You have made the decision to look into ketamine therapy, and now the practical questions are piling up. Will I feel safe? Can I drive myself afterward? What will my body feel like tomorrow? How long will any of this last? And where, exactly, do I go?
Those are the right questions to ask before you ever sit in a treatment chair, and we answer them every day at Renew Ketamine Infusion. Our physician-led team provides ketamine therapy combined with integrative psychotherapy at clinics in Tustin, San Juan Capistrano, and Seal Beach. This guide covers what we tell patients about getting home safely, side effects, how long results last, and how to find us locally.
Do I Need Someone to Drive Me Home After Ketamine Treatment?
Yes. Please arrange a ride before your appointment. Ketamine can leave you tired, and it can alter your judgment and your ability to operate a vehicle for the rest of the day. We would never want a good treatment session to end with an unsafe drive.
Here is how we suggest you plan the rest of your day:
- Line up your ride in advance. A family member or friend who can pick you up works well.
- Keep the evening light. Our physician, Dr. Justin Yanuck, recommends having little to no work obligations after treatment on the day itself. Some patients notice slower thinking or talking for a few hours, and a clear schedule removes the pressure.
- Expect to be back to normal the next day. Most people resume normal activities the next day. Some of our patients are working professionals who return to work the day after treatment without trouble.
- Be gentle with your emotions. You may feel heightened emotions for the next few days. That is a normal part of the process, and it is one reason we pair treatment with psychotherapy.
Before you arrive, we also ask that you eat a meal about 4 hours before your treatment and limit yourself to small sips of water within 2 hours of treatment. Being hydrated and fed helps with nausea, which we cover below.
Your visit itself takes about 1.5 to 2 hours for IV ketamine and 2 to 2.5 hours for Spravato. During that time you stay in our clinic under close observation. You arrive through a private and discreet entrance, you will not see other patients, and you are never alone.
What Are the Side Effects of Ketamine Therapy?
Anytime you take a medicine, you should know the possible side effects. It is a fair question, and it is the one our doctors hear most. Ketamine is a very dose-dependent medicine. At high doses it is used for anesthesia, and at lower doses it is used for mental health. Clinically, side effects tend to show up in line with dose, and the doses we use in an outpatient setting are low and infrequent.
For a deeper look from our physician, you can read his full answer on our page about the side effects of ketamine. Here is a summary of what we see in our clinics.
Nausea
Nausea is the most common side effect we see, and it is usually mild. It is more noticeable for people who are prone to nausea or get motion sickness easily. We give everyone anti-nausea medicine before each treatment, whether it is IV ketamine or the nasal spray Spravato. If you have no nausea after your first treatment, we hold off on the anti-nausea medicine next time.
Nausea is very rarely limiting. Most patients have none, and when it happens it is often mild. A few simple steps help:
- Arrive well hydrated.
- Eat a meal about 4 hours before treatment.
- Keep your eye mask on until the very end if you feel queasy. Under ketamine, what we see and what our head feels can disconnect, and that disconnect can heighten nausea. This simple trick has saved many patients from vomiting.
If nausea is stronger, we have other medicines we can give. Only a couple of patients have ever vomited in our clinic.
Constipation
Constipation can occur. We suspect most of it comes from the anti-nausea medicine rather than ketamine itself. Severe constipation is rare and almost always happens in people with a history of constipation.
Headache
Headache affects fewer than 10% of patients. It lasts only that day and responds well to Tylenol. It does not tend to make migraines worse, though people who get migraines should prepare for the possibility. If you ever have the worst headache of your life, a sudden onset headache, weakness, or vision changes, seek medical care immediately. That has never been the case for our patients to date.
Brain Fog
Some patients feel slower in processing speed, talking, or thinking. It lasts a day at most, and it is rarely disruptive. Many people do not notice it at all. For those who do, we reassure them that it will not last forever. Ketamine expands neural networks, and this brief slowdown is often a sign that your brain is responding to the medicine.
Other Effects You May Notice
During and after treatment, some patients experience impaired coordination, dissociation, or confusion. Ketamine can also temporarily raise heart rate and blood pressure.
Bladder Pain
Bladder pain is very rare. We have seen it only twice, and both times it was unclear whether ketamine was the cause. A ketamine metabolite can irritate the bladder as it leaves the body, but this is typically seen with recreational use, daily high doses, or very high-dose IV treatment over several days in a hospital. Our doses are low and no more frequent than twice weekly. If you already have bladder problems, we encourage you to hydrate well before and after treatment and to empty your bladder several times in the hours that follow.
How We Reduce Risk Before You Start
Our job is to reduce the risk of rare side effects to near zero, and most of that work happens before treatment. We conduct an extensive consultation with a series of questions to assess your risk factors. For people with underlying heart disease, we take extra care. That can mean premedication, clearance from a cardiologist, or, if the risk is too high, not proceeding with ketamine therapy at all.
