How to Prepare for Ketamine Treatment

A well-prepared session is a calmer, safer session. Most preparation is simple — eating and drinking at the right times, following medication instructions exactly, having your ride arranged, and arriving unhurried. None of it is difficult, but all of it works best when you know about it in advance.

One rule sits above everything on this page: the clinical team's instructions win. The guidance here describes typical patterns; your team will give you exact instructions tailored to your health, your medications, and your treatment plan.

Fasting is standard before ketamine sessions because it lowers the chance of nausea while the medicine is active. A typical pattern is no solid food for several hours before your appointment, with clear liquids sometimes allowed closer to session time — but the exact windows vary, and your team will give you precise instructions for each session.

Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs in the days around treatment, and be honest with the team about anything you have taken. These substances can interact with ketamine and complicate both safety and the session itself. Aim for a normal night's sleep beforehand; arriving exhausted makes the whole experience harder than it needs to be.

Do not start, stop, or adjust any medication before a session unless the clinical team has told you to. That includes antidepressants, blood pressure medicines, sleep aids, and over-the-counter products. Some medications are taken as usual on session day; others may be timed differently. The team reviews your full list during evaluation and gives you written instructions — follow those, not general advice from the internet or other patients.

If you are sick, have started a new medication, or something has changed since your evaluation, call before your appointment rather than deciding on your own.

You cannot drive after a ketamine session — not later that afternoon, not that evening. Arrange for a responsible adult to bring you home after every session, and plan on not driving or operating machinery until the following day.

Sort this out before the day of treatment. If your ride falls through, tell us as early as possible; the session may need to be rescheduled. Ask the team about the current policy on rideshare pickups if that is your only option [unaccompanied rideshare policy to be confirmed].

Wear comfortable, loose clothing — layers are useful, since treatment rooms can run warm or cool. Bring only what you need: your ID, any paperwork or medication list the team requested, and your arranged contact for pickup. Leave valuables at home. If anything else would help you feel settled, ask when scheduling; small comforts are usually easy to accommodate.

You do not need to psych yourself up. Most people do best arriving with modest expectations and an open, unhurried frame of mind. If you are anxious about the session, say so — the team talks through what the experience feels like before anything begins, and knowing what is coming helps most people relax.

Plan a quiet rest of the day: no work obligations, no important decisions, no strenuous activity. A calm afternoon at home, an easy meal later, and a normal bedtime is the right template. Our aftercare page covers the days that follow in the same practical detail.