Frequently Asked Questions

Ketamine is one of the most widely used and safely administered medications in modern medicine. While it is FDA-approved as an anesthetic, its use in mental health is done at much lower, ‘sub-anesthetic’ doses.

At the Ketamine Center of Connecticut, safety is our foundational priority. We don’t just provide a treatment; we provide a clinically supervised environment managed by experts who specialize in airway and hemodynamic safety.

• Expert Oversight: Because Dr. Gino Ang and our team are highly trained in anesthesia, we possess the highest level of expertise in managing the specific physiological effects of Ketamine.

• Constant Monitoring: Throughout your infusion session, we utilize hospital-grade equipment to monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels in real-time.

• Controlled Environment: Unlike at-home treatments, our Milford and Westport clinics are equipped to handle any subtle shift in your vitals immediately, ensuring your experience is as physically safe as it is emotionally transformative.”

Clinical Tip from Dr. Gino: Safety begins before you even arrive. Our pre-infusion screening ensures that Ketamine is a medically appropriate option for you. We review your cardiovascular health and any potential medication interactions to build a protocol that is uniquely yours.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, uncontrolled and untreated high blood pressure and untreated hyperthyroidism.

It is a common misconception, but clinical Ketamine therapy is a strictly regulated medical procedure that bears no resemblance to recreational misuse. The difference lies in three critical factors: dose, intent, and environment.

At the Ketamine Center of Connecticut, we view Ketamine as a precision tool for neuroplasticity.

• Precision Dosing: In a recreational setting, doses are often dangerously high and unpredictable. In our Milford and Westport clinics, we use ‘sub-anesthetic’ doses that are carefully calculated based on your weight and medical history to trigger healing, not sedation.

• The Therapeutic Window: Our goal isn’t ‘escape’; it’s recovery. We use Ketamine to open a biological window of opportunity where your brain can begin to repair damaged neural pathways.

• Expert Supervision: Ketamine is a powerful medication that belongs in experienced medical hands. Administering the right dose to the right patient in the right setting ensures that the experience remains a safe, transformative medical treatment.”

Clinical Tip from Dr. Gino: The ‘safety’ of a medication is often determined by who is administering it. As specialists in anesthesia, we are trained to manage Ketamine’s effects with the highest level of precision. We focus on the preparation and screening process to ensure that every patient feels secure and supported throughout their journey.

It’s common to feel skeptical when you’ve already tried multiple antidepressants without success. Ketamine is different because it bypasses the ‘biological barrier’ that often stops standard meds from working. 

While traditional SSRIs and SNRIs focus on serotonin and norepinephrine which can take weeks to build up Ketamine targets glutamate, the brain’s most abundant neurotransmitter. By doing this, it helps ‘repair’ neural connections and promotes neuroplasticity almost immediately.

At the Ketamine Center of Connecticut, we see that for many patients, the difference isn’t just a sudden ‘happy’ feeling; it’s a lifting of the ’emotional heaviness’ and a softening of negative thought loops, often noticed within hours to 24 hours after the first session.”

Clinical research and our experience at the Ketamine Center of Connecticut have shown that a series of 6 initial infusions is the most effective way to achieve significant, lasting relief.

While a single session can offer a “glimpse” of improvement, serial infusions are necessary to build the momentum required for your brain to repair neural pathways a process known as synaptic plasticity. We typically schedule these six treatments over a 2-to-3-week window to maximize this “healing window.”

Staying better: The Maintenance Phase Because depression is often a chronic condition, the majority of patients who find relief will transition into a maintenance plan.

• The Initial Window: Following the first six sessions, most patients feel a sustained “lifting” of symptoms for 4 to 8 weeks.

• Ongoing Support: To prevent symptoms from returning, maintenance (or “booster”) infusions are scheduled on an as-needed basis.

• A Personalized Timeline: This frequency is highly individual; some patients return every month, while others may go several months between boosters. Our goal is to find the minimum number of sessions required to keep your “new normal” stable.

Absolutely. You should not stop your current antidepressant medications before starting ketamine therapy. In fact, Ketamine is often most effective when used as an ‘add-on’ treatment to your existing regimen.

Because Ketamine works on the glutamate system rather than the serotonin or norepinephrine pathways used by standard SSRIs, the two can work together without conflict. Maintaining your current routine provides a stable ‘baseline’ while the Ketamine begins the rapid work of repairing neural connections.

However, safety is our top priority. Before your first session, Dr. Gino will conduct a comprehensive review of your full medication list. While most antidepressants are perfectly safe to combine with Ketamine, there are certain medications (such as high-dose benzodiazepines or some seizure medications) that may slightly lessen the effectiveness of the treatment. We will work with you to optimize your plan for the best possible results.

