IV ketamine treatment using Fountain’s proprietary protocol, with medical care at every step—from your first evaluation through individualized dosing, continuous monitoring and structured follow-up.
IV ketamine is only one part of a broader treatment plan.
01
Before treatment, we take time to understand what you’re experiencing, your health history, medications, previous treatment and what you hope to change.
02
When ketamine is part of the plan, the infusion is not treated as the plan itself. As treatment progresses, we look closely at how you respond and use that information to guide what comes next in your care.
People come to Fountain for different reasons. Some have been through several treatments already; others are exploring ketamine earlier. In every case, we start by deciding whether and why it makes sense for you.
Treatment-resistant depression
Depression that persists despite previous treatment.
Persistent anxiety symptoms
Persistent anxiety or related symptoms that interfere with daily life.
PTSD & Trauma-related distress
Symptoms that continue to affect mood, sleep, relationships or daily functioning.
OCD & intrusive thoughts
Compulsive symptoms or rumination that remain difficult to manage.
Bipolar Depression
IV ketamine may be considered for selected patients after careful psychiatric evaluation.
Alcohol & substance concerns
For selected patients, ketamine may be considered as part of a broader treatment plan.
Multidisciplinary care
Psychiatry, therapy, nutrition, endocrinology, sleep and more.
Root-cause approach
We look beyond symptoms to treat underlying drivers.
Measurable progress
Data-informed care to help you feel better and perform at a higher level.
How care works
A clear path, designed to evolve.
Every treatment course is individualized, but Fountain’s IV Ketamine Protocol follows four clinical phases.
01
Preparation
We review your medical and psychiatric history, medications, previous treatments and goals. We also make sure you understand what to expect before, during and after your infusion.
02
Activation
Your infusion takes place in our New York City clinic. You remain awake and are continuously monitored, while dosing is adjusted in real time based on your response.
03
Integration
After treatment, we pay attention to what changed and how you are feeling. Therapy or other support can be incorporated when it may help you make use of the period following the infusion.
04
Consolidation
We track changes in your symptoms and response over time and use that information to decide whether to continue, adjust treatment or move into maintenance.
IV ketamine for psychiatric conditions is an off-label use of an FDA-approved medication. Specific services, tests, and treatments depend on clinical eligibility and your clinician’s recommendations.
Your care team
A clinical team that stays involved.
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Zarfati connects mental health, hormonal health, medical weight management and longevity care through one coordinated clinical perspective.
Dr. Doreen Zarfati is Chief Medical Officer at Fountain Health NYC and a double board-certified psychiatrist. Her work spans mental health, longevity, metabolism and sexual health, with a particular interest in how biological and clinical factors can influence psychiatric symptoms and treatment response.
At Fountain, Dr. Zarfati provides clinical oversight of Fountain’s care models, reviewing and approving them for clinical use and guiding how they are applied in patient care. Her work in IV ketamine focuses on neuroplasticity, emotional processing and the thoughtful integration of emerging treatments into structured clinical care.
Her approach is individualized, collaborative and grounded in measurable response, with treatment evolving as the patient’s clinical picture changes.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Oksana provides psychiatric evaluation and medication management for mood and sleep disorders, considering metabolic, hormonal and other medical contributors when clinically appropriate.
Oksana Fuller, PMHNP-BC, is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with training from New York University and Fairfield University. She specializes in mood and sleep disorders and the emotional challenges that can accompany major life transitions.
Her approach combines psychiatric evaluation and medication management with attention to factors that can influence mental health, including sleep, nutrition, physical activity, stress physiology, metabolic health, hormonal changes and inflammation. Laboratory testing is incorporated when clinically appropriate and when it can help clarify the picture or guide treatment.
Oksana works collaboratively with physicians, psychologists and other specialists when a patient's needs extend beyond psychiatry, helping keep mental-health treatment connected to the broader medical picture.
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Pascal specializes in therapy for trauma, anxiety and depression, with expertise in DBT and ketamine integration.
Dr. Sara Pascal is a clinical psychologist with experience across inpatient, outpatient and emergency settings. She specializes in trauma, anxiety, depression and major life transitions, bringing a thoughtful, insight-oriented approach to psychological care.
