The Clear Answer: No
This is one question with a straightforward answer. You cannot drive after a ketamine therapy session — regardless of the route of administration, the dose, or how you feel. This applies to IV infusions, Spravato nasal spray, sublingual tablets, and intramuscular injections.
This is not a suggestion or a general precaution. It is a firm safety requirement. Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that affects your perception, coordination, reaction time, and judgment. Learn more about how ketamine works to understand why this restriction is so important. See also what the experience feels like. Even after the most obvious effects have worn off, subtle impairments can persist for hours. Getting behind the wheel after a ketamine session puts you, your passengers, and other people on the road at serious risk.
Why You Cannot Drive
Residual Cognitive Effects
Even after the dissociative experience ends and you feel "back to normal," ketamine continues to affect your brain in ways that impair driving ability:
- Slowed reaction time — Your ability to respond quickly to unexpected situations (a car braking ahead of you, a pedestrian stepping into the road) is reduced for hours after treatment.
- Impaired judgment — You may overestimate your ability to drive safely. This is one of the most dangerous aspects — the impairment itself can prevent you from recognizing that you are impaired.
- Altered depth perception — Ketamine can affect how you perceive distances and spatial relationships, which are critical for safe driving.
- Drowsiness — Many patients feel tired or sedated after sessions. Drowsy driving is nearly as dangerous as impaired driving.
- Reduced coordination — Fine motor control and hand-eye coordination may be diminished.
Legal and Insurance Implications
Driving under the influence of ketamine is illegal. Ketamine is a controlled substance, and having it in your system while operating a vehicle can result in a DUI charge, even if you have a valid prescription. Your auto insurance would also be unlikely to cover any accident that occurred while you were under the influence of a mind-altering medication.
How Long Should You Wait?
The specific waiting period depends on the route of administration and your provider's guidance:
After IV Infusion
Most providers recommend not driving for the remainder of the day — at minimum, six to eight hours after the infusion ends. Some providers advise waiting until the next day.
After Spravato
The FDA specifically requires that patients not drive or operate heavy machinery until after a full night of restful sleep following Spravato administration. This is a regulatory requirement, not just a recommendation.
After Sublingual Ketamine
If you are doing at-home sublingual ketamine, you should not drive for the remainder of the day. Since you are already at home, this is relatively easy to manage. Do not plan any errands or outings that require driving after your session.
After Intramuscular Injection
Same as IV — do not drive for the remainder of the day, and ideally wait until the next morning.
The Bottom Line
When in doubt, wait. If you feel any residual effects whatsoever — drowsiness, slight dizziness, feeling "off" — do not drive. It is always better to wait longer than necessary than to get behind the wheel too soon.
Planning Your Transportation
Since driving is off the table, planning your transportation in advance is essential. Here are practical options:
Ask Someone You Trust
The simplest option is to have a family member, partner, or close friend drive you to and from your appointments. This person can also serve as your sitter during at-home sessions. Having someone you trust nearby during treatment can also provide comfort and reassurance.
Rideshare Services
Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare services are a convenient option, especially if you do not have someone available to drive you. Some patients schedule their rides in advance to ensure availability.
Public Transportation
If you live in an area with reliable public transit and your clinic is accessible by bus or train, this can work. However, keep in mind that you may feel drowsy or slightly disoriented after your session, so having someone with you is ideal. If you take public transit alone, make sure you are feeling stable enough to navigate safely.
Clinic Transportation Programs
Some ketamine clinics offer transportation assistance or can recommend local services that help patients get to and from appointments. It is worth asking your clinic about available resources.
Plan Ahead
Do not leave transportation planning for treatment day. Before your first session, confirm:
- Who is driving you or how you will get there
- What time you need to be picked up (or when to schedule your rideshare)
- A backup plan in case your primary transportation falls through
Other Activities to Avoid
Driving is the most commonly discussed restriction, but there are other activities you should avoid after a ketamine session:
- Operating heavy machinery or power tools — Anything that requires alertness and coordination is off-limits.
- Making important decisions — Your judgment may be affected. Hold off on financial decisions, legal agreements, or major life choices until the next day.
- Caring for others unsupervised — If you are a caregiver for young children or elderly family members, arrange for someone else to take over those responsibilities for the rest of the day.
- Cooking with open flames — This may sound overly cautious, but drowsiness and impaired coordination near a stove can be dangerous.
- Drinking alcohol — Combining alcohol with the residual effects of ketamine is unsafe and can worsen impairment.
- Taking additional sedating medications — Unless specifically instructed by your provider, avoid benzodiazepines, sleep aids, or other sedating substances on treatment days.
What to Do Instead
Treatment days can actually become a welcome opportunity for rest and self-care. Read our full guide on preparing for treatment for more tips. After your session, consider:
- Resting or napping
- Listening to calming music
- Journaling about your experience
- Light stretching or gentle yoga (if you feel stable enough)
- Reading or listening to a podcast
- Drinking water and having a light, nourishing meal when you are ready
Think of your treatment day as a day dedicated to your well-being. You are investing time and resources in your health — give yourself permission to rest and let the treatment do its work.
Communicating with Your Employer
If your treatment sessions happen during workdays, you may need to address the transportation issue with your employer. You do not need to share the details of your treatment. A simple explanation that you have a medical appointment that requires someone else to drive you is sufficient for most workplaces.
Some patients schedule their sessions for the late afternoon, after work, or on their days off. Others use half-days or PTO. Find the approach that works best for your schedule and responsibilities.
Safety First, Always
The driving restriction after ketamine therapy is not an inconvenience — it is a fundamental safety measure. Planning around it is a normal part of the treatment process, and once you have a system in place, it becomes routine. Your safety and the safety of everyone around you is worth the extra planning.
References
- MedlinePlus: Ketamine Injection — National Library of Medicine drug information on ketamine, including warnings about impaired coordination
- Mayo Clinic: Ketamine (Injection Route) — Mayo Clinic information on ketamine side effects including drowsiness and impaired judgment