You have tried the medications. You have sat through the appointments, the follow-ups, and the dose changes. Maybe you have spent months, or even years, waiting for something to finally take the edge off. Now someone has mentioned ketamine therapy, and two questions land at once: could this actually work for me, and could I ever afford it?
We hear those two questions from nearly every person who contacts our clinics. The answers are usually clearer than people expect. At Renew Ketamine Infusion, we provide physician-led ketamine therapy combined with integrative psychotherapy at our locations in San Juan Capistrano, Seal Beach, and Tustin. In this guide, we explain who may be a candidate, how you can tell whether ketamine therapy is right for you, what it costs, and how insurance fits in.
Who Is a Candidate for Ketamine Therapy?
We treat both mental health conditions and chronic pain conditions, and that range shapes who we see. People come to us for depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and chronic pain. We also treat fibromyalgia, CRPS, neuropathy, migraine, trigeminal neuralgia, postpartum depression, and addiction.
A few patterns show up often among the people we help:
- Treatment-resistant depression. This describes people who have not found relief from two or more antidepressants. Traditional antidepressants often take weeks to months to work, and many require daily use for months or years. Ketamine can reduce depressive symptoms within 2 to 8 hours.
- PTSD that has not responded to standard care. PTSD affects up to 7% of Americans, and as many as half of those with PTSD get inadequate relief from antidepressants, antipsychotics, and cognitive behavioral therapy.
- Anxiety that treatments only quiet for a while. Many standard anxiety treatments work poorly, carry addictive properties, or cause side effects such as brain fog and drowsiness.
- OCD that has resisted both medication and therapy.
- Chronic pain, including fibromyalgia. Our co-founder, Dr. Justin Yanuck, is a Board Certified Pain Medicine Physician. He has seen patients with chronic pain find significant relief with ketamine-assisted therapy. He is also clear that it will not work for everyone, and that every patient needs a thorough evaluation first.
A few practical points matter too. You do not need a physician referral to start with us. Your physician consultation is included, and during it we review whether our program is appropriate for you. We do ask that you stay open to psychotherapy. We believe ketamine is an important tool, and that an integrated psychotherapy program is just as important, so unlike many ketamine clinics that only suggest working with a therapist, we require it.
Who Is Not a Candidate?
We consider ketamine safe for almost everyone, but there are exclusions. Ketamine treatment is not right for people with:
- Uncontrolled blood pressure or cardiovascular disease
- Active substance abuse where withdrawal could be deadly, such as benzodiazepines or alcohol
- A history of brain bleed, blood vessel aneurysm, or arteriovenous malformation
- Psychosis, active mania, delusions, or hallucinations
- Acute suicidal ideation
- An allergy to ketamine
- Untreated thyroid disease or glaucoma
If anything on this list sounds like you, please do not rule yourself out on your own. Talk with us. Our physicians review your full medical picture, and some of these situations can change with treatment from your primary care team.
How Do I Know if Ketamine Therapy Is Right for Me?
Start by asking yourself three simple questions:
- Do you live with depressed mood, anxiety, PTSD, chronic pain, or something similar?
- Do you feel that Western medical therapies are falling short for you?
- Are you interested in combining neuroplastic medication with psychotherapy to support your healing?
If you answered yes, ketamine therapy may be worth a closer look. The next step is not a commitment. It is a conversation.
Step One: A Free Exploration Call
You book a free exploration call with a specialized Renew team member. We discuss treatment options and eligibility, and we answer your questions. This is also a good moment to ask about scheduling. We offer next-day or same-week intakes, because we know mental health concerns do not wait politely for an opening.
Step Two: A Virtual Physician Consultation
If ketamine treatment looks like an option, you speak with a specialty-trained Renew physician by video. We go through a thorough medical evaluation to make sure this therapy is right for you, and we build an individualized treatment plan. We do not believe in a model where everyone receives the same dose and the same number of sessions. Everyone responds differently, and we treat you as the unique person you are.
Before we prescribe anything, we also screen for medical issues that can mimic depression, including vitamin and thyroid problems. Ruling those out matters, because treating the wrong cause leaves you no better off.
Our physicians will also review your current medications with you in detail. Most medications can be taken throughout the program. Some may need to be held, and we will tell you which. Many patients go on to taper their psychiatric medications after ketamine treatment, always with the guidance of their prescribing doctor.
Step Three: Honest Expectations
We would rather be straightforward with you than oversell. Up to 20% of patients can be non-responders. For chronic pain, the evidence is fairly mixed, and most studies looked at IV ketamine without any assisted psychotherapy. We believe the real potential for relief comes when ketamine is combined with psychotherapy.
To keep everyone honest about progress, we encourage the use of mood assessment tools through Osmind, a technology platform we partner with. It tracks your progress, makes scheduling easier, and lets you share results with your primary care providers if you wish. If treatment is not helping, we work with you to find alternative care.
