Medically reviewed by Doreen Zarfati, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Fountain Health NYC | Last reviewed: April 8, 2026

IV ketamine therapy has drawn attention because some patients with hard-to-treat depression and related conditions may feel relief faster than they did with standard treatments. It is also a treatment that requires careful screening, clinician-led dosing, active monitoring, and honest discussion of benefits, limits, and risks. At Fountain Health NYC, IV ketamine is approached as a structured medical treatment, not a one-size-fits-all wellness service. [1][2][3][4][5] (JAMA Psychiatry)

It is important to be clear about what IV ketamine is, and what it is not. Ketamine injection is FDA-approved as an anesthetic, not as an FDA-approved treatment for psychiatric disorders. In psychiatry, IV ketamine is generally used off-label, which makes patient selection, informed consent, and monitoring especially important. [1][2][3] (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

Who may be a candidate for IV ketamine therapy

At Fountain Health, ketamine may be considered for adults aged 18 and older with treatment-resistant or difficult-to-treat symptoms, including depression, anxiety, trauma-related symptoms, and certain chronic pain syndromes, especially when standard treatment has not provided enough relief. Good candidacy is not based on a diagnosis alone. It depends on symptom history, prior treatment response, medical and psychiatric history, current medications, and whether treatment can be delivered safely in a structured setting.

Some people are not appropriate candidates, or may need more careful evaluation before proceeding. Fountain’s intake materials note that uncontrolled high blood pressure, significant heart disease, active psychosis, pregnancy, and breastfeeding can raise safety concerns. A history of bipolar disorder or substance use does not automatically rule treatment out, but it does call for a more thorough clinician-led evaluation and discussion of risk, benefit, and alternatives. Ketamine can affect blood pressure, and standard ketamine labeling warns against use where a significant rise in blood pressure would be a serious hazard. [1][3] (FDA Access Data)

How Fountain Health evaluates whether ketamine is appropriate

Before treatment begins, Fountain uses a clinician-led intake process designed to assess both appropriateness and safety. That review includes symptom history, prior treatment response, medical history, psychiatric history, current medications, and substances that could affect tolerability or outcome. Fountain’s FAQ also notes that vital signs are reviewed before, during, and after treatment, and that lab work may be ordered when clinically appropriate. That approach is consistent with the APA consensus statement, which recommends a thorough pretreatment evaluation, confirmation of diagnosis and prior treatment history, assessment of substance use and psychotic disorders, review of medical risk factors, and informed consent before initiating ketamine treatment. [1][2] (JAMA Psychiatry)

What a typical IV ketamine visit can look like

A typical ketamine visit at Fountain is designed to be calm, structured, and closely monitored. According to Fountain’s patient guidance, most visits last about 90 minutes from start to finish. Check-in and setup usually take about 15 to 20 minutes. During treatment, patients are connected to continuous monitoring that may include heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and EKG review, and a nurse or clinician remains present before, during, and after the infusion. The infusion itself typically runs about 40 minutes, followed by a recovery period until the patient is oriented, comfortable, and medically stable for discharge.

This kind of supervised setting matters. The FDA has specifically warned that ketamine use without health care provider monitoring for sedation, dissociation, and changes in vital signs can put patients at risk for serious adverse events. [2] (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

Common side effects and why monitoring matters

Most side effects with a single low-dose IV ketamine session are short-lived, but they are real. Fountain’s patient materials describe common short-term effects such as dissociation, dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, temporary increases in blood pressure or heart rate, headache, and fatigue. NIH reporting on inpatient ketamine trials similarly found that common short-term effects included dissociation, feeling strange or loopy, dizziness, and headache, with most side effects peaking within an hour and resolving within a few hours. [2][4] (National Institute of Mental Health)

Patients should also know when to call the clinic or seek urgent care. Fountain advises contacting the clinic for persistent nausea or vomiting, new or worsening anxiety, confusion, emotional distress, or other symptoms that feel out of proportion to what was discussed in advance. Severe chest pain, trouble breathing, fainting, sudden weakness, difficulty speaking, or feeling medically unsafe should prompt urgent or emergency care.

Before and after treatment

Fountain’s preparation guidance is straightforward. Patients are advised to sleep well the night before, avoid food for six hours before treatment, limit fluids to water or black coffee up to two hours before the session, avoid alcohol, and arrange transportation home. Patients should not drive after treatment. After the infusion, Fountain recommends taking it easy, hydrating, prioritizing sleep, avoiding major decisions or emotionally intense conversations that day, and avoiding alcohol.

