Medically reviewed by Anand Thakkar, MD. Last updated: October 9, 2026.
Evaluated and supervised by Anand Thakkar, MD · Board certified in Internal Medicine (ABIM) · 15 years of experience · Lincoln Park clinic, about 10 miles from Evanston
IV ketamine therapy Evanston patients are seen at our Lincoln Park clinic, 2707 N Halsted St in Chicago, about 10 miles south. There is no Bliss MD office in Evanston. Dr. Anand Thakkar first evaluates whether ketamine is appropriate for you, and a physician is on-site for every infusion. The first step is a free 15-minute discovery call.
This page explains who asks about ketamine, how the process works and what an infusion day involves. The general overview is on our IV ketamine therapy page.
In crisis right now? Call or text 988 (the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). In an emergency, call 911. IV ketamine is scheduled outpatient care, not emergency treatment.
From Evanston to Our Lincoln Park Clinic
The clinic sits on North Halsted Street in Lincoln Park, around 10 miles from the Davis Street Metra station. Most people drive down Ridge Avenue and Clark Street or take Lake Shore Drive, usually 20 to 30 minutes outside rush hour. South Evanston and Rogers Park are a little closer.
Your existing doctors stay yours when you start IV ketamine therapy. Evanston patients often already have care nearby. If your primary care or psychiatric care is through Evanston Hospital or a private practice, keep those relationships. Infusions are given at both of our clinics, so Evanston patients can have every session in Lincoln Park. Plan for someone to drive you home afterward.
IV Ketamine Therapy Evanston Patients Ask Us About
People usually contact us after other treatments haven’t brought enough relief. The conditions we’re asked about most are:
- Depression that hasn’t improved with standard treatment (often called treatment-resistant depression)
- Severe anxiety
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Bipolar disorder, after a careful physician evaluation
- Suicidal thoughts, after a careful physician evaluation and with crisis support in place
If you’re having thoughts of suicide right now, call or text 988, or call 911 in an emergency. A diagnosis alone doesn’t make someone a candidate. Dr. Thakkar looks at your history, what you’ve already tried, your medications and your overall health before recommending anything. The National Institute of Mental Health has a clear overview of depression and its standard treatments.
An honest note on approval: ketamine is FDA-approved as an anesthetic. IV use for depression, and for other mood and anxiety conditions, is off-label; the FDA has not approved ketamine for any psychiatric disorder. Spravato (esketamine nasal spray) isn’t given in our clinics, though Dr. Thakkar can prescribe it when appropriate.
How IV Ketamine Therapy Evanston Care Works
- Free 15-minute discovery call. Tell us what’s going on and what you’ve tried.
- Evaluation with Dr. Thakkar. A full assessment of whether IV ketamine is appropriate for you.
- A personalized plan. Standard but personalized: the dose is typically 0.25 to 0.5 mg/kg by IV, adjusted to you, and treatment usually starts with 2 sessions per week.
- Infusions with a physician on-site for every session, with observation afterward.
- Regular follow-ups to track progress and adjust the plan when needed.
Be open during the evaluation about high blood pressure, heart or breathing problems, bladder symptoms and any past alcohol or drug use. The FDA lists blood-pressure increases, slowed breathing, bladder symptoms and misuse among ketamine’s known risks, so this history shapes whether, and how, IV ketamine therapy Evanston care goes ahead.
What an Infusion Visit Is Like
You’re prepared for the infusion in a calm, comfortable room. Ketamine is given through an IV, and a physician is on-site for every infusion. A session typically runs 45 minutes to an hour, and you should allow extra time before and after. You can’t drive for the rest of the day, so bring someone who can take you home.
After the infusion, you’re observed until you’re steady. Short-lived dizziness or nausea can happen. Ketamine can also cause sedation, dissociation (feeling detached from your surroundings) and a rise in blood pressure, which the FDA lists among its known risks. That’s why IV ketamine therapy Evanston patients receive it only in a supervised clinical setting, never at home. Some people notice improvement within hours to days of the first infusion; responses vary, and not everyone responds.
Ketamine Is One Part of Care
Bliss MD takes an integrative, functional medicine approach. Alongside IV ketamine therapy, Evanston patients are encouraged to keep up the basics that support mood: regular meals, movement, sleep and stress practices such as mindfulness, meditation or yoga.
Keep seeing your therapist or psychiatrist, and don’t change any prescription without talking to the doctor who wrote it. Ketamine may open a window in which other treatment works better; it isn’t meant to replace that treatment.
IV Ketamine Therapy Evanston FAQs
Is there a Bliss MD office in Evanston?
No. Evanston patients have their evaluation and infusions at our Lincoln Park clinic, 2707 N Halsted St in Chicago, about 10 miles south. Infusions are also given at our Hanover Park clinic.
How do I know whether ketamine is right for me?
Only after a careful physician evaluation. Dr. Anand Thakkar reviews your history, current treatment and medications, and he’ll tell you honestly if ketamine isn’t a good fit.
What dose is used, and how often are sessions?
The approach is standard but personalized: typically 0.25 to 0.5 mg/kg given by IV, adjusted to you. Treatment usually starts with 2 sessions per week, and Dr. Thakkar adjusts the schedule as you respond.
Can I drive myself home after an infusion?
No. You can’t drive for the rest of that day, so arrange for someone to bring you home.
Is IV ketamine FDA-approved for depression?
No. Ketamine is FDA-approved as an anesthetic. Using it by IV for depression is off-label, and the FDA has not approved ketamine for any psychiatric condition.
Do you offer Spravato?
Spravato (esketamine nasal spray) isn’t given in our clinics, but Dr. Thakkar can prescribe it when it’s appropriate for you.
Do you take insurance?
We don’t bill insurance, because care here is individualized precision medicine. HSA and FSA funds are accepted, and financing is available through CareCredit.
Take the First Step
Book a Free 15-Minute Discovery Call
A short, private conversation about what you’ve been through and whether an evaluation makes sense. We don’t bill insurance; HSA/FSA and CareCredit financing are accepted. You can also reach us at (630) 289-0440.
Our Two Clinics
For IV ketamine therapy, Evanston residents are closest to Lincoln Park. Hanover Park is about 30 miles west, close to 50 minutes away. Learn more about Dr. Thakkar.
Lincoln Park Clinic (nearest to Evanston)
2707 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614
Call (630) 289-0440 · Directions in Google Maps
Hanover Park Clinic
1802 Irving Park Rd, Hanover Park, IL 60133
Call (630) 289-0440 · Directions in Google Maps
Sources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Compounding Risk Alerts (see “FDA warns patients and health care providers about potential risks associated with compounded ketamine products…”, October 10, 2023). fda.gov
- National Institute of Mental Health. Depression. nimh.nih.gov
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. 988lifeline.org
Educational information, not medical advice. Individual results vary. Ketamine is not FDA-approved for any psychiatric condition.
