How to Safely Take Ketamine: Best Practices for At-Home Ketamine Therapy

Your Session Guide

At-home ketamine therapy combines clinical effectiveness with personal comfort. But "at home" doesn't mean unstructured. Following proper protocols is essential for safety and optimal results.

This guide walks you through everything you need to know — before, during, and after a session.

Before Your Session

Fasting

Fast for at least 6 hours before your session. This improves absorption and significantly reduces nausea risk. Clear liquids are fine up to 2 hours before.

Medications

Review your medication list with your provider well before your first session. Some medications may need to be adjusted or timed differently. See medication safety with ketamine for details.

Environment

Create a calm, comfortable space:

• Quiet, dimly lit room
• Comfortable bed or reclining chair
• Eye mask and headphones ready
• Calming music queued (classical, ambient, or curated playlists)
• Phone on airplane mode

Critical safety rule: No hot tubs, bathtubs, swimming pools, or bodies of water. Coordination is significantly impaired during a session.

Peer Supervisor

A trusted sitter must be physically present throughout your session. This person should be sober, aware of what to expect, and able to contact your provider if needed. This is a mandatory safety requirement, not optional.

Health Monitoring

• If you have hypertension, check your blood pressure before, during, and after the session
• If you have respiratory concerns, use a pulse oximeter to monitor oxygen levels

During Your Session

Timeline

Key Guidelines

• Remain in bed during peak effects — your coordination is impaired
• Keep eyes closed and stay still to reduce nausea
• Let the experience unfold without trying to control it
• Your peer supervisor should remain nearby but doesn't need to interact unless you need help

After Your Session

Immediate Aftercare

• Rest and hydrate
• Do not drive or operate machinery for the remainder of the day
• Eat a light meal when you feel ready
• Avoid making important decisions or having serious conversations for several hours

Integration

The hours and days following a session are when the real work begins. Your brain is primed for new pattern formation — this is the window for integration.

Supportive practices:

• Journal — Write down anything that surfaced: thoughts, images, emotions, realizations
• Reflect — Sit quietly with what you experienced before returning to routine
• Move gently — A walk, stretching, or yoga
• Connect — Share insights with a therapist, trusted friend, or your clinical team

Building a Routine

Most treatment plans follow a structured schedule:

Your provider will adjust this based on your individual response and goals.