Ketamine Infusion Therapy: How It Works and What We Offer
What ketamine infusion therapy involves, how it differs from Spravato and at-home products, and why medical supervision matters.
What IV ketamine infusion therapy involves
An infusion delivers ketamine directly into a vein through an IV line, at a dose calculated for you and given slowly over a set period. Because the medication enters the bloodstream directly, the clinical team controls the dose precisely and can pause or stop the infusion at any point.
Infusions take place in a monitored treatment room. A clinician places monitoring equipment, stays attentive throughout, and checks your recovery before you leave with the ride you arranged. A typical visit lasts under two hours, door to door.
IV ketamine compared with intranasal esketamine (Spravato)
Esketamine — sold as Spravato — is a nasal spray derived from ketamine. Spravato is FDA-approved for specific depression indications and is dispensed only under a restricted safety program called REMS, which requires a certified setting and observation after each dose. IV ketamine is different: it is the same medication long used in anesthesia, prescribed off-label, and it is not FDA-approved for mood or pain conditions.
Both approaches require in-person supervision. They differ in how the medication is given, how precisely dosing can be controlled, how insurance may treat them, and what the FDA has evaluated for each. If you are weighing one against the other, we can walk through those differences during your evaluation.
IV ketamine compared with compounded and at-home products
A third category has grown quickly: compounded ketamine lozenges, tablets, or nasal sprays — often prescribed online and taken at home without in-person monitoring. The FDA has warned patients and health care providers about potential risks associated with compounded ketamine products, particularly when they are used without adequate safeguards.
Compounded products are not equivalent to an IV infusion in a monitored clinic, and they are not the same as Spravato. Dosing precision, screening, and what happens if something goes wrong all differ. We believe a monitored setting is the responsible standard, and it is the standard we hold ourselves to.
What our clinic offers
Because our clinical protocols are still being finalized, we describe our modality honestly rather than guess: our clinical team confirms the exact modality, dosing approach, and session structure during your evaluation. [Exact modalities offered — to be confirmed and published once verified.]
What will not change is the standard around the modality: physician oversight, careful screening, monitoring during every session, and planned follow-up afterward.
Why supervision matters
Ketamine's short-term effects — dissociation, nausea, dizziness, and temporary blood-pressure changes — are manageable in a monitored setting and meaningfully riskier without one. Supervision also means a qualified person is watching for the less common problems and can respond immediately.
After any session you will need a responsible adult to drive you home, and you should not drive until the following day. These rules exist for your safety, and they apply to every patient, every time.
Common questions
IV ketamine is FDA-approved as an anesthetic, but it is not FDA-approved for depression, anxiety, PTSD, or pain — those uses are off-label. Esketamine (Spravato) nasal spray is FDA-approved for specific depression indications under a restricted program. We are glad to explain what off-label prescribing means before you decide anything.
Spravato is esketamine given as a nasal spray under the REMS program, with its own approved indications and insurance pathways. An IV infusion delivers ketamine into a vein with precise, adjustable dosing. Both require in-person monitoring; which one fits depends on your diagnosis, history, and coverage, and it is worth discussing during evaluation.
At-home services generally provide compounded lozenges or tablets used without in-person monitoring. The FDA has cautioned about risks tied to compounded ketamine in those circumstances. Our treatment happens in the clinic, with monitoring during and after every session.
Plan for roughly 90 minutes to two hours at the clinic, including preparation, the infusion itself, and monitored recovery before your ride takes you home.
Our clinical protocols are being finalized, and we will publish the confirmed list of modalities once it is verified. Until then, our clinical team confirms the exact modality — and whether it fits your situation — during the evaluation.
Sources & further reading
- FDA warns patients and health care providers about potential risks associated with compounded ketamine products — U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Accessed 2026-07-23.
- Spravato (esketamine) — drug approval information — U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Accessed 2026-07-23.
- Spravato REMS — risk evaluation and mitigation strategy program — Spravato REMS Program. Accessed 2026-07-23.
Links point to external organizations. Clear Ketamine Therapy does not control their content.
Reviewed by Editorial team (clinical review pending — see LAUNCH_CHECKLIST.md) · Last reviewed 2026-07-23. Medical reviewer: [Medical reviewer to be named before launch]. Educational information only — not medical advice or a substitute for care from your own clinicians.
Keep reading
- Ketamine Therapy TampaPhysician-supervised ketamine therapy for adults in Tampa, Florida — what it is, who it may help, and how to take the first step.
- What to ExpectA plain-language walkthrough of the full treatment process at our Tampa clinic — the evaluation, the sessions themselves, and the follow-up — including the parts that vary from person to person.
- How Ketamine WorksWhat researchers know — and are still testing — about how ketamine affects the brain, glutamate signaling, and mood.
- IV Ketamine vs. SpravatoTwo different medicines, two different models of care. A factual comparison of IV ketamine and Spravato — approval status, evidence, and practical differences.
- IV vs. At-Home KetamineAt-home ketamine programs are convenient, but the FDA has warned about compounded ketamine used outside monitored settings. Here are the real trade-offs.
- ResearchHow we read ketamine research: what is established, what is emerging, and how primary sources shape our clinical policies.
Talk with our clinical team
A consultation is a conversation, not a commitment. Ask questions, share what you are comfortable sharing, and learn whether ketamine therapy may be worth considering for you.
Not for emergencies — call or text 988 or 911 if you are in crisis.