[bos314489]

Does anyone know why you have to be commited to a psych hospital in order to receive a ketamine injection and why it seems so unavailable, expensive and not covered by insurance? I know that it is fairly new but there are proven results that it does work for the short-term in someone dealing with a major depression.

Also I was wondering since there is no way of "measuring" by a blood test the degree of someone's depression, why does someone have to be commited to a psych hospital in order to get this drug. For instance just because I have a job and can still function, why should I be denied this drug? Because someone deems me to be not depressed enough? I have an extremely difficult time functioning in my everyday life but do not have the option to not work. I have just been very depressed lately and my doctor tried me on abilify that had major side effects and did not work and I just feel my meds are not benefiting me and I want to try this ketamine because I am in such a bad way. I also have been trying to get into research studies, etc.

Thanks for reading, any advice would be great

I know someone who had Ketamine and it didn't work. I think there must be some
serious reason for not using it unless the situation regarding depression is virtually hopeless; then it might be helpful. It is given by injection only, I think--I could be
wrong on that, but I believe she was hospitalized for treatment by injections. Very serious venture she indicated--not done locally; she had to travel a long distance to reach a hospital that would take her based on her history, etc.,with depression.

[Travelinglady]

From what I've read, first of all, it has been used as a recreational drug, so maybe it is considered a controlled substance and docs want to keep it away from people's homes.

Also, it is a powerful drug, sometimes used to help maintain the patient's anesthesia during surgery. It works quickly for most people. So I guess it's a fast way to calm patients down. And probably dangerous in the wrong hands for that reason, too.

Those are two ideas I get from reading about it, anyway.

[Anneinside]

It can cause hallucinations and hasn't been approved by the FDA for use in depression. It is still in trials to evaluate it's safety and effectiveness. The effects wear off in a couple of days so it is no cure. It knocks you out, being an anesthetic, so that means an anesthesiologist along with the psychiatrist and nurse have to be present. They have to be on cardiac monitors and be given oxygen. They will need to be under observation afterwards, just as people who have had surgery have to be in a recovery room for awhile after coming out from under anesthesia. In short, it is not ready to be given out as an outpatient drug.

[Speed3]

I had 11 Ketamine infusions this fall. They were done in an outpatient surgical center. The infusions are done through an IV and pump. The amount of ketamine given over 30 minutes is based on your weight. Ketamine is an anesthetic, although in these infusions it is a small dose and you don't lose consciousness totally.

A nurse is in the room the whole time the infusion is going. You are hooked up to a heart monitor, BP cuff, oxygen monitor. Ketamine can make your blood pressure rise.

For me I always felt like I was outside my body and felt like I was drifting down a river. It wasn't an unpleasant feeling.

I had six initial treatments. They took away my depression very quickly. The problem is the results of ketamine don't last that long. That is why it is still experimental. It will probably never be mainstream. But there is a new med in Phase 3 clinical trials based on the action of ketamine in the brain. This drug will be revolutionary. They are saying it will be the biggest breakthrough in psychiatry in 5o years.
I had 5 maintenance treatments. The longest one infusion lasted for me was about 5 days. I would still be doing them but I ran out of money. They cost 400 dollars a treatment.

IF you live near Philadelphia I can give you info on the place where they are done,send me a PM.

[dubblemonkey]

ketamine!

are you kidding?

this tranquiliser is diabolical.

if you want ketamine...then you want to die alive in an unrealistic state of inhuman suspension!

...

here is a simple example...

(and don't believe I'm disregarding your pain!)

...OK...

got my Ketamine

took my ketamine

"can't freaking move!"

time goes on...

"can't freaking move!"

this drug is designed to anaesthetise an animal 8 times your weight and 30 times your power...

are you a freaking horse?

...no..

then forget the Ketamine

[Jolisse]

There are many clinical trials being done on Ketamine and depression. I'm actually trying to get into one now.

[dubblemonkey]

well...lets hope they know what the hell they are doing!?

that stuff is dangerous!..

...and?

seriously...if the answer to depression is being a zombie!

then I would prefer to be depressed....at least I could suicide!

ketamine?

takes away all your PERSON...you aint there no more...

and this might appeal to the depressed in exchange for the abomination of mania and reality!

...why not wait to be a ghost later....!

yes it's accurate the effects of Ketamine low or high transport a human a mind into an alive suspension of potential meaningless...!

but I promise you...after taking that crap??

it only proved to me just how afraid I really was to be that stupidly incapacitated...

the medical system is always in some kind of experimental phase...

if you want to go there and experiment with these idiots?

then good luck!