Her work combines psychodynamic therapy with evidence-based approaches including DBT, helping patients understand the patterns influencing how they think, feel and respond. At Fountain, she also works with patients receiving ketamine therapy, helping them process and integrate insights from treatment into lasting psychological and behavioral change.
Dr. Pascal’s approach is grounded, practical and collaborative, with an emphasis on emotional regulation, self-understanding and greater agency in daily life.
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Updegrove brings expertise in neuropsychology, trauma, EMDR and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, with experience ranging from complex clinical cases to high-performing executives and athletes.
Dr. Erika Updegrove is a licensed clinical psychologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst with training in clinical psychology and neuropsychology. Her experience spans outpatient mental health, neuropsychology, rehabilitation, behavioral health and multidisciplinary medical settings.
Her clinical work includes trauma, neurological and psychiatric conditions, chronic pain, cognitive concerns, developmental differences and complex behavioral needs. She also has extensive experience working with high-performing individuals, including retired NFL players and C-suite executives.
Dr. Updegrove incorporates evidence-based psychotherapy with trauma-focused approaches including EMDR and is trained in Gottman Method therapy and Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). At Fountain, she draws on this broad clinical background to help patients understand patterns, develop practical strategies for change and integrate psychological treatment with their broader care when appropriate.
Registered Nurse
Brooke brings emergency-medicine and IV-care experience to Fountain’s IV ketamine program, providing close clinical monitoring and patient support throughout treatment.
Brooke Alves, BSN, RN, is a registered nurse with extensive experience in emergency medicine and IV care. She has completed emergency nursing assignments across Florida, New Jersey and California, developing strong clinical judgment in fast-paced, high-acuity settings. She also brings specialized experience in IV concierge care.
At Fountain Health, Brooke supports patients receiving IV ketamine therapy, combining attentive clinical monitoring with a calm, reassuring presence throughout treatment. She has developed a particular interest in both the clinical and emotional experience of ketamine care and in helping patients feel safe, informed and supported throughout each session.
Registered Nurse
Megan brings emergency and cardiac critical-care experience from NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia to the clinical monitoring and support of IV ketamine patients.
Megan Conway, RN, is a registered nurse with more than six years of experience in emergency and critical care, including work in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia. Her background has developed strong clinical assessment, critical-thinking and patient-monitoring skills in high-acuity settings.
At Fountain Health, Megan supports patients receiving IV ketamine therapy, combining her critical-care experience with close clinical monitoring and a calm, patient-centered approach. She has a particular interest in mental health and in creating a treatment environment where patients feel safe, informed and supported.
Registered Nurse
Angie combines pediatric critical-care experience with expertise in IV therapies, supporting patients through medically supervised IV ketamine treatment.
Angie Truong, RN, is a registered nurse with a background in pediatric critical care and performance-focused medicine. She began her nursing career in the Pediatric ICU, building a strong foundation in clinical assessment, monitoring and early intervention.
Her subsequent experience has included IV nutrient therapy, NAD+, hyperbaric oxygen therapy and other recovery and performance-focused treatments. At Fountain Health, Angie supports patients throughout IV ketamine treatment, combining attentive clinical monitoring with a particular interest in the connections between mental health, physical health, recovery and performance.
Your team is there before, during and after treatment. And because Fountain also provides psychiatry, psychology, hormonal health and other medical care, ketamine can stay connected to the rest of your treatment plan when that matters. Your history, goals and response stay in view as your care evolves.
IV ketamine may be considered for adults with depression, treatment-resistant depression, bipolar depression, PTSD, anxiety disorders, OCD, or acute suicidal thoughts, particularly when symptoms have not improved enough with standard treatments.
Before treatment, Fountain completes a comprehensive medical and psychiatric evaluation to determine whether ketamine is appropriate and safe. We review your symptoms, diagnosis, treatment history, medications, medical conditions, substance use, and other relevant risk factors to understand whether ketamine fits your specific clinical picture.
How does Fountain determine the right IV ketamine dose for each patient?
Fountain does not determine ketamine dosing from body weight alone. We start with the clinical picture: what we are treating, how the symptoms are presenting, prior treatment history, medical and psychiatric history, medications, weight, and individual sensitivity to treatment.
