For some people, depression lingers despite multiple medications and months of therapy. Cura Mind and Wellness offers intravenous ketamine, a carefully monitored treatment for treatment resistant depression, available in Richmond, TX and supported through telehealth across the Houston metro. Care is led by Vivian Emuobe, MSN, BSN, APRN, PMHNP BC, a board certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with experience in complex mood care and program leadership.
Our approach is clinical and compassionate. We use evidence informed protocols, a licensed medical setting, continuous monitoring, and structured follow up so patients receive a safe experience and a plan that supports lasting change.
What IV ketamine is, and how it works
Ketamine has rapid acting properties on glutamate pathways. In carefully controlled doses, delivered by intravenous infusion, it can increase synaptic activity in brain regions that regulate mood and cognition. Many patients report reduced suicidal thinking, lighter mood, and improved engagement with therapy within days, sometimes hours, after early infusions.
IV administration allows precise dosing and real time adjustments based on response and side effects. Unlike daily antidepressants that require steady ingestion, ketamine is given as a series of brief treatments, then supported with maintenance plans and behavioral strategies.
Who may be a candidate
IV ketamine is considered when depression has not responded to standard care, or when side effects, interactions, or medical factors limit traditional options. Candidates may include adults who have:
- Tried two or more antidepressants without adequate relief,
- Persistent symptoms that limit daily function or therapy progress,
- Severe episodes with suicidal thoughts that require faster acting support,
- Co-existing anxiety or trauma symptoms that remain resistant.
Readiness, safety, and support systems are essential. We discuss expectations carefully so patients and families understand benefits, risks, and responsibilities.
Safety first, screening and safeguards
Not every patient is appropriate for ketamine. We complete a structured evaluation that reviews diagnosis, past treatments, medical conditions, and current medications. We screen for factors that may require caution, uncontrolled hypertension, significant cardiac or respiratory illness, active substance misuse, pregnancy, certain psychotic disorders, or untreated mania.
On infusion days, patients are monitored continuously for blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, comfort, and mental status. Side effects are typically short lived, lightheadedness, nausea, or dissociation, and resolve as the infusion ends. A responsible adult must drive the patient home, and patients avoid important decisions until the next day. Informed consent is reviewed in advance, privacy is protected, and questions are encouraged at every step.
The treatment journey, step by step
- Consultation and preparation: We confirm eligibility, align goals, and review what success would look like, for example, fewer intrusive thoughts, better sleep, renewed motivation. We outline the protocol and plan integration with therapy and medication management.
- Infusion series: Most patients complete an acute series over several weeks. Each IV infusion lasts about 40 to 60 minutes, with observation afterward until the patient is stable and comfortable. Many notice shifts by the second or third session, others change more gradually.
- Measurement and adjustment: We track mood, sleep, energy, and function with brief tools, then adjust timing or dose within safe ranges if needed. If adverse effects occur, we pause, reassess, and proceed only when safe.
- Consolidation and maintenance: If the series produces benefit, we plan maintenance with less frequent infusions, or transition to other supports. The decision is individualized, based on durability of response, preferences, and practical considerations.
- Aftercare and support: Patients leave with a written plan, hydration and rest guidelines, red flags to watch for, and a scheduled follow up. The next day often includes a therapy session or skills review to capture insights while neuroplasticity is elevated.
Therapy, medication, and ketamine work better together
Ketamine can lift mood quickly, therapy builds the habits that keep gains. We coordinate psychotherapy, CBT methods, trauma informed strategies, behavioral activation, and relapse prevention skills so improvement does not fade. Medication management continues as appropriate, sometimes with lower doses or simplified regimens. The aim is not only symptom relief, it is returning to work, relationships, creativity, and routine with more stability and confidence.
Access across Houston, infusions in Richmond
Evaluations and most follow ups can be completed by secure telehealth anywhere in Houston, while infusions occur in our Richmond setting. The location is convenient to Sugar Land, Katy, Missouri City, and Fort Bend County, which reduces travel burden during an intensive treatment phase. If needs change, care transitions smoothly back to standard outpatient services within the same practice.
What results to expect, and when
Responses vary. Some patients feel lighter within 24 to 72 hours, with improved sleep and reduced hopelessness. Others notice gradual gains through the series. Maintenance plans extend benefits for many people, especially when therapy and daily routines are consistent. We are careful to set realistic expectations, celebrate gains, and adjust when progress stalls.
Frequently asked questions, IV ketamine in Houston and Richmond
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No. IV ketamine delivers racemic ketamine by infusion in a monitored setting. Esketamine is a nasal formulation with different protocols. We discuss which option fits your needs.
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Many people feel relaxed or detached, some notice brief changes in perception. A clinician is present the entire time, and effects fade shortly after the infusion ends.
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Common effects include nausea, dizziness, and temporary dissociation. These are usually mild and brief. We prevent and treat side effects as needed and monitor until you are stable.
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Often no. Some medications are continued, others are adjusted for safety. We coordinate changes carefully and always explain the plan.
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Some patients maintain improvement for weeks to months after a series. Maintenance infusions or ongoing therapy can extend benefits. Results vary, so we measure and adapt.
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No. You will need a responsible adult to take you home. Plan to rest for the remainder of the day and resume normal activities the next day unless instructed otherwise.
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Coverage differs by plan and indication. We review options, medical necessity, and out of pocket scenarios before scheduling.
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In a medical setting with controlled dosing, screening, and monitoring, the risk of misuse is minimized. We avoid treatment if active substance misuse is present.
Why patients in Houston choose Cura Mind and Wellness for IV ketamine
- Experienced leadership, direct oversight from a board certified psychiatric nurse practitioner with inpatient and outpatient background,
- Integrated care, ketamine fits within a complete program that includes therapy, medication management, and, when helpful, TMS,
- Clinical safeguards, licensed setting, medical monitoring, clear protocols, and informed consent,
- Personalized planning, dosing and scheduling aligned with history, goals, and responsibilities,
- Local access, infusion services in Richmond with telehealth support across the Houston metro.
A new path forward
If standard treatments have not been enough, IV ketamine at Cura Mind and Wellness may provide the opening you need. With careful screening, monitored infusions in Richmond, and integrated follow up across Houston, our aim is rapid relief that leads to durable change. When you are ready, we will help you evaluate the option, prepare well, and move forward with clarity and support.