When depression continues despite medication or therapy, considering another treatment can feel hopeful and overwhelming at the same time. VIVA Ketamine Infusion Center of Milwaukee provides medically supervised IV ketamine care for adults at our Brookfield clinic, beginning with a consultation to discuss whether it fits your situation.
Ketamine for depression is an off-label treatment, meaning it is used for a purpose outside its FDA-approved labeling. It may be considered for some people whose depression has not improved enough with established care. You do not need to decide whether to begin infusions before your consultation.
When Depression Has Not Improved Enough
You may want to discuss ketamine if depression continues to affect your daily life despite established treatment, or if medication side effects have made care difficult to continue. A consultation is a place to review those experiences, not a commitment to begin infusions. Your provider considers your symptoms, treatment history, and overall health before making a recommendation.
Our consultation looks at what you have tried and what happened during that care. Bring the names of medications, how long you took them, any benefits or side effects, and relevant therapy history. You can also describe what depression makes hardest in daily life, even if that feels difficult to put into words.
IV ketamine is different from esketamine nasal spray, which has separate FDA-approved uses and treatment requirements. The FDA’s off-label guidance explains why an approved medication may be considered for another use and why a discussion of alternatives and risks matters.
Progress can mean more than how you feel immediately after an infusion. Changes in sleep, motivation, difficult thoughts, and the ability to manage daily tasks can help you describe your experience over time. Improvement is not guaranteed, so it is also important to share side effects or a lack of change.
Depression Care at VIVA
Consultations are available with Jodi Dreier, FNP-BC, APNP, and Denise Kuhaupt, FNP-BC, APNP, both board-certified family nurse practitioners with ketamine experience. Dr. Alex Beugelsdijk serves as medical director for ketamine and mental wellness.
At our Brookfield clinic, infusions take place in a private setting with medical supervision. Your provider reviews your health history, prescriptions, previous mental health care, and goals before determining whether treatment is appropriate.
If the idea of an infusion makes you nervous, there is room to talk about that before you begin. We provide a private setting and medical supervision, and you can ask what sensations to expect or how to tell the provider if you feel uncomfortable.
You deserve to understand what happens after treatment, too. Before beginning, discuss how and when your response will be reviewed, whom to contact with concerns, and how decisions about further appointments are made. If you have an existing prescriber or therapist, talk through how infusion care would fit with that care. VIVA provides infusions and does not provide counseling or psychotherapy.
What Happens Before & During Treatment
If you proceed, you will receive preparation instructions based on your appointment and health history. Do not stop prescribed medication on your own. Tell your provider about pregnancy or breastfeeding, other diagnoses, substance use, and supplements as part of the screening process.
Ketamine is delivered through an IV while medical providers monitor your vital signs, comfort, and response. You may experience changes in perception or a detached feeling, sometimes called dissociation. Nausea, dizziness, sedation, and blood-pressure changes are among the possible effects your provider will discuss.
The infusion commonly lasts about 40–60 minutes, with additional preparation and recovery time. Arrange for a responsible adult to drive you home, and follow the clinic’s instructions about activities afterward. Our infusion FAQs explain more about the appointment experience.
The schedule and any later appointments depend on the clinical assessment and your response. Discuss costs before beginning and ask when the plan will be reassessed, especially if you notice little improvement or unwanted effects.
Take the Next Step With VIVA
Exploring ketamine for depression in Milwaukee starts with understanding your options, not having every answer ready. We welcome questions about prior treatment, the infusion experience, and whether this care belongs in your broader plan.
Book a consultation online at VIVA Ketamine Infusion Center of Milwaukee, located at 12625 W. Burleigh Road, Suite B, in Brookfield. For appointment questions, contact VIVA or call 262-999-8482. If you need immediate help to stay safe, seek emergency care rather than waiting for a routine appointment.
