IV Ketamine Therapy in Norcross, GA: Office-Based Infusions for Treatment-Resistant Depression

What Is IV Ketamine Therapy?

IV ketamine therapy is an interventional psychiatric treatment for people with complex or treatment-resistant mental health conditions, including major depressive disorder, bipolar depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety disorders. It is considered when symptoms persist despite antidepressants and psychotherapy, or when symptoms are severe enough to disrupt daily life.

Ketamine is an FDA-approved anesthetic that has been used safely in hospitals for more than 50 years. At the low, carefully monitored doses used in psychiatry, it acts on the brain's glutamate system rather than the serotonin system that standard antidepressants target. That different pathway is why some patients feel relief within hours or days, and why it can work when several medications have not.

At Georgia Behavioral Health in Norcross, IV ketamine is offered as one option within a comprehensive treatment plan directed by Dr. Neha Khurana, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist and Atlanta Magazine Top Doctor for General Psychiatry in 2025 and 2026. It is only provided after a thorough psychiatric evaluation confirms it is clinically appropriate and safe.

How Does IV Ketamine Work?

IV ketamine is delivered through an intravenous infusion over approximately 40 to 60 minutes, with the dose customized to your weight and response. Unlike a pill, it enters the bloodstream directly, which gives precise control over the dose and lets us adjust it session by session.

Traditional antidepressants raise serotonin or norepinephrine and may take weeks to show results. Ketamine blocks NMDA receptors in the glutamate system, which plays a central role in mood, neuroplasticity, and the stress response. That triggers a rapid increase in the growth factors that help brain cells form new connections, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, where long-standing depression driven by chronic stress has thinned them out.

IV ketamine is one option within an interventional psychiatry approach that may also include transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or SPRAVATO (esketamine), depending on clinical need. Read more about why antidepressants stop working.

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Who May Benefit From IV Ketamine Therapy?

IV ketamine may be considered for individuals experiencing:

Use for bipolar depression, PTSD, OCD, and eating disorders depends on clinical evaluation and appropriateness. IV ketamine is not a first-line treatment and is generally considered when other evidence-based treatments have not been effective.

Who Should Not Have IV Ketamine

Ketamine raises blood pressure and heart rate for a short time during the infusion, and it can affect perception. During your evaluation we screen carefully for:

• Uncontrolled high blood pressure, unstable heart disease, or a history of aneurysm or brain bleed
• A history of psychosis or schizophrenia, since ketamine can worsen psychotic symptoms
• An active substance use disorder that is not in treatment, given ketamine's potential for misuse
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Elevated intracranial or intraocular pressure, or an allergy to ketamine

Most other medical conditions and medications do not rule ketamine out, but they are part of the conversation. A full psychiatric evaluation comes first, every time.

The IV Ketamine Treatment Process: What to Expect

Is Someone With Me During the Entire Treatment?

Our clinical staff monitor patients 100 percent of the time during IV ketamine infusions. Many patients prefer that clinicians are not physically in the room for the entire infusion, and that is fine. You are continuously observed, and staff are immediately available at all times.

What an Infusion Feels Like

Most patients describe a dreamy, floating, or detached feeling that begins a few minutes into the infusion and fades within 20 to 30 minutes of it ending. Some find it calming, some find it strange. Bringing headphones and an eye mask helps. You will not be unconscious, and you can speak with staff at any point. By the time you leave, you will feel largely back to normal, though not sharp enough to drive.

Can IV Ketamine Be Used With TMS or SPRAVATO?

Yes. In some cases, IV ketamine may be used:

• While waiting for insurance authorization for TMS or SPRAVATO, so relief does not wait on paperwork
• As a short-term option to address severe depressive symptoms
• As part of a broader interventional treatment plan, with TMS providing longer-lasting benefit once the ketamine series ends

All treatment sequencing or combinations are determined following psychiatric evaluation. IV ketamine does not replace comprehensive psychiatric care. It is used alongside medication management, talk therapy, or other treatments depending on individual needs.

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What Are Common Side Effects of IV Ketamine?

Side effects are typically temporary and may occur during or shortly after the infusion. These can include:

• Nausea, which is why we ask you not to eat for a few hours beforehand. Anti-nausea medication is available.
• Headache
• Dizziness or unsteadiness
• Temporary increases in blood pressure or heart rate, which we monitor throughout
• Mild dissociative sensations, such as feeling detached or dreamlike

If side effects are uncomfortable, medications may be provided, and patients are closely monitored throughout treatment. Serious adverse events are rare in monitored clinical settings. Because ketamine has misuse potential, we screen for substance use history and never dispense ketamine for home use.

Is IV Ketamine Covered by Insurance?

IV ketamine is not typically covered by insurance, because it is not FDA-approved for the treatment of depression. Most patients pay per infusion. During your consultation our team will go over the cost of a full induction series, any maintenance infusions, and payment options, so there are no surprises.

Two things are worth knowing. First, the psychiatric evaluation that comes before treatment is often covered as a standard office visit. Second, if you are a candidate for SPRAVATO, which is FDA-approved and covered by most plans, we will tell you. For some patients that is the better long-term path, and for others IV ketamine is the right bridge while SPRAVATO or TMS authorization is pending.

Call (678) 861-6463 to discuss pricing and options for your situation.

IV Ketamine vs. SPRAVATO vs. TMS

GBH offers all three of the leading interventional treatments for treatment-resistant depression. They are not interchangeable, and many patients are candidates for more than one. Here is how they compare.

Not sure which is right for you? Read our comparison of TMS therapy vs. SPRAVATO, or book an evaluation and we will walk through all three together.

Why Choose Georgia Behavioral Health for IV Ketamine in Norcross

• Psychiatrist-led, not a ketamine-only clinic. Every patient is evaluated and followed by a board-certified psychiatrist who can also prescribe, adjust medication, and refer to therapy. Dr. Khurana is an Atlanta Magazine Top Doctor for General Psychiatry in 2025 and 2026.
• All three interventional options under one roof. IV ketamine, SPRAVATO, and TMS are all offered here, so the recommendation is based on what fits you, not on the one tool a clinic happens to have.
• Honest about off-label status and cost. We tell you up front what insurance will and will not cover, and when a covered alternative might serve you better.
• Continuous monitoring. Vital signs and wellbeing are tracked for the full visit, with staff immediately available at all times.
• Convenient location. 4720 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Suite 4101 in Norcross, minutes from Peachtree Corners, Duluth, Johns Creek and Suwanee, with parking on site.
• Care in English, Korean and Spanish. 한국어 진료 가능합니다. Se habla español.

Ketamine and TRD Resources