How to Prepare for Your At-Home Ketamine Treatment

At-home ketamine therapy can be a powerful and healing experience when approached with intention and care. If your clinician has prescribed ketamine, preparing properly for each session can help you feel more at ease and follow your treatment plan. Ketamine is prescribed off-label and is not FDA-approved for any psychiatric condition.

Here are some essential steps to help you prepare:

1. Talk to Your Provider Ahead of Time

Before your first treatment, have a conversation with your Anywhere Clinic provider. They can walk you through what to expect, review safety instructions, and help you establish a clear treatment goal or intention. Having questions or topics ready—such as emotions you’d like to explore or patterns you want to understand—can make your session more meaningful.

2. Create a Calm Environment

Your mindset and surroundings play a big role in the ketamine experience. Choose a quiet, comfortable room with soft lighting and minimal distractions. Prepare a relaxing music playlist in advance—instrumental or ambient music tends to work best.

You might also want to bring comforting items like a blanket, eye mask, or aromatherapy diffuser.

3. Plan When and What You’ll Eat

It’s generally recommended to avoid eating for about 4 hours before your session and to limit liquids in the 2 hours prior. A light, healthy meal earlier in the day (like toast with nut butter or a smoothie) can help avoid nausea while keeping you fueled.

4. Arrange for Someone to Be With You

Ketamine has real risks, including sedation, dissociation, and changes in blood pressure, and no clinician is in the room during an at-home session. That's why a trusted adult must be with you as your peer support person throughout the session. You should not drive, swim, or operate heavy machinery for the rest of the day after your session.

5. Have a Plan for Integration

Many patients find journaling, drawing, or simply resting after a session to be helpful. Think about how you’ll spend the hours post-treatment. It’s a good time for reflection, not work or socializing. Your provider will schedule a follow-up to help you process your experience and adjust your care plan as needed.

Know the Risks

Ketamine is a Schedule III controlled substance with real risks. Possible effects include dissociation, dizziness, nausea, and raised blood pressure and heart rate. The FDA lists abuse and misuse, psychiatric events, slowed breathing, and bladder and urinary tract symptoms, and has warned that using compounded ketamine at home, without a clinician on site to watch for sedation, dissociation and blood pressure changes, may put patients at risk (FDA). The ketamine label also warns that repeated use can injure the liver and bile ducts (Ketalar label). Our ketamine page covers the risks and who isn't a candidate.

Who May Be Evaluated for At-Home Ketamine

A clinician may consider at-home ketamine, prescribed off-label, for adults with:

• Major Depressive Disorder

• PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Ketamine is generally not appropriate for people with active psychosis or mania, or during pregnancy, and your clinician screens for these before any prescribing decision.

At-home ketamine therapy isn't crisis care. If you're thinking about suicide or are in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911.

📍 Where At-Home Ketamine Is Available

At-home ketamine is available only in the states listed on our ketamine page. We can't prescribe it in the states where we can't prescribe controlled substances, and it isn't offered in Texas. In the other states we serve, call (702) 848-2256 before booking a ketamine visit.

Ready to begin your journey with at-home ketamine therapy?

We take insurance where we're in network (check your plan), and self-pay is $150 per visit.

Book your consultation online or call us today to take the first step toward healing.