Questions for Your Provider
A good clinic welcomes hard questions. Vagueness on any of these is a signal.
This page has been written and edited by the publisher. It has not been reviewed by a licensed clinician.
This is Ketalux's principal provider-question checklist - the full list, organised by category, for printing or taking to an appointment. The other provider pages are narrower: one covers safety-specific questions, one covers evaluating a clinic as an organisation, and one covers the supervised-session context.
Credentials & oversight
- Who prescribes? What's their training and board certification?
- Who monitors during the session? What's their medical credential?
- Is an MD or DO physically present? Reachable for emergencies?
- What's your protocol if my blood pressure spikes mid-infusion?
- Are you a Spravato-certified REMS site, or do you use racemic only?
Screening
- What does your medical and psychiatric intake include?
- Do you require records from my prescriber and therapist?
- What conditions would disqualify me, and why?
- How do you screen for cardiovascular and substance use risk?
Protocol & dosing
- What route do you use, and why for my case?
- What's a typical induction series, and what determines my schedule?
- How do you decide on dose changes?
- What outcome measures do you track (PHQ-9, GAD-7, C-SSRS)?
Integration & coordination
- Do you provide integration support, or coordinate with my therapist?
- Will you communicate with my psychiatrist and primary care?
- What happens between sessions if I'm struggling?
Cost & commercial
- What's the full cost, including all add-ons?
- Do you offer payment plans? Sliding scale?
- What happens if I stop responding — do I keep paying?
- Are you affiliated with the lab/pharmacy I'd use? Disclose conflicts.
Safety culture
- What's your worst clinical outcome to date, and what did you change?
- How do you handle adverse reactions during a session?
- What's your discharge criteria after a session?
- Who do I call after hours?
Publisher and editor of Ketalux, based in Chicago, Illinois. Ira is a ketamine therapy patient, not a clinician. This is editorial review, not medical review: Ira is not a licensed clinician and does not provide diagnosis or medical care. Ketalux does not accept compensation from providers in exchange for favorable editorial coverage, evidence ratings, recommendations, patient referrals, or organic provider ranking. Read the full publisher disclosure →
Educational use only. The content on this page is provided for general educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Ketamine and related therapies carry risks and are appropriate only under qualified medical supervision. Always consult a licensed healthcare professional about your individual situation. Information may change as research evolves.