We also do not treat everyone. Ketamine is not appropriate for people with uncontrolled blood pressure or cardiovascular disease, active substance abuse where withdrawal could be deadly, a history of brain bleed, aneurysm, or arteriovenous malformation, psychosis or active mania, acute suicidal ideation, a ketamine allergy, untreated thyroid disease, or glaucoma. You can find more answers in our frequently asked questions.
We also take addiction and misuse seriously. The existing data does not show evidence of ketamine being addictive, and our staff monitors you throughout treatment. We reserve the right to withhold treatment if we suspect signs of addiction or misuse.
How Long Do the Effects of Ketamine Therapy Last?
There are two timelines to understand: how quickly you may feel something, and how long relief may last.
How fast. Many people notice effects within hours. For depression, ketamine can reduce symptoms within 2 to 8 hours, while traditional antidepressants often take weeks to months. For PTSD, some patients notice a sense of lightness and joy almost immediately.
How long. Effects can last a month or more. The goal of our program is sustained relief after a set treatment plan, not a medication you take for the rest of your life. For IV ketamine, a typical plan is 2 sessions a week for 3 weeks. If you need support later, additional enhancement sessions are available.
What makes relief last longer? We believe the answer is psychotherapy. Ketamine acts as a catalyst, and therapy helps you process your experience and build new ways of responding to your thoughts and triggers. That is why we require an integrated psychotherapy program rather than simply recommending one. Our process also includes workbook exercises, regular check-ins with our clinical team, and free weekly Reset Sessions, which are live, guided practices with meditation and breathwork. Private sessions are available if you prefer.
We also want to be honest. Up to 20% of patients can be non-responders. To track your progress, we encourage you to use the mood assessments through Osmind, a platform we partner with. If treatment is not helping, we work with you to find alternative care. You are never charged up front for sessions, only per session.
Where Can I Find Ketamine Therapy in Tustin, CA?
If you live or work in Tustin, our clinic is at:
Renew Ketamine Infusion, Tustin 17581 Irvine Boulevard, Suite 114 Tustin, California 92780 Phone: 949-503-1414
Our Tustin clinic is a tranquil, quiet, calming environment, designed with intention to support healing. Our founders, Dr. Tanya Dall and Dr. Justin Yanuck, are Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physicians, and Dr. Yanuck is also a Board Certified Pain Medicine Physician. Both have experience using ketamine in their daily practice.
You will also find a team of licensed therapists who work with ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, along with providers including Jasmyn FNP, Susan PMHNP-BC, and Emily PA-C. Our therapists include Maria Lloyd, LMFT, Elizabeth Cappelletti, LMFT, Kai Lewis, LMFT, and Sabrina Owen, LMFT.
If you want to explore treatment in Tustin, you can request a free consultation through the form on our Tustin page, or call us directly.
Where Can I Find Ketamine Therapy in San Juan Capistrano, CA?
Our San Juan Capistrano clinic is where Renew began, and it is open to patients across the area:
Renew Ketamine Infusion, San Juan Capistrano 30230 Rancho Viejo Rd, Ste 134 San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 Phone: (949) 503-1414
Our San Juan Capistrano clinic offers the same physician-led approach, with a team that includes Sheila PA-C, Riley FNP, and Emily PA-C, along with our licensed therapists. Dr. Lisa Stockdale, a licensed psychologist, also supports our San Juan Capistrano clinic as part of our multidisciplinary team.
We are open Monday to Saturday, 8:00 am to 6:30 pm, or by appointment, at all of our locations. If you are closer to the coast, we also have a clinic in Seal Beach.
What Happens at Your First Visit
If you are still deciding, here is what the path looks like from first contact to treatment:
- Book a free exploration call. A specialized Renew team member discusses treatment options and eligibility and answers your questions. We offer next-day or same-week intakes.
- Meet with a physician by video. You receive a thorough medical evaluation, including screening for medical issues such as vitamin and thyroid problems that can mimic depression. We build an individualized treatment plan. You do not need a physician referral.
- Schedule your sessions. If you work with one of our therapists, we coordinate your sessions so they happen close to your ketamine treatment.
- Arrive and settle in. Our staff takes your vitals, guides you through a short meditation, and gets you comfortable in a recliner with an eye mask, noise-canceling headphones, and a curated playlist.
- Receive your treatment. For IV ketamine, you receive an treatment over 40 minutes through a small IV placed by one of our nurses. You can pause or stop at any time if needed.
- Process and integrate. After treatment, you take time to settle, meet with your psychotherapist, and continue with workbook exercises and check-ins.
Between sessions, we stay in touch by phone or text so you are never left waiting for a callback.
Take the Next Step With Us
Safety, aftercare, and local access are the details that make ketamine therapy feel manageable instead of overwhelming. Plan your ride, prepare with a meal and plenty of water, and give yourself an easy rest of the day. Expect relief that can begin within hours and last a month or more, and know that our team will be with you at every stage.
If you are ready to talk, we would be glad to hear from you. Schedule a free exploration call, call us at 949-503-1414, or email info@renewketamineinfusion.com. Whether you are in Tustin, San Juan Capistrano, or nearby, we are here to help you renew your outlook.
