Living with chronic pain can be physically and emotionally exhausting, especially when traditional treatments have not provided lasting relief. At TOPS Institute, we offer physician-led IV Ketamine Infusion Therapy in Los Angeles for carefully selected patients with complex chronic pain conditions.
Our TOPS Elite Ketamine Program provides concierge-level care in a safe, medically supervised environment. Every infusion is personally overseen by a dual board-certified anesthesiologist and interventional pain management specialist, ensuring the highest standards of safety, precision, and individualized treatment.
If you’ve exhausted conventional therapies, IV ketamine infusion may offer another option as part of a comprehensive pain management plan.
Ketamine is an FDA-approved anesthetic that has been used safely in medicine for decades. At subanesthetic (low) doses, intravenous (IV) ketamine has been studied as a treatment for certain chronic pain conditions, particularly those involving abnormal nerve signaling and central sensitization.
Unlike oral or intranasal formulations, IV ketamine infusion therapy delivers medication directly into the bloodstream, allowing precise dosing, rapid onset, and continuous physician monitoring throughout treatment.
For chronic pain, ketamine is generally used off-label, meaning it is prescribed based on clinical evidence and physician judgment rather than a specific FDA-approved pain indication.
Ketamine works primarily by blocking N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, which play an important role in pain transmission and central sensitization.
By modulating these receptors, ketamine may help:
Researchers continue to study additional mechanisms through which ketamine may influence inflammation, pain processing, and neural plasticity.
Ketamine infusion therapy may be considered for carefully selected patients with chronic pain conditions such as:
Every patient undergoes a comprehensive evaluation to determine whether ketamine infusion therapy is clinically appropriate.
We focus exclusively on intravenous ketamine infusions, providing the highest level of dosing precision and bioavailability. IV administration allows medication delivery to be carefully adjusted throughout treatment while maintaining continuous monitoring.
Unlike many infusion centers, every treatment is supervised by a dual board-certified anesthesiologist and pain management physician with extensive experience treating complex chronic pain conditions.
This advanced level of physician oversight helps ensure personalized treatment and optimal patient safety.
Patient safety is our highest priority.
During every infusion we continuously monitor:
Our experienced medical team remains with you throughout the infusion process.
Our private infusion suite is designed to provide a calm, comfortable environment throughout your treatment.
From consultation through follow-up care, we emphasize personalized attention, compassionate communication, and individualized treatment planning.
You may be a candidate for IV ketamine therapy if you:
Not every patient is a candidate for ketamine therapy. Our physicians carefully review your medical history, current medications, underlying health conditions, and treatment goals before making recommendations.
Your treatment begins with a detailed evaluation by one of our pain management specialists. We review your diagnosis, imaging, previous treatments, medications, and overall health to determine whether ketamine therapy is appropriate.
Every infusion protocol is customized based on your diagnosis, symptoms, medical history, and response to treatment.
Ketamine is administered intravenously in a carefully controlled medical setting.
Treatment sessions typically last 40 minutes to several hours, depending on your individualized treatment protocol and clinical indication.
Throughout your infusion, our medical team closely monitors your vital signs, comfort, and clinical response while adjusting treatment when appropriate.
After the infusion is complete, you’ll remain under observation until you are medically cleared for discharge.
Our team provides detailed post-treatment instructions and schedules follow-up visits to evaluate your progress and determine whether additional treatments are appropriate.
For appropriately selected patients, ketamine infusion therapy may offer:
Because every patient’s condition is unique, treatment response and duration of benefit vary.
IV ketamine infusion therapy is generally well tolerated when administered in a properly monitored medical setting.
Potential side effects include:
Most side effects resolve shortly after treatment and are carefully managed by our experienced medical team.
Our physicians thoroughly review all risks, expected benefits, and alternative treatment options before therapy begins.
IV ketamine therapy involves administering low-dose ketamine through an intravenous infusion under physician supervision. Although ketamine is FDA-approved as an anesthetic, its use for chronic pain is generally considered an off-label treatment.
Ketamine works by blocking NMDA receptors involved in pain transmission and central sensitization. This mechanism may help reduce chronic neuropathic pain in appropriately selected patients.
Ketamine infusion therapy is most commonly considered for chronic neuropathic pain, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), fibromyalgia, cancer-related pain, and certain chronic pain conditions that have not responded to conventional treatment.
Some patients experience meaningful pain reduction following ketamine infusions, while others experience limited or temporary benefit. Results vary depending on the underlying diagnosis, treatment protocol, and individual response.
During treatment, ketamine is administered through an IV while your blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen levels, and overall condition are continuously monitored by our medical team.
The number of treatments varies by diagnosis and patient response. Some patients benefit from an initial series of infusions followed by reassessment, while others require individualized treatment schedules.
Yes. When administered by experienced physicians in an appropriately monitored medical setting, IV ketamine therapy is generally considered safe. Careful screening and ongoing monitoring are essential.
Temporary side effects may include dizziness, nausea, changes in blood pressure, drowsiness, blurred vision, and dissociative sensations. Our team continuously monitors patients throughout treatment to ensure safety and comfort.
Some patients notice improvements within hours or days following treatment, while others require multiple infusions before experiencing meaningful relief. Individual responses vary.
Patients with chronic pain that has not improved with standard treatments may be candidates. A comprehensive consultation is necessary to determine whether ketamine infusion therapy is appropriate for your condition.
If chronic pain continues to interfere with your daily life despite conventional treatments, IV Ketamine Infusion Therapy may be an option worth exploring.
At TOPS Institute, our physician-led TOPS Elite Ketamine Program combines advanced medical expertise, continuous monitoring, and concierge-level care to provide safe, personalized treatment for complex chronic pain conditions.
Contact us today to schedule your consultation and learn whether IV ketamine infusion therapy is right for you.
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640 South San Vicente Blvd., Suite 389, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Interventional pain management for Los Angeles & Beverly Hills — image-guided care that treats the source, not just the symptom.
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