Ketamine Infusion - Depression

Mike_J · Aug 12, 2014 at 08:08 AM

Does anyone have any experience with this in a clinical setting? I have done a bit of research on it online. Seems like something that could help a lot of people suffering with depression

Aug 12, 2014 at 08:11 AM

Yes, it seems ketamine could be helpful for some people. I'm very frustrated with how slowly the psychiatric community moves with regard to trying new treatments.

NowhereUSA · Aug 12, 2014 at 08:51 AM

i've said this before, but i would absolutely try this if i could afford it!

Altered Moment · Aug 12, 2014 at 02:25 PM

I have heard some pdocs are using it. Now they have a nasal spray so you don't have to go in for shots. If my fetzima poops I will be begging to try it.

vans1974 · Aug 12, 2014 at 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike_J

Does anyone have any experience with this in a clinical setting? I have done a bit of research on it online. Seems like something that could help a lot of people suffering with depression

Idk who you'd contact, but I heard back in June, from my friend, who's a pdoc at a psych ward in Utah, it was possible to still get in, I think it was phase 3, of the clinical study in Colorado. Best of luck and keep us posted. Ketamine's cousin is supposed to be incredible as well! My friend said we won't see much great stuff coming out for about 3 years still, but who knows! Have you taken the Genesight psychotropic test?

http://assurexhealth.com/products/

jjm51 · Aug 14, 2014 at 05:22 PM

i had a ketamine infusion done at uc san diego. i also tried intra-nasal ketamine. both did not work for me.

i mentioned this in the 'other treatments' section here.

but, it does seem to work for some.

i look at ketamine as another drug failure. nothing more or less. i would not discourage anyone from trying it. but, i think the real hope lies in what vans1974 said. new drugs are coming. hard to be patient when you are trying all sorts of things.

i think/hope as mental health awareness (and money is to be made!) becomes more of an issue, more and better treatment will come.

i'm even trying 'deep' tms right now.

not sure it's working, but even if it doesn't i need to remind myself to be patient and keep fighting.

also; ketamine, even at the low dosage they are infusing, snorting, or even intramuscular shots can be problematic to physical health. mostly deteriorating your bladder. not good.

sigh.

i don't want to take anybody's hope away. i just wanted to respond to the op's question.

john

vans1974 · Aug 15, 2014 at 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjm51

i had a ketamine infusion done at uc san diego. i also tried intra-nasal ketamine. both did not work for me.

i mentioned this in the 'other treatments' section here.

but, it does seem to work for some.

i look at ketamine as another drug failure. nothing more or less. i would not discourage anyone from trying it. but, i think the real hope lies in what vans1974 said. new drugs are coming. hard to be patient when you are trying all sorts of things.

i think/hope as mental health awareness (and money is to be made!) becomes more of an issue, more and better treatment will come.

i'm even trying 'deep' tms right now.

not sure it's working, but even if it doesn't i need to remind myself to be patient and keep fighting.

also; ketamine, even at the low dosage they are infusing, snorting, or even intramuscular shots can be problematic to physical health. mostly deteriorating your bladder. not good.

sigh.

i don't want to take anybody's hope away. i just wanted to respond to the op's question.

john

Sorry to hear John, you've obviously been through much hell! I have had treatment resistant bipolar depression, but meds will work for about 3 months then I need a tweak in my cocktail. I'm sure you're aware, but they'll finding that the SNRIs don't poop out that often at all, and I've felt some relief with Fetzima from my mental torment! Also, Latuda worked wonders for a few months as well, and Lithium seems to be augmenting the Fetzima slightly as well right now. Have you tried ECT? I've seen countless numbers of patients benefit from it within 3-4 treatments. I'm sure you know, it has like at 98% rate of effectiveness rate for treatment resistant depression. I did 9 treatments and it did nothing but impaired my short term memory. Also, there's always VNS as I'm sure you know John. Or like one of my buddies said, medical marijuana works wonders for his. Best of luck John!!!

jjm51 · Aug 15, 2014 at 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vans1974

Sorry to hear John, you've obviously been through much hell! I have had treatment resistant bipolar depression, but meds will work for about 3 months then I need a tweak in my cocktail. I'm sure you're aware, but they'll finding that the SNRIs don't poop out that often at all, and I've felt some relief with Fetzima from my mental torment! Also, Latuda worked wonders for a few months as well, and Lithium seems to be augmenting the Fetzima slightly as well right now. Have you tried ECT? I've seen countless numbers of patients benefit from it within 3-4 treatments. I'm sure you know, it has like at 98% rate of effectiveness rate for treatment resistant depression. I did 9 treatments and it did nothing but impaired my short term memory. Also, there's always VNS as I'm sure you know John. Or like one of my buddies said, medical marijuana works wonders for his. Best of luck John!!!

thanks so much for your reply.

first, i used to sell van's tennis shoes 30+ years ago when i was in college.

not sure that is why you picked you nick, but i thought i'd toss it out there. loved that job. i also had some 'custom' ordered vans that were pretty cool. and! black flag (the band) would buy their vans from our store. all good stuff.

thanks for the suggestions on meds, treatments. i actually had ect. it worked, but did not last. i also tried medicinal marijuana. took me to a bad place. gotta love california.

as i said, i'm currently doing 'deep' tms. it is a pretty new treatment. it seems like i am getting some relief. i am half-way thru the 'acute' part of treatment. and then, like ect, you do a taper and/or maintenance. it is much less invasive then ect.

i will be bummed if i do not get some true relief from this current treatment. but, there is plenty of stuff to try still. and, more things are coming. just as you also mentioned. i am willing to keep fighting and hoping.

thanks again for your reply to my post.

john

vans1974 · Aug 16, 2014 at 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjm51

thanks so much for your reply.

first, i used to sell van's tennis shoes 30+ years ago when i was in college.

not sure that is why you picked you nick, but i thought i'd toss it out there. loved that job. i also had some 'custom' ordered vans that were pretty cool. and! black flag (the band) would buy their vans from our store. all good stuff.

thanks for the suggestions on meds, treatments. i actually had ect. it worked, but did not last. i also tried medicinal marijuana. took me to a bad place. gotta love california.

as i said, i'm currently doing 'deep' tms. it is a pretty new treatment. it seems like i am getting some relief. i am half-way thru the 'acute' part of treatment. and then, like ect, you do a taper and/or maintenance. it is much less invasive then ect.

i will be bummed if i do not get some true relief from this current treatment. but, there is plenty of stuff to try still. and, more things are coming. just as you also mentioned. i am willing to keep fighting and hoping.

thanks again for your reply to my post.

john

Hey John,

No problem! Thank you for your response! Yeah, I just love Vans so I just chose that name. So sorry that nothing's worked for you..hopefully TMS will stick and have lasting effects! Best of luck John!

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Anonymous100125 Guest Posts: n/a	Aug 12, 2014 at 08:11 AM #2 Yes, it seems ketamine could be helpful for some people. I'm very frustrated with how slowly the psychiatric community moves with regard to trying new treatments.
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NowhereUSA Magnate Member Since Jun 2014 Location: Somewhere Posts: 2,490 10	Aug 12, 2014 at 08:51 AM #3 i've said this before, but i would absolutely try this if i could afford it! __________________ “It's a funny thing... but people mostly have it backward. They think they live by what they want. But really, what guides them is what they're afraid of.” ― Khaled Hosseini, And the Mountains Echoed
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