For your first esketamine (Spravato) or ketamine session, plan to bring a ride home, comfortable clothes, headphones if you like music, and something to drink for afterward. Lumin Health now gives every new patient a welcome kit with an eye mask, a notebook and pen, a travel cup, and a canvas tote.
Your Packing List for a First Ketamine Treatment Session
Most of what you need is simple. But a first session is a new experience for almost everyone, and knowing what to pack takes one small worry off the list.
- A ride home. You won't be able to drive yourself after a session. With esketamine, that holds until the next day after a restful night's sleep, so arrange your ride before you come in.
- Comfortable clothes. You'll be sitting or reclining for a while. Layers help, since everyone runs a little warmer or cooler.
- Headphones. Many people like calm music during a session. If you forget yours, we have some on hand.
- Something to drink afterward. Your care team may ask you to hold off on food and drink for a while before your session, and they'll give you instructions for your specific treatment. Having your own cup ready for afterward helps.
- Your time. After a nasal spray dose, we monitor you for two hours or more. Leave space in your day so nothing feels rushed.
For a fuller walkthrough of the day itself, see what to expect at your first Spravato session and how to prepare for your first ketamine therapy session.
Why a Welcome Kit for Your First Ketamine Treatment
Many patients describe the days before their first session as a mix of hope and nerves. They know roughly what to expect. They've read about it and talked it through at their consultation. But most arrive after years of treatments that didn't bring relief, and walking into something new still takes courage.
Our patient team noticed that anticipation in the room and wanted to meet it with something tangible. The idea was simple. On your first day, all you should have to worry about is arriving. We'll take care of the rest.
We were deliberate about what went into it. Rather than a box full of small branded items, we asked the clinical staff who are in the treatment rooms every day which items make a real difference. They picked the eye mask and the tote. We built the kit around those and left out the gift box entirely, since it would only end up as waste.
What's Inside the Lumin Health Welcome Kit
A soft eye mask. A lot of people find a session easier when they can shut out the light and the room around them. Many patients already bring an eye mask for exactly this reason. Now you don't have to remember one. The mask is padded and shaped to rest lightly around your eyes, and at home it can be warmed or chilled.
A notebook and pen. Some people like to write down thoughts, feelings, or questions after a session, while they're still fresh. Others use it to track how they're feeling from week to week, which can be useful to share with your care team. There's no right way to use it, and no need to use it at all.
A travel cup. If your care team asks you to hold off on drinking before your session, it helps to have your own cup ready for afterward. It also comes in handy on the drive home and on the days between sessions.
A canvas tote. Sturdy enough to reuse for years, and big enough to carry everything above plus your headphones and a layer. It's the part of the kit most people will keep using long after treatment.
Making Ketamine Treatment Feel Less Unfamiliar
None of this is the treatment itself. The medicine, the monitoring, and the clinical team around you are what matter most. But the experience of your first day shapes how you feel walking in, and we think careful attention to the whole experience is part of good care.
If you're still weighing whether ketamine therapy or esketamine (Spravato) might be a fit, our guide to how the two treatments differ is a good place to start. And if the nerves are the main thing on your mind, this gentle FAQ for first-time patients walks through the most common worries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to bring my own eye mask to ketamine therapy?
No. New patients at Lumin Health receive an eye mask in their welcome kit, and we keep extras at every location. You're always welcome to bring your own if you prefer it.
Can I eat or drink before an esketamine session?
Your care team will give you instructions about food and drink before your first session. They depend on your treatment, so follow the guidance you're given rather than a general rule.
Can I drive home after ketamine treatment?
No. Plan for someone else to drive you home after every session. After a Spravato session, you shouldn't drive until the next day after a restful night's sleep.
Who receives the welcome kit?
Every new patient starting treatment at Lumin Health receives one at their first session.