What a Typical Treatment Plan Looks Like
Understanding the plan makes the cost conversation easier, so here is what to expect:
- Frequency. For IV ketamine, treatment is typically 2 sessions a week for 3 weeks. Spravato follows its own FDA treatment guide.
- The IV session. Ketamine is delivered through a small IV in your arm, placed by one of our nurses, over 40 minutes. You can also receive ketamine by nasal spray. You can pause or stop a session at any time if you need to.
- Your visit. Plan on about 1.5 to 2 hours for IV ketamine and 2 to 2.5 hours for Spravato. You stay in our clinic under close observation, and you are never alone.
- Preparation. We recommend no food for 4 hours before your session and only small sips of water within 2 hours.
- Getting home. You will need a ride. Ketamine can leave you tired and affect your judgment and your ability to drive for the rest of the day.
- Afterward. Most people resume normal activities the next day, though heightened emotions can last a few days. You may notice nausea, impaired coordination, dissociation, or confusion during treatment.
- Results. Many people notice effects within hours, and those effects can last a month or more. Additional enhancement sessions are available as needed.
How Much Does Ketamine Therapy Cost?
This is the question people hesitate to ask, so we will answer it plainly. The cost of IV ketamine therapy depends on the length of your session and the number of sessions we recommend. Because we build each plan around the individual, there is no single number that fits every patient. That is why we offer a free exploration call and a free physician consultation, so you can learn what your plan would involve before you decide anything. You can also read more about the reality of ketamine costs and insurance.
A few things we can tell you with confidence:
- You are charged per session. We never charge you up front for sessions.
- Spravato can cost very little. Most patients pay as little as $10 a treatment.
- Affordability is part of our mission. We set out to give you safe, affordable, patient-centered care, and we describe ourselves as Orange County’s highest-rated and most affordable ketamine clinic.
- Our approach aims to be efficient. We follow what we call a MEDmed approach, which focuses on the minimum effective dose to restore stability with fewer side effects.
When you compare the cost of ketamine therapy with other options, think about the full picture. Ketamine is not meant to be taken for the rest of your life. The goal is sustained relief after a set treatment plan, and many antidepressants require use for years. For many patients, ketamine leads to resolution of symptoms without the need for further medications.
Does Insurance Cover Ketamine Therapy?
The answer depends on which treatment you receive, so we separate the two.
Spravato
Spravato (esketamine) is FDA approved for the treatment of depression. For Spravato, most insurances cover the treatment, and we are in network with most major carriers. For most patients, that means minimal out-of-pocket cost, and in many cases as little as $10 a treatment. If you are weighing cost above everything else, Spravato is often the first place we look.
IV Ketamine
IV ketamine is a different story. Ketamine is an FDA-approved medication, but it is considered off-label for depression. Off-label simply means using an approved medication for a use that was not part of its original application. Many medications are used off-label every day. Because ketamine is now a generic drug, new FDA trials are very unlikely, even though extensive evidence supports its effectiveness and safety.
That off-label status is why IV ketamine is not covered by insurance. We do offer IV ketamine treatment with hybrid insurance billing options, and through Osmind we can provide a superbill that you can use for insurance claims. Because every plan is different, we cannot promise what your carrier will do. We can walk you through your options on a call.
Why Insurance Matters to Us
Many boutique and telehealth ketamine clinics are cash-only or out of network. We chose a different path. Our view is simple: if your insurance will pay for care, you should be able to go to the best clinic available to you.
Questions We Hear Often
Do I need to stop my medications?
Not usually. Our physician reviews your medications with you and tells you what to hold and what to continue.
Is ketamine addictive?
We take addiction and misuse seriously. The existing data does not show evidence of ketamine being addictive. Our staff monitors you throughout treatment, and we only promote therapeutic, safe, and legal use under our medical team’s supervision.
Can I receive treatment at home?
Not at this time. Treatment takes place at our clinics, where you arrive through a private and discreet entrance and will not see other patients.
Who will treat me?
Our co-founders, Dr. Justin Yanuck and Dr. Tanya Dall, are Board Certified physicians experienced in ketamine treatment. Dr. David Richter is the Medical Director at our Seal Beach location and is there for every treatment.
Your Next Step: Talk With Us
Eligibility, cost, and insurance can feel like three separate hurdles. In our experience, they are really one conversation. Once we understand your symptoms, your history, and your coverage, we can tell you whether ketamine therapy fits, what it would involve, and what you can expect to pay.
We offer a free exploration call and a free physician consultation, and we respond directly between sessions, so you are not left waiting days for a callback. You can reach us at (949) 503-1414 or info@renewketamineinfusion.com, and we are open Monday to Saturday, 8:00 am to 6:30 pm, or by appointment.
If you have been wondering whether you could be a candidate for ketamine therapy, how much it would cost, or whether your insurance will help, we would be glad to answer those questions with you. Schedule your free exploration call today, and let us help you take the next step toward renewing your outlook.
