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FAQs

Ketamine is classified as a dissociative anesthetic. However, in the last 15 years, the benefits of ketamine have been explored in the areas of mental health and pain management. 

Ketamine has been used as a surgical anesthesia since 1964. Modern research has now cited its efficacy in treating a multitude of mental health disorders and pain management as detailed below.

Ketamine treats a variety of mental health disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, mood disorders, and chronic pain. There is new research being conducted regularly on the benefits of Ketamine and the symptoms it can treat. For the latest research, please speak to our medical team or sign up for our newsletter.

Intravenously. At Kure, we believe that receiving ketamine through an IV offers you the safest and most effective therapy. We are able to control the speed of infusion and monitor your experience. Though rare, should you become uncomfortable at any time during your treatment session, our medical team is with you to make your experience comfortable and safe.

Yes, ketamine is legal to prescribe. Though considered “off-label” for its use in depression and mood disorder treatment, it is FDA approved for pain management. For reference, WebMD states that over 20% of US prescriptions are for “off-label” therapies.  

According to FDA.org, once the FDA approves a drug, healthcare providers generally may prescribe the drug for an unapproved use when they judge that it is medically appropriate for their patient. One reason to prescribe a drug “off-label” is that there might not be an approved drug to treat your disease or medical condition. Another is that you may have tried all approved treatments without seeing any benefits.  In situations like these, you and your healthcare provider may talk about using an approved drug for an unapproved use to treat your disease or medical condition.

In a clinically monitored environment like the one you will experience at Kure, the treatment is indeed very safe. You will be screened to ensure you are a qualified candidate on both medical and mental health fronts. Our medical professionals will oversee your vital signs throughout the infusions, eliciting feedback regarding your comfort level and overall experience. If at any time during your infusion you should experience any adverse or unpleasant reactions, we will offer solutions, such as slowing your infusion rate, providing adjunct medications when appropriate, or altogether stopping it if completely necessary.

Evidence strongly supports that ketamine is an effective treatment in alleviating symptoms related to psychiatric conditions and chronic pain. However, it is important to remember that every individual responds differently to any prescribed medication and/or therapy.

Please contact us for pricing. We may offer discounts to first responders, veterans, and students.

Typically, insurance does not cover ketamine infusion therapy for individuals with treatment-resistant depression or other mental health related diagnoses since it is being used as “off label” per the FDA. However, some insurance companies do cover ketamine infusions under the diagnosis of chronic pain since ketamine is an anesthetic. Kure will provide a superbill to its clients at the end of treatment.  

Some possible side effects of this treatment include:

  • Increase in blood pressure 
  • Nausea or vomiting (we can administer a supportive medication if you are concerned that this may occur)
  • A sense of disorientation, impaired balance/coordination
  • A sensation of dizziness, drowsiness, being “out of body”, slurred speech, and/or numbing sensation

Most individuals tolerate the above side effects well, and they are not discouraged from participating in future infusions.

Typically, an infusion will last 45 minutes for mental health conditions, and 90 minutes for chronic pain. 

Typically, you can expect to feel the effects within 10-15 minutes of the infusion’s onset.  You may notice a heaviness within your body, along with a separation from your physical self. Individuals typically report positive sensations, such as a feeling of intense relaxation, nostalgia from past experiences, and calmness. Of course, experiences may vary and can be further discussed during your consultation.

This will depend on the guidance of the Kure medical team. Typically, individuals undergo 6-8 initial ketamine infusions.

A referral is not necessary in order to participate in the infusion process.

You should always discuss discontinuing any medication under the supervision of your medical provider.  With that being said, there are certain medications that we understand to affect ketamine’s responsiveness.  These include the following:

  • stimulants
  • opioids
  • memantine
  • lamotrigine 
  • benzodiazepines 

Yes, there is seating in each treatment room for your companion. Further, we offer a dual infusion room that allows two individuals to undergo ketamine therapy together alongside one another.

Your Journey Starts Now

Kure requires a consultation with one of our practitioners to determine if ketamine is the right therapy for you. If you’d like to find out more about the range of programs we offer, don’t hesitate to give us a call or fill out the form for a free consultation. We’ll discuss your individual needs and create a tailored program that will guarantee you reach your goals. So get in touch and we’ll start creating a program that’s right for you.

