Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tripsitter.Clinic?
TripSitter.Clinic is a consultative virtual clinic & telehealth platform that connects prospective patients to a licensed physician who can evaluate prospective patients for a prescribed treatment program of low-dose, oral ketamine medication. Our network of physicians are happy to consult and coordinate your care with your Primary Care Physician (PCP) if you are approved for treatment.
TripSitter.Clinic is not your Primary Care Physician and requires each prospective patient to provide their PCP’s information to us during the initial intake process. We are part of an emerging wave of consultative medicine that prioritizes patient access and quality of care while leveraging a world-class platform of remote diagnostic and patient monitoring.
What is Ketamine and how does it work?
Ketamine was created in 1956 and approved for medical use in the United States in 1970 by The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It was extensively used as a surgical anesthesia in the Vietnam War and continues to be utilized today in a number of medical applications.
Due to its outstanding safety record and low side effect profile, Ketamine has been a marvel of the medical world, studied extensively, and proven as a powerful therapeutic in providing both immediate and sustained relief in patients with depression, generalized anxiety, other forms of anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as some chronic pain conditions.
At low, therapeutic doses, ketamine produces shifts in consciousness that can help neurons rebuild lost connections allowing individuals to view their own patterned behavior with a renewed clarity, broaden awareness, and suppress networks in the brain responsible for producing persistent and obstructive thoughts. It has an excellent success rate among mental health and chronic pain patient populations.
Is this legal and safe?
Yes and yes. While non-anesthetic applications of ketamine are classified as “off label” or “generic” by the FDA, what this means is that ketamine is both legally and medically permitted for use in patients by the direction of a licensed physician. Concerns about individual patient safety are mitigated by our medical screening process. During treatment, the most common side effects include dissociation, dizziness, and nausea however these side effects often lessen as the patient undergoes subsequent treatments. One of the unique qualities of ketamine is that it is well tolerated among a broad population and causes no serious adverse effects in patients when administered in low, therapeutic doses.
Who is eligible for this therapy?
Ketamine treatments are safe for the majority of individuals. Those suffering from the debilitating effects of Depression, Anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Bipolar Disorder, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder can receive tremendous benefit from ketamine therapy. Individuals with a history of psychosis and schizophrenia, however, are a poor fit for this particular therapy due to medical contraindications and will not be approved for treatment during the screening process.
Who are your physicians?
Our network of physicians are state licensed medical practitioners. Each provider comes to us with experience in the field, expertise in ketamine protocols, and a passion for broadening access to this breakthrough in mental health treatment. They are all real people with real practices who you will engage with throughout your treatment journey.
Who are your Tripsitters?
Our network of Tripsitters has trained on our strict safety protocols and is dedicated to providing our patients with attentive, supportive, and safe monitoring during their treatment sessions. Every individual hired has been screened and has passed employment background check that includes national, state, and local databases.
What will I experience during a treatment session?
Every patient’s psychedelic experience is different. There are however some commonalities among a significant portion of patients. Short-term dissociation is a predictable effect; defined as a feeling of detachment from yourself combined with altered perceptions. This is often described as a point of experiential clarity when the patient is engaged in deep thought processing. Many patients find the dissociative aspects of ketamine therapy to be a profound and calming event. Others are less comfortable with the dissociative effects of ketamine but mitigate some of the unwanted side effects through the wearing of a sleeping mask and fully relaxing their body.
When treatment day arrives, you are connected to a Tripsitter who will support you to have a safe and meaningful experience. The patient is also advised on establishing an ideal treatment environment for the full 60 minute duration of the session. In general, patients fall into a vivid state of relaxation with the option of engaging with light, non-disruptive stimulus (music, video) so that they are able to focus on their journey and their own thoughts.
Can I function normally after treatment? What about the next day?
It varies from patient to patient however you likely will be able to go about the rest of your day post-treatment with relative normalcy with the exception of operating a vehicle. You should feel completely fine the next day after a full night’s sleep.
How often will I be able to consult with my physician?
Patients are encouraged to request a monthly check in with their prescribing physician in order to discuss how their treatment plan is progressing. At the conclusion of the patient's subscription plan, you will need to meet with your physician to determine next steps and continued treatment.
How much does it cost?
Introductory pricing starting at $599 per month which includes the cost of medication. Subscriptions are charged monthly. You may cancel anytime. A $50 fee is charged for your initial physician consultation. If the physician determines that ketamine therapy is not an appropriate treatment for a prospective patient, the $50 physician assessment fee is not refundable.
Are these treatments covered by insurance?
Ketamine therapy for any mental health condition is considered “off-label” and not covered by both commercial companies and government administered plans (Medicare, Medicaid, TriCare, etc). As such, patients are expected to cover the costs of their treatments.
What is the difference between oral ketamine and intravenous (iv) ketamine?
Tripsitter Clinic administers ketamine as an oral tablet that is ingested by the patient dissolving the medication under their tongue. The range of doses which we administered are all considered therapeutic and thus, low-dose. Generally, oral ketamine patients require more frequent treatments (anywhere from 4-12 per month). The recovery period after an oral ketamine treatment is generally shorter than any other form of ketamine therapy. Oral ketamine is generally the most cost effective treatment option.
Intravenous (IV) ketamine therapy is administered in a saline within a fluid bag and slowly infused over several hours. Treatment occurs at an outpatient clinic and are generally split into two periods: the stabilization period and the maintenance period. The stabilization periods requires anywhere from 4-6 infusions within a two week range. The maintenance period requires less frequent treatments and can range anywhere from one to four treatments per month thereafter. The recovery period after an IV ketamine infusion is the longest of any other forms of ketamine therapy. Ketamine infusion therapy is among the least cost effective treatment options, costing anywhere from $400-900 per individual infusion.
Do you offer any other psychedelic therapies besides ketamine?
Currently, we only provide ketamine-assisted therapy in the treatment of depression, anxiety, ptsd, ocd, and bipolar disorder. Our clinical team has been closely following the clinical trials and developments regarding other psychedelic therapeutics such as psilocybin and mdma. We hope to be able to provide additional modalities of psychedelic therapy with the passage of local and federal laws that would decriminalize such substances and allow for “off-label” medical applications.
How do I get started?
Please visit this page to register and download our app to begin your journey!
I'm a current patient. How do I schedule a treatment session with a Tripsitter?
Click on the "Patient Portal" tab at the top of this page. You will then be asked to log into your account before scheduling your treatment session.
How can I contact Tripsitter.Clinic?
Give us a call (toll free) at (240) 589-5946
Send us an email at [email protected]