When patients may notice a change, and how progress is tracked

Results with ketamine are individualized. Some patients notice shifts quickly, while others improve more gradually over several weeks. NIH notes that ketamine can reduce depressive symptoms within hours in some people with treatment-resistant depression, but rapid effect does not mean guaranteed effect, and it does not eliminate the need for careful follow-up. Fountain’s FAQ emphasizes measuring change over time rather than judging success by a single session, and notes that validated depression and anxiety screening tools are used before treatment, then repeated after two weeks and again after one month. [4][5] (National Institute of Mental Health)

What a treatment plan can look like

Fountain Health describes a typical induction phase of six IV ketamine sessions over two weeks, followed by a maintenance phase that may involve four to six additional sessions, often spaced about a month apart, depending on response and clinical need. Even when patients respond well, treatment planning should stay individualized. The APA consensus statement emphasizes that long-term safety and durability data remain limited and that ongoing treatment should be approached cautiously, with risks and benefits reassessed over time. [1] (JAMA Psychiatry)

Why Fountain Health Emphasizes Structure

Ketamine is not meaningful because it is trendy. It is meaningful because, for the right patient in the right setting, it may open a window for symptom relief and progress when other approaches have not done enough. What matters is not speed alone. What matters is safe selection, careful monitoring, realistic expectations, and support before, during, and after treatment. That is the standard Fountain aims to meet. [1][2][4][5] (JAMA Psychiatry)

Frequently asked questions

Who is a good candidate for ketamine treatment at Fountain?

A good candidate is generally an adult with treatment-resistant or difficult-to-treat symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, trauma-related symptoms, or certain chronic pain syndromes, when prior treatment has not provided adequate relief. Candidacy is determined through a clinician-led evaluation that reviews symptoms, history, current medications, and safety factors.

What screening happens before treatment starts?

Fountain performs a comprehensive medical and psychiatric evaluation before treatment. That review may include symptom history, prior treatment response, medical and psychiatric history, medication review, substance use review, vital signs, and lab work when clinically appropriate.

What side effects are most common?

Common short-term effects can include dissociation, dizziness, nausea, mild stomach discomfort, headache, fatigue, and temporary increases in blood pressure or heart rate. Patients are observed until stable before discharge.

What happens during a typical visit?

A typical visit lasts about 90 minutes. Check-in and setup usually take 15 to 20 minutes. The infusion typically runs about 40 minutes, with continuous monitoring and a nurse or clinician present throughout the session. Recovery continues until the patient is comfortable, oriented, and medically stable to leave.

How soon might someone notice improvement?

Improvement is individualized. Some patients notice changes quickly, while others improve over several weeks. Fountain tracks progress over time and uses validated screening tools before treatment and again during follow-up.

What does a typical treatment plan look like?

Fountain commonly uses an initial series of six IV ketamine sessions over two weeks, followed by maintenance care that may involve additional sessions based on response, symptom return, and clinical judgment.

Medical review and editorial note

This page is intended for patient education and does not replace individualized medical advice. Treatment decisions, dosing, monitoring, and follow-up should always be made by qualified clinicians who understand your medical and psychiatric history. [1][2][3] (JAMA Psychiatry)

References

[1] Sanacora G, et al. A Consensus Statement on the Use of Ketamine in the Treatment of Mood Disorders. JAMA Psychiatry. 2017. (San Mateo County Health)[2] U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA warns patients and health care providers about potential risks associated with compounded ketamine products, including oral formulations, for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. October 10, 2023. (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)[3] KETALAR prescribing information. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Ketamine hydrochloride is contraindicated where a significant elevation of blood pressure would constitute a serious hazard. (FDA Access Data)[4] National Institute of Mental Health. Side Effects Mild, Brief with Single Antidepressant Dose of Intravenous Ketamine. November 18, 2019. (National Institute of Mental Health)[5] National Institute of Mental Health. New Hope for Rapid-Acting Depression Treatment. October 24, 2024. (National Institute of Mental Health)

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This page was developed by Fountain Health’s editorial team using clinician-approved source materials and medically reviewed by Doreen Zarfati, MD, Chief Medical Officer, before publication.

IV Ketamine Therapy at Fountain Health NYC: What to Expect