IV Ketamine Therapy

For Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Chronic Pain, Neuropathy, Anxiety, OCD, Cluster Headaches, Emotional Processing, and more.

Our Method

From your first visit, our focus is creating a safe, restorative environment designed to maximize healing. After a thorough intake and confirmation that ketamine therapy is right for you, we’ll schedule your sessions in our dedicated IV therapy space.

You’ll settle into a comfortable recliner with the option of a blanket, eye mask, and calming music or guided audio. Many patients find that this sense of comfort and immersion helps them let go more deeply and achieve the best outcomes.

Each infusion is carefully titrated to your body weight and individual needs, delivered through a gentle IV saline drip. Sessions typically last about 90 minutes (sometimes longer for chronic pain treatment). Before we begin, we’ll talk through your goals, explain what to expect, and customize the session to support the outcomes you’re seeking.

Our protocols include additional supportive measures designed to enhance comfort, optimize your experience, and extend the benefits of treatment.

Effects

Many patients experience meaningful changes after just a few sessions. Ketamine works by “resetting” patterns in the brain that contribute to depression, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain. It opens a window of neuroplasticity — the brain’s natural ability to form new connections — allowing healthier thought patterns, emotional processing, and healing to take place.

In addition to lifting mood and reducing distress, ketamine often brings:

  • Relief from depressive or anxious thoughts

  • A sense of calm and emotional release

  • Greater clarity and openness during therapy

  • Reduction in chronic pain intensity

These effects are both immediate and cumulative, with many people reporting lasting improvements when treatment is combined with integration and lifestyle support.

In our clinic, we’ve seen many clients reduce or even come off long-term medications for depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder with the support of ketamine therapy.

The Science Behind Ketamine

Ketamine works in a very different way than traditional antidepressants. Instead of slowly adjusting brain chemicals over weeks or months, ketamine acts quickly on the glutamate system — one of the brain’s most important communication networks.

By briefly blocking NMDA receptors (N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors), ketamine triggers a surge of glutamate. This in turn activates AMPA receptors (α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors), setting off a cascade of changes that boost BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor). BDNF acts like a growth signal, helping neurons form new synaptic connections (synaptogenesis). This process, called neuroplasticity, is essentially the brain “rewiring” itself toward healthier pathways.

Studies show ketamine also restores connectivity in networks disrupted by depression and anxiety — especially the default mode network (DMN) and limbic circuits. At the same time, it reduces overactivity in stress-related pathways, creating a sense of calm and emotional release.

On a secondary level, ketamine interacts with opioid receptors, which may contribute to its pain relief and mood-enhancing effects. It also exerts anti-inflammatory actions and rapidly decreases suicidal ideation in many patients.

Risks & Considerations

Ketamine therapy is very safe when provided in a medical setting, and most side effects are mild and temporary. At Desert Lotus, every session is supervised by medical professionals from start to finish. We monitor vital signs — including blood pressure and heart rate — to ensure your comfort and safety throughout the experience.

Common temporary effects include:

  • A sense of detachment or “floatiness” (dissociation via NMDA antagonism)

  • Changes in perception (mild visual or auditory shifts, sometimes called psychotomimetic effects)

  • Mild increases in blood pressure or heart rate (sympathomimetic surge)

  • Nausea or dizziness (vestibular effects)

Less common risks:

  • Headache or anxiety during “emergence” (as NMDA/AMPA balance normalizes)

  • Rare bladder irritation (cystitis, typically only with chronic/recreational misuse)

Addiction potential:

Although ketamine has a reputation for recreational misuse, the risk of dependence in a therapeutic setting is extremely low. IV ketamine is administered in carefully controlled doses, under medical supervision, and on structured schedules — conditions that prevent the patterns of overuse seen outside of clinical care.

Our commitment to safety:

  • Continuous medical supervision during each session

  • Vital sign monitoring throughout treatment

  • A fully stocked emergency response kit (“crash cart”) on site, though emergencies are exceedingly rare at therapeutic doses

  • Additional supportive measures included in our protocols to smooth the infusion experience, promote comfort, and further enhance safety

Eligibility / Candidates

Ketamine therapy can be life-changing for people who have not found relief through traditional treatments. At Desert Lotus, we carefully screen each patient to make sure this approach is safe and appropriate.

You may be a good candidate if you are living with:

  • Treatment-resistant depression (TRD)

  • Anxiety disorders, including generalized or social anxiety

  • PTSD or trauma-related symptoms

  • Bipolar depression (not mania)

  • Chronic pain syndromes (such as neuropathic pain, CRPS, fibromyalgia)

You may not be a candidate if you have:

  • Uncontrolled high blood pressure or serious heart disease

  • Active mania or psychosis

  • Uncontrolled substance abuse issues

  • Certain medical conditions where ketamine could be unsafe

Every patient begins with a thorough medical and psychological intake. If ketamine therapy is a fit, we’ll create a personalized treatment plan designed around your goals and health history. If it’s not the right option, we’ll guide you toward other resources that may be more beneficial.

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Testimonials

“I recently received ketamine treatment for mood disorders at Desert Lotus Vitality with Merima. I was struggling with my mood-stabilizing medications, and Merima suggested I try ketamine infusions. Merima encouraged me to research the treatment beforehand and ensured I was comfortable with everything before she began. She stayed with me the entire time I was receiving the infusions. I felt safe and cared for during each appointment. I received six treatments as my loading dose. After only two treatments, I began to feel relief from my symptoms. After the six-treatment loading dose, I feel amazing! I highly encourage anyone who is struggling with a mood disorder to consider this treatment, especially with Merima; she is AMAZING!”

— TB

“I actually approached Ketamine therapy not so much for specific PTSD or depression, but more from a desire to facilitate personal growth and emotional release. The sensations of stuck mindsets and lingering frustrations brought me to desert lotus. I had prior experience with ketamine through troches (oral) and two recreational scenarios (nasal), and they were significantly unimpressive compared to the IV delivery. The conscious awareness and release of a stuck mood and even problem solving during the IV ketamine is incredible!! Doing my best not to turn this into a trip report, but the temptation is there. Merima and Mereya were great facilitators setting the space and administering the medicine. Looking forward to getting more sessions in. Thanks for upgrading me!

— SH

From Dr. Andrew Huberman:

It In this episode, Dr. Andrew Huberman delves into how ketamine rewires brain circuits to relieve depression and PTSD, explores the neuroscience of its effects.

Know Before You Go

UNDER CONSTRUCTION, CHECK BACK SOON!

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