A patient presenting primarily with treatment-resistant depression may not be approached in exactly the same way as someone whose dominant symptoms are severe anxiety, trauma-related distress, or another psychiatric presentation. The treatment goals, starting approach, pace of adjustment, and response we are looking for can differ.
Dosing can then evolve across the treatment series based on how the patient responds during the infusion, how well it is tolerated, and what changes are seen between treatments. Fountain’s approach combines a comprehensive medical and psychiatric evaluation with individualized IV dosing that can evolve throughout the treatment series.
How is Fountain’s proprietary IV ketamine protocol different?
Many ketamine clinics rely heavily on standardized weight-based dosing. Fountain uses weight as one input, but our proprietary protocol is designed around the individual patient and the condition being treated.
We consider the patient’s presenting symptoms, diagnosis, treatment history, tolerability, prior infusion response, and clinical progress throughout the series. The dose is not simply calculated once and repeated. It can be adjusted as our clinical team learns how that particular patient responds.
That means two patients of the same weight may receive different treatment approaches because their symptoms, history, sensitivity, and clinical goals are different. The objective is not to give every patient the same infusion. It is to identify the treatment approach that is most appropriate for that individual while maintaining close clinical monitoring throughout care. Fountain’s documented program includes individualized dosing decisions and continuous clinical monitoring during treatment.
What should I expect during an IV ketamine treatment?
A typical visit at Fountain lasts approximately 90 minutes. Before the infusion begins, your clinical team reviews how you are feeling, checks your vital signs, confirms the treatment plan, and discusses your dose for that session. The IV infusion itself generally lasts about 40 minutes.
The experience varies from person to person. You may feel deeply relaxed, dream-like, detached from your usual surroundings, or temporarily experience changes in your perception of your body, time, or environment. A clinician remains with you throughout treatment, and you are given time afterward to recover before leaving the clinic.
How many ketamine treatments will I need?
Treatment is individualized. Fountain's current protocol commonly begins with an induction series followed by maintenance treatment when clinically appropriate.
How quickly can IV ketamine start working?
Response to ketamine varies. Some patients notice meaningful changes relatively early in treatment, while others improve more gradually across the initial series or in the weeks that follow.
We do not judge success based only on how you feel immediately after an infusion. Fountain tracks symptoms, validated clinical assessments, daily functioning, and other relevant measures over time to understand whether treatment is creating meaningful improvement. That information helps us decide whether to continue, adjust, or change the treatment plan.
How is my safety monitored during an infusion?
Safety is actively monitored throughout every treatment. Patients are not left alone during the infusion. A clinician is present throughout the treatment, with medical-grade monitoring of blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and other relevant measures.
Your team also evaluates how you are responding physically and psychologically during the infusion. If you become uncomfortable, anxious, or experience an unexpected response, treatment can be adjusted and the clinical team can intervene in real time. You remain under observation afterward until you are clinically ready to leave.
What are the most common side effects?
Most side effects are temporary and resolve relatively quickly after treatment. These may include feeling lightheaded, tired, mildly nauseated, or temporarily detached from your usual surroundings. Some patients may also experience a headache or a short-lived increase in blood pressure or heart rate.
Your care team monitors you throughout the infusion and during recovery, and you will not be discharged until you are stable and comfortable. We also review what to expect afterward and when to reach out if something does not feel right.
Clinically reviewed by
Last reviewed: October 2026
Dr. Doreen Zarfati is Chief Medical Officer at Fountain Health NYC and a double board-certified psychiatrist. Her work spans mental health, longevity, metabolism and sexual health, with a particular interest in how biological and clinical factors can influence psychiatric symptoms and treatment response.
At Fountain, Dr. Zarfati provides clinical oversight of Fountain’s care models, reviewing and approving them for clinical use and guiding how they are applied in patient care. Her work in IV ketamine focuses on neuroplasticity, emotional processing and the thoughtful integration of emerging treatments into structured clinical care.
Her approach is individualized, collaborative and grounded in measurable response, with treatment evolving as the patient’s clinical picture changes.
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Explore our full FAQ library for common questions about mental health, ketamine, weight management, hormones, sleep, nutrition, billing, and more.
