at your consultation, where your provider reviewed your history and built your dosing plan. On the day itself:

  • Avoid food for a few hours beforehand (we give exact instructions at booking)
  • Arrange a ride home — you cannot drive after an infusion
  • Wear comfortable clothes; bring headphones and a playlist if music relaxes you
  • Take your regular medications unless our team advises otherwise

The visit, step by step

About two hours, start to finish

For mood conditions, the infusion itself runs about 40 minutes inside a roughly two-hour visit. Chronic-pain protocols run longer — nearly three times the treatment time — which is why pain infusions are scheduled and priced separately.

Minimal line illustration of an IV drip

  1. Arrival

    Check-in & settle in

    You’re shown to your own private infusion room — dim lighting, a comfortable recliner, and no shared bays. Your provider reviews how you’re feeling and answers any last questions.

  2. First 10 min

    Vitals & IV placement

    Blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen monitoring are connected, then a small IV is placed — a quick pinch, and the hardest part of the visit is already over.

  3. ~40 min

    The infusion

    The medicine is delivered slowly and steadily while your provider monitors you continuously and adjusts the rate to keep you comfortable. Effects build gently over the first ten to fifteen minutes.

  4. Hour 1–2

    Peak & fade

    Effects typically peak during the infusion and begin fading soon after it ends. You rest in your room while monitoring continues and the sensations settle.

  5. Before you leave

    Recovery check

    Once your vitals are steady and you feel clear enough, your provider reviews aftercare, answers questions, and releases you to your driver — most visits total about two hours.

Soft abstract illustration of gentle waves and floating forms — the dream-like infusion experience

The experience

What the medicine actually feels like

Every patient's experience is a little different, and plenty of people simply feel deeply relaxed. The sensations below are the ones patients describe most — all expected, all temporary, and all fading within about an hour of the infusion ending.

Floating or lightness

The most commonly described feeling — many patients call it deeply restful.

Dream-like detachment

A temporary, mild dissociation from your surroundings. Expected, not harmful, and it fades within the hour.

Altered time & senses

Minutes can feel longer or shorter; colors and music may feel richer. Some patients simply feel relaxed.

Emotional openness

Old worries can feel smaller or further away — one reason ketamine pairs so well with therapy afterward.

Throughout all of it, your provider is monitoring your blood pressure, heart rate, and comfort continuously — and can slow or pause the infusion at any moment. You're never alone, and you can speak at any time.

After your infusion

The rest of your day, and the days after

  • Head home with your driver and take the rest of the day off — no work decisions, no contracts, no driving until the next day
  • Eat lightly, hydrate, and rest; most people feel back to baseline within a few hours
  • Jot down anything that surfaced during the session — it can be valuable material for therapy
  • Watch for the days that follow: many patients notice mood shifts within 24 hours of the first infusion

Wondering whether the treatment is working? Response is tracked across your induction series — read how the full protocol unfolds on our treatment-resistant depression page, or see what each option costs.

The Practice clinic exterior on Hendricks Avenue in San Marco, Jacksonville

Common questions

First-infusion questions, answered

How long does a ketamine infusion appointment take?

Plan for about two hours door to door. The infusion itself runs roughly 40 minutes for mood conditions, with check-in and vitals beforehand and a monitored recovery period afterward. Chronic-pain protocols use longer infusions.

Will I hallucinate or lose control?

No. At therapeutic doses most patients experience mild, dream-like dissociation — a floating or detached feeling — rather than hallucinations, and many feel little or none at all. You remain conscious, you can speak with your provider at any time, and the sensations fade within about an hour of the infusion ending.

Does the infusion hurt?

The only discomfort is the initial IV placement — a quick pinch. During the infusion itself most patients feel relaxed. Mild nausea or dizziness can occur and your provider can treat it immediately.

Can someone come with me?

Yes — a support person is welcome to accompany you, and you will need someone to drive you home. Your infusion room at The Practice is private, so it is just you, your provider, and anyone you choose to bring.

Can I eat before a ketamine infusion?

We ask you to avoid food for a few hours before your session to minimize nausea — exact fasting guidance comes with your booking confirmation. Clear liquids are generally fine until closer to the appointment.

How will I feel afterward — and when will treatment start working?

Most people feel a bit dreamy for an hour or two, then largely back to normal by evening. Antidepressant effects often appear within hours to days — many patients notice a shift after the first one to three infusions of an induction series. Individual results vary.

How many infusions will I need?

The standard induction protocol is six infusions over about four weeks, followed by occasional maintenance boosters if you respond. Your exact plan is personalized at your consultation — see our pricing page for what each option costs.

The ketamine resource center

Keep exploring ketamine therapy

Ketamine Infusion Therapy →

The main guide to IV ketamine at The Practice — conditions, research, and booking.

Treatment-Resistant Depression →

When two or more antidepressants haven’t worked — what ketamine offers TRD.

Ketamine for Anxiety →

Rapid relief for persistent anxiety, panic, and nervous-system activation.

Ketamine for PTSD →

Trauma-informed infusion care for hypervigilance and flashbacks.

Ketamine for Chronic Pain →

CRPS, neuropathy, migraines, and centralized pain protocols.

Cost & Pricing →

Transparent pricing: $399–$549 per infusion, financing, and insurance notes.

Ketamine vs. Spravato →

How IV ketamine and the FDA-approved nasal spray compare on results and cost.

How It Works →

The science: the glutamate surge and the dendritic spine regrowth seen in research.

What Is Ketamine Therapy? →

The complete beginner’s guide: history, mechanism, safety, and evidence.

Veterans & the VA →

How VA coverage works for Spravato and IV ketamine, and the Community Care path.

Ketamine FAQ →

Every common question about ketamine in Jacksonville, answered in one place.

Meet the team before you commit to anything

The easiest way to feel at ease is to see the clinic and meet your provider. Consultations are currently free — in person or via Zoom.

or call (904) 877-1100