Clinical Tip from Dr. Gino: During your initial consultation, please provide a complete and detailed list of all medications, supplements, and vitamins you are currently taking. Some common medications can subtly influence how your brain responds to Ketamine. Having a full list ready ensures that Dr. Gino can provide the most effective and safe protocol specifically for you.

It is important to distinguish between the clinical application of Ketamine and its misuse in other settings. When administered in a controlled, medical environment like the Ketamine Center of Connecticut, Ketamine is not considered physically addictive.

Our protocol is designed for safety and therapeutic success:

• Sub-Anesthetic Dosing: We use precise, low doses that are significantly lower than those used in general anesthesia or recreational misuse.

• Medical Supervision: Every session is monitored by Dr. Gino Ang and our clinical team. You are never left alone, and your vitals are tracked throughout.

• Scheduled Induction: Unlike medications you take daily at home, Ketamine is administered in a specific, finite series. This “on-and-off” schedule prevents the brain from developing a physical dependency.

For patients with a history of substance use disorder, we take extra precautions. Ketamine therapy can actually be a powerful tool for addiction recovery by “resetting” the brain’s reward pathways, provided it is managed within our strict clinical framework.

Clinical Tip from Dr. Gino: During your initial screening, we discuss your full medical and personal history. This allows us to customize your treatment plan and ensure that Ketamine remains a safe, therapeutic bridge to your recovery without the risk of habit-formation.

The entire process including recovery takes about 60 minutes.

Most patients experience a mild dissociation or inner reflective experience that is generally well tolerated. If you experience nausea, mild anxiety or any unpleasant sensations we will be there to treat you and take care of you. Within 15 minutes of ending the infusion, your thinking will be clear.

No solid food for 4 hours before a ketamine infusion. Clear liquids only 2 hours before the infusion. 

No solid food for 4 hours before a ketamine infusion. Clear liquids only 2 hours before the infusion. 

During your infusion, you may experience a ‘dissociative’ effect, which many patients describe as a feeling of being ‘light’ or detached from their physical body. This is not a side effect to be feared; in clinical terms, it is a sign that the Ketamine is successfully bypassing your typical ruminative thought patterns. At our Milford and Westport clinics, you are in a safe, private environment. Our team ensures you remain comfortable, and Dr. Gino Ang monitors the session to ensure the experience remains therapeutic and calm. Most patients find this state of ‘mental rest’ to be one of the most refreshing parts of their healing journey.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Ketamine therapy is its speed. While traditional antidepressants can take 6–8 weeks to show results, many of our patients report a ‘shifting of the clouds’ within 24 to 48 hours after their second or third infusion. We use a specific 6-infusion induction protocol because it allows us to see how your brain responds in real-time. If you are a ‘responder,’ you will likely notice an increase in energy, improved sleep, and a decrease in negative self-talk before the initial series is even complete.

If you don’t feel an immediate shift, it does not mean you are untreatable. Every brain is unique, and sometimes the ‘repair work’ of neuroplasticity takes a bit more time to become noticeable in your daily mood. Dr. Gino evaluates your progress after each session. In some cases, we may adjust the dosage or the frequency of your infusions to find the ‘sweet spot’ for your biology. Our goal is to ensure that even treatment-resistant cases have every possible opportunity to find relief.

Safety is our priority, and because Ketamine creates a temporary dissociative state, you cannot drive for the remainder of the day. All patients must have a designated driver to take them home. We recommend a quiet afternoon of rest to allow your brain to fully process the neuroplastic effects of the treatment.

While Ketamine is an evolutionary tool for many, it isn’t right for everyone. During your pre-infusion screening, Dr. Gino reviews your history for specific contraindications, such as active psychosis or uncontrolled high blood pressure. Our goal is to ensure that Ketamine is a safe and effective ‘bridge’ for your specific biology.

No. You can contact us directly to begin your consultation. You do not need a referral from a psychiatrist or primary doctor to seek help at the Ketamine Center of Connecticut.

While we are happy to coordinate with your current provider to ensure your care is seamless, the first step is simply reaching out to us. We make the onboarding process as straightforward as possible so you can focus on your recovery.

We don’t rely on ‘gut feelings’ alone. We track your progress using clinically validated scales and mood-tracking tools. Because the initial changes can sometimes be subtle—like a slight increase in energy or better sleep—these metrics help us visualize your recovery path and adjust your protocol in real-time.

We have designed our Milford and Westport clinics to be sanctuaries for healing. You will relax in a private room with a comfortable reclining chair, dim lighting, and noise-canceling headphones with curated music. We provide eye masks to help you turn your focus inward, allowing the Ketamine to work while you remain in a state of total clinical comfort

Some patients experience temporary side effects like dizziness, mild nausea, or a slight increase in heart rate. Because Dr. Gino is an expert in anesthesia, we can immediately manage these sensations during your session—often by adding anti-nausea medication to your IV—to ensure your experience remains smooth and comfortable.