Safety And Monitoring
We take a careful, physician-led approach to screening and monitoring so patients can move into treatment with clarity and confidence.
Your consult is where we determine whether treatment is appropriate for your situation. If it is not the right fit, we will explain why and discuss what comes next.
we lead with safety
We approach ketamine therapy with the same medical seriousness we would want for our own families. That means careful screening before treatment starts and close monitoring during visits to support safety, comfort, and good clinical judgment.
Your care is physician-led, and your treatment is closely monitored throughout the visit.
HOW WE EVALUATE CANDIDACY
Safety First
We look for risks that make ketamine therapy unsafe or inappropriate right now, and we take a conservative posture when something is unclear.
final decision
Candidacy is a clinical decision made with you after reviewing your history, medications, and the realities of monitoring and aftercare.
Clinical fit
We consider whether ketamine therapy matches your symptoms, history, and goals, and whether standard approaches have been sufficient.
SCREENING CONSIDERATIONS
Screening looks a little different depending on why you are seeking care, but every consult includes a careful review of safety, clinical fit, and whether outpatient treatment is appropriate.
MENTAL HEALTH
We review your mental health history, current symptoms, medications, and overall stability to determine whether ketamine therapy is an appropriate fit and can be provided responsibly in an outpatient setting.
CHRONIC PAIN
We review your medical history, current medications, pain history, and other factors that could affect infusion safety. We also consider whether ketamine therapy is an appropriate fit for your condition and prior treatment history.
When It’s Not A Fit
Ketamine therapy is not the right option for everyone; sometimes it is just not the right option yet. Careful screening helps us identify when treatment may be unsafe, unlikely to help, or better approached another way.
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Sometimes ketamine is not the right choice because important safety concerns need to be addressed first. That can include active substance misuse, significant medical concerns, or other factors that make outpatient treatment unsafe or inappropriate right now.
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In some cases, it makes sense to try more standard, less intensive, or less expensive treatment options before moving to ketamine. That decision depends on your history, your symptoms, what you have already tried, and input from your existing care team.
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Some patients are good candidates for ketamine, but the plan works best when other providers are involved. That may mean coordinating with a psychiatrist, therapist, primary care clinician, or pain specialist before starting or before making a final decision.
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Ketamine does not help everyone. Some patients see meaningful improvement, some see only partial benefit, and some do not improve enough for treatment to make sense to continue. If ketamine has not helped in the past, or if an initial course is not effective enough, we will be honest about that and discuss what comes next.
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Ketamine treatment is often not a one-time intervention. Before starting, it is worth thinking through the full course of care, including the initial series and any follow-up that may be needed. If that plan does not feel realistic right now, it may be better to step back and make a more sustainable plan first.
We Believe screening and Monitoring Are Part Of responsible ketamine Care.
How Monitoring Works During Visits
Physician OVERSIGHT
Every infusion is overseen by a physician with experience in ketamine’s clinical use. Vitalitas is staffed to provide close medical monitoring throughout treatment.
Vital Sign Monitoring
During treatment, we monitor key vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation to help keep care safe and responsive.
Comfort During Treatment
We pay close attention to how you are feeling throughout the visit, not just what appears on a monitor. Your care team is prepared to respond to your needs in real time.
AMPLE RECOVERY TIME
We build in time after treatment to make sure you are recovering appropriately before you go home. Your care team monitors how you are doing and does not rush the discharge process.
We want you to understand all relevant safety considerations before treatment starts.
Safety Considerations
Screening looks a little different depending on why you are seeking care, but every consult includes a careful review of safety, clinical fit, and whether outpatient treatment is appropriate.
Possible SIDE EFFECTS
Possible side effects like nausea, dizziness, sedation, dissociation and blood pressure changes. Most are short-lived and monitored closely.
Medication consistency
Do not stop or change medications on your own before or during treatment. Share your medication list with us so we can review it carefully.
Alcohol And Substances
Alcohol and recreational drugs can increase risk and interfere with safe care. Active substance misuse may delay or prevent treatment.
Recovery And Ride Home
You will need a ride home after treatment and should plan for a lower-demand day. Recovery time is built into discharge planning.
more common questions
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We make candidacy decisions through a careful screening process that looks at safety, clinical fit, and whether outpatient treatment is appropriate for your situation. That review includes your health history, current medications, symptoms, and the reason you are seeking care. In some cases, ketamine is a good fit. In others, it may not be the right option, or it may not be the right timing.
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The most common reasons include unaddressed safety concerns, a need for more coordination with other providers, situations where less invasive options should come first, or a clinical picture that is not appropriate for outpatient ketamine care. Sometimes the issue is not that ketamine could never help, but that another step should happen first.
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Every infusion is monitored closely by a physician anesthesiologist. During treatment, Vitalitas continuously monitors heart rate and rhythm, blood pressure, and oxygen level, while also paying attention to how you are feeling throughout the visit.
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Possible side effects can include nausea, dizziness, and changes in blood pressure. These effects are usually short-lived, and the care team is there to respond if needed, including treating nausea during the visit when appropriate.
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Usually, no. Do not stop or change medications on your own in order to qualify for treatment. Bring your full medication list to your consult so it can be reviewed carefully, and if any coordination with your prescriber is needed, we will give you clear instructions.
Lamictal and Benzodiazepines are medications we may consider holding during IV ketamine treatments, depending on your medical history.
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Alcohol and recreational drugs can increase risk and interfere with safe care. If alcohol, cannabis, or other substance use is relevant to your care, it is important to discuss that openly during screening. Active substance misuse may make treatment inappropriate or delay care.
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No. You will need a responsible adult to drive you home after treatment, and you should plan for a lower-demand day afterward.
Rideshares are appropriate for 40-minute or two-hour infusions. Longer infusions require a friend or family member.
Vitalitas also asks patients not to drive until the day after the infusion because coordination and cognition can be affected temporarily.
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If ketamine is not a fit, Vitalitas will tell you directly and explain why. In some cases, that means addressing a safety concern first, coordinating with your existing care team, or considering another treatment approach that makes more sense right now. And while many patients do respond well, ketamine does not help everyone, so treatment decisions are based on whether the benefit is meaningful enough to continue.
Still Have Questions?
If you are still unsure whether ketamine therapy makes sense for your situation, we are happy to help. A conversation with our team can help put all the information here in context of your situation.
Whether you are exploring care for yourself or gathering information for your broader care team, we can help you or your providers think through next steps and develop a strong plan.