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Kure Medical Group

Valentina Ira, MSN, PMHNP-BC

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Valentina is a board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner dedicated to treating depression, anxiety, addictions, PTSD, and trauma. She has 14+ years of experience in healthcare with specialties in addiction medicine, psychiatry and mental health, as well as emergency department, surgery, and oncology. She received post-graduate degree in Psychiatric Mental Health at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in Utah. She is a Clinical Faculty at Moorpark College nursing program and a Nurse Practitioner at Los Angeles addiction treatment centers. Valentina believes in the integrative approach that mergers best of Western and Eastern medicine and she has a holistic view on healing all aspects of life that contribute to mental illness. She believes that each client is unique so every treatment plan should be uniquely tailored to that individual; her goal is also to make clients feel accepted and safe. Valentina has been practicing transcendental meditation, yoga, and Ayurvedic lifestyle for many years. She enjoys living in the Santa Monica Mountains and hiking local trails.

Steve Yun, M.D.

Anesthesiologist | Medical Director

Dr. Yun is Board-Certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology and Certified in Adult and Pediatric Advanced Life Support. He received his B.S. with Honors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and his M.D. with Honors from the University of Southern California in 1996, followed by three years of additional training in Anesthesiology at the UCLA Medical Center. He has been in private practice since 2000. For the last 15+ years, he has served as Director of Anesthesia for Dr. Daniel Kharrazi, – Former Team Physician for the Los Angeles Lakers. ​Dr. Yun is a Clinical Professor at Western University of Health Sciences and a Lecturer at the Loma Linda School of Dentistry. He has received the Physician of Excellence Award multiple times from the Orange County Medical Association. He has been recognized as “Anesthesiologist of the Year” by the Fresh Start Surgical Charity and is a proud supporter of the So Cal Bulldog Rescue Organization.

Andy Rimando, MSN, PMHNP-BC

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Andy has built a solid experience in health care in the last 18 years, with specialties in sleep medicine, critical care, anesthesia and post anesthesia care, as well as psychiatry and mental health. He graduated from California State University Los Angeles, and attended schools in University of Scranton in Pennsylvania, and Stevenson University in Maryland. He completed his nursing residency in Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, and has worked in University of Maryland Medical Center, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, and recently at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland. He loves to hike big mountains in his free time, and has traveled to several countries to experience other cultures. He currently resides in Los Angeles California.

Janet Sharma, MSN, PMHNP-BC

Medical Advisor

Janet is a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner focused on treating anxiety, depression, and women’s mental health. She believes that inner work is critical to one’s mental health journey, as it helps solidify new views and coping skills.  Janet has experience doing critical care in the emergency department. She has also worked with patients in inpatient and outpatient mental health settings. She has worked with individuals from diverse backgrounds across all age groups using a holistic therapeutic model. She is passionate about restoring personal health and wellness. Janet understands that growth is not linear and that the ability to change remains with us. Janet enjoys teaching and learning from others, spending time with her family, and learning new things along the way. She is also fluent in Spanish.

Erica Weiszmann

Office Manager

Erica’s passion for healthcare stems from the insatiable curiosity she has for humans and her belief that everyone deserves freedom from the chains of mental illness. She became immersed in the world of mental health afflictions during employment as a pre-medical student, and this interest extended into a desire to assist all kinds of patients in accessing the most appropriate mental health resources for them.  She has seen the positive and frankly, life-changing, effects of ketamine treatment firsthand during her time as a medical assistant at a clinic providing infusions for individuals with treatment-resistant depression and chronic pain.  She is proud to be serving the community of southern California with the services here at KureKetamine as Business Office Manager.  Armed with an extensive background in behavioral health to best complement the care you receive here, she holds certifications in Brain Health, as well as Meditation.  When she is not working, you can catch her at hot yoga, biking through LA, body surfing at the incredible beaches here, trying out a new Pinterest recipe, and reading about neuroscience.

Steve Yun, M.D.

Anesthesiologist | Medical Director

Dr. Yun is Board-Certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology and Certified in Adult and Pediatric Advanced Life Support. He received his B.S. with Honors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and his M.D. with Honors from the University of Southern California in 1996, followed by three years of additional training in Anesthesiology at the UCLA Medical Center. He has been in private practice since 2000. For the last 15+ years, he has served as Director of Anesthesia for Dr. Daniel Kharrazi, – Former Team Physician for the Los Angeles Lakers. ​Dr. Yun is a Clinical Professor at Western University of Health Sciences and a Lecturer at the Loma Linda School of Dentistry. He has received the Physician of Excellence Award multiple times from the Orange County Medical Association. He has been recognized as “Anesthesiologist of the Year” by the Fresh Start Surgical Charity and is a proud supporter of the So Cal Bulldog Rescue Organization.

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