Ketamine infusion therapy

When nothing else has worked — this often does.

Ketamine is a rapid-acting treatment that provides relief for up to 70% of patients who have failed numerous other medications. Some feel a difference within hours to days — not the six-week wait of a new prescription.

Monitored by an ACLS-certified RN Major insurance applied
What is ketamine therapy?

A breakthrough treatment, delivered carefully.

Ketamine therapy uses very low doses of a dissociative anesthetic to reduce the symptoms of mental health conditions, including suicidal ideation, treatment-resistant depression, depressive episodes of bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety, OCD, alcohol use disorder, and PTSD. It has been shown to relieve suicidal ideation after even a single dose.

The advantages are real: no daily pill, a side-effect profile significantly lighter than SSRIs and SNRIs, and speed — depressive symptoms often improve within three to four treatments. Maintenance varies by patient, from monthly boosters to as infrequently as once every three months.

The course: six infusions over three weeks, plus one booster infusion around four weeks later. Each session lasts 45–60 minutes.

The science

How ketamine works on the brain.

Ketamine operates on entirely different neural pathways than conventional antidepressants — which is exactly why it can succeed where they failed.

A different mechanism

As an NMDA receptor antagonist, ketamine blocks glutamate binding and also acts on AMPA and opioid receptors — a fundamentally different pathway from serotonin-targeting antidepressants.

New connections

Through the mTOR pathway, ketamine is thought to help the brain create new neural connections, improving neuroplasticity — critical for breaking out of unhealthy, recursive patterns.

Fast and sustained

Relief often arrives within hours or days rather than weeks, and the therapeutic effects appear more profound and sustained for many patients — hope restored quickly, then maintained deliberately.

What to expect

Your infusion, from beginning to end.

Consultation first

We review your overall health and complete a comprehensive mental health screening, so your ketamine treatment is personalized from day one.

Plan your sessions

We schedule your infusion series together. You'll need a ride home — driving isn't allowed for several hours after each session — and you're welcome to bring a family member or friend.

Settle in for 45–60 minutes

You'll be comfortably seated in a lounge chair with headphones for music while an ACLS-certified RN with years of ER experience monitors you throughout.

Recover, then head home

Afterward you'll rest in a recovery area with a spa-like atmosphere while our medical staff checks on you before you leave.

Watch & learn

See it explained by our own team.

Cost & coverage

We fought to make this affordable.

Low-dose ketamine for mental health is still considered "off-label" by the FDA, so most insurance won't pay for it directly — and middle Tennessee clinics typically charge $2,400–$4,000 out of pocket for a six-infusion series.

Insurance applied

We're one of very few clinics that accepts major insurance to offset more than 50% of the cost of treatment — keeping true to our mission of expanding access.

100% VA coverage

Novus is contracted with the VA to bill the full cost of ketamine for service-connected disabled veterans with treatment-resistant depression. Veterans: start here →

Talk numbers with us

Self-pay pricing varies by treatment plan. Call or text (931) 820-0242 and we'll walk through your coverage and options honestly, before you commit to anything.

Common questions

Asked before every first infusion.

How fast will I notice a difference?+
Many patients notice improvement within hours to days of a session; depressive symptoms often improve within the first three to four treatments. Unlike oral antidepressants, you won't wait six weeks to learn whether it's working.
Is it safe?+
Ketamine has been FDA-approved as an anesthetic since 1970 and is used here at far lower, sub-anesthetic doses. Every infusion is monitored by an ACLS-certified RN with years of emergency-room experience, and you're screened by our psychiatric team before starting.
Can I drive myself home?+
No — plan for a ride. Driving isn't allowed within the first several hours after a session. We encourage patients to bring a family member, friend, or spouse along.
How is this different from Spravato®?+
Spravato® is FDA-approved esketamine given as a nasal spray and covered by most insurance plans; IV ketamine is the racemic infusion form, used off-label with flexible dosing. Your provider will help you weigh which fits your situation — learn about Spravato® here.

Ready to feel like yourself again?

Register online in minutes — our team responds the same day. Or just call or text (931) 820‑0242.

In crisis right now? Call or text 988 — the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is free and available 24/7.