Ketamine is a mistake

[Speed3]

The Clinical trials having been going on for years. Ketamine works on the glutamate system in the brain. This is an area of the brain that prior to ketamine trails was not looked at.

Severe depression and bipolar depression are lifted within hours. They think this is the sweet spot in the brain. Antidepressants take so long because they have to go through chains and chains of chemical reactions before they hit the glutamate system.

Also, ketamine and the new drugs based on it do not cause mania or cycling.

Some people are caught up on Ketamine as the street drug. That is a shame. In clinical trials and Outpatient Surgical centers that offer it, use a incredibly small dose of it. As I said in my other post, you are monitored the whole time. I wish I had more money the results are miraculous.

They also have been doing ketamine infusions for certain pain syndromes for many years. They do them in the place where I had my infusions.

There is a drug Rilutek that has been around for a long time. It is for Lou Gehrig's disease. It is being used off label for depression and bipolar depression.
It also works on the Glutamate system in the brain. But it is much weaker. They are doing clinical trails on it also.

The supplement NAC, works on the glutamate system also. It must go through more chemical reactions to reach there. It to is much weaker than ketamine.

I have been researching ketamine for about 5 years. This year it hit all the major news media. Like I said before it is not Ketamine itself but the research breakthroughs that have come from it that will be revolutionary.

It won't be too long before the new drug based on hitting the Glutamate System will be available to us.

Have had Ketamine Infusions, I know this new drug will relieve much suffering and prevent many suicides.

[Speed3]

Originally Posted by monkeyman

ketamine!

are you kidding?

this tranquiliser is diabolical.

if you want ketamine...then you want to die alive in an unrealistic state of inhuman suspension!

...

here is a simple example...

(and don't believe I'm disregarding your pain!)

...OK...

got my Ketamine

took my ketamine

"can't freaking move!"

time goes on...

"can't freaking move!"

this drug is designed to anaesthetise an animal 8 times your weight and 30 times your power...

are you a freaking horse?

...no..

then forget the Ketamine

Monkeyman,

In all respect this is not how ketamine is used for depression or bipolar depression. A incredibly small amount is used.

Yes it is an anesthetic, used in hospitals every day usually for children's surgery.It is used in veterinary medicine as well. It is used in the the battlefield and trauma's because it does not depress respiratory function, therefore the patient does not have to be intubated. It has a bad rap as a street drug where the user abuses it and takes a very high dose that cause the symptoms you describe. Any drug can be taken in overdose and cause very bad effects.

[Speed3]

The drug that is in Phase 3 clinical trials, based on Ketamine research is,

AZD6765. If you put it in an Internet search you will get info on it. It does not have an official name yet because it is in the last phase of clinical trials.

[Anika.]

After watching my daughter on ketamine when she was given it so they could manipulate the compound fratures into place before surgery.... I can see why this is done in a clinical setting and not at home. She stayed conscious but she was hallucinating very badly. I am sure it would have been a higher dose than they would use for depression. And she is a child so a bigger reaction likely. She was also kept on oxygen. But I understand why this is not given at home.

Ketamine does have a long standing recreational use and street value.

Also my daughter has no memory of that, she was screaming in tho during the manipulatiin so she did feel it, which seems similar to drug Versed which is also used for medical procedures for its amnesia qualities.

[Speed3]

Yes I was given oxygen during the treatments. Pain paitients who have been getting ketamine infusions longer than people have for depression, are given bigger doses over a longer time. Most of these people tend to hallucinate and are given drugs to abate this.

Also, Ketamine has been proven to repair the brain. Unlike ECT, given in supervised settings, destroys brain tissue. I have permanent brain damage from
Bilateral ECTS..

Again, the take away is not Ketamine but the revolutionary research it spurred. The new drug AZD6765 based on ketamine and in phase 3 clinical trials, does not cause hallucination.

Think of this when comparing ketamine given in an infusion for depression under supervision to someone doing 'special K' on the street...... THe therapeutic dose of lithium can sometimes be very close to to a toxic level which can be deadly.
I have been in the hospital with people who taking their so called normal dose of lithium, for whatever reason, became toxic and very very sick.

I have been researching ketamine for 5 years. When I worked I helped in medical research as system/analyst computer programmer. I am not talking out my arse.

[~Christina]

I think I will pass on Ketamine personally, I havent seen long enough studies to show long term pro's and con's. I hope who does use it has Great results