Spravato

if you don't mind me asking what three anti-anxiety meds are you on ? I am on 150mg zoloft, 300mg serequel and .5mg klonopin 3 X a day

I take Klonopin 1 mg as needed, buspar 15 mg x3, and hydroxyzine 100 mg x2.

I think I'm going to try seroquel. I took it years ago, but I think the dosage was too high. I'm hoping it will help with my insomnia.

I was told being on a benzo is not a good when getting ketamine

True. I'm not taking it currently though. They told me not to take the klonopin at all while undergoing the treatments if I could help it. They also told me not to take any of my other anti-anxiety meds or my adderall on the days that I have an infusion. The only meds I take on those days are my anti-depressants. They said that helps. They also gave me magnesium supplements, its believed to boost the ketamine.

I also quit smoking weed while I'm doing this simply because it's never been studied to see if pot and ketamine react to each other. Better safe than sorry.

How do you feel today ? When do you do the spravsto ?

I'm up to 80 micrograms (I think its micrograms) which I think is the maximum dosage. It literally took all day for the numbness to wear off completely. It's weird when you cant tell if you're touching your own face.

I feel better. Calmer and more relaxed. My depression is nearly gone now.

I was given the option of taking Spravato or doing the infusions. The doctor said Spravato was much easier - it's a nasal spray instead of an I.V. , but not as effective and required more dosages. In the end, I chose to do the infusions, for several reasons.
All the research is using straight up ketamine. Spravato is similar to ketamine, but not exactly the same. That was the reason for my decision.

hows your anxiety ?

A little better, but not much. That's why I decided to keep going with the infusions for another 3 weeks, only once a week instead of twice. It should improve after that. I'll give it a few weeks to see if there's any improvement. When I read through the packet they gave me at the clinic, it stated that it works for anxiety as well as depression, ptsd, and ocd. Personally, I think it takes more infusions when you're symptoms are as severe and acute as mine are. According to the packet, the more serious your condition, the more infusions you will need. I'm okay with that. Now I'm used to it, so it's not scary anymore.

Today I go for my eighth infusion.

Right now my personal life is a mess, but even with that I am seeing improvement.

I'll report my experience later.

I'm getting more and more comfortable with it. This was my second booster, as maintenance treatments are called, and I'm happy to report that I came out of it feeling like a whole new person.

I was pretty anxious and depressed because of personal problems when I went in but I came out calm as a cucumber and very clearheaded. Again, it just makes you so [I]AWARE[I] of everything. It's like, your body and brain are so anesthetized that you can't help but let go and be at peace as you "fall" into the ketamine and just go where your mind takes you. It's quite the trip.

I suppose I should mention it causes severe nausea in some people although I haven't had that problem myself.

I should also mention the importance of a protein in your brain called BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) and how to raise yours. There are many ways to do this. Intense exercise (I do), intermittent fasting or caloric restriction (I need to do better at this one), cut diwn on all refined sugar and saturated fat (I totally suck at this one), Vitamin D in the form if sunlight (I do), Curcumin - a supplement (nope), drink only green tea (I do), Omega 3 fatty acids ( I eat fish), Resveratrol, a supplement (nope), Lose any excess weight (uh-oh - I've gained 8 lbs since starting the infusiond), SSRI's (I take), and stay socially engaged - don't isolate yourself, it's very important to consistently raise your BDNF levels using as many of these suggestions as possible to improve your results.

Also, I was given magnesium supplements at the clinic. I only take the ones they give me instead of buying the drug store stuff - better quality at the clinic. I started taking 1 100mg caplet a day. Now they want me to start taking two a day at bedtime. The magnesium is vital to the success of the treatment, btw.

I'm sure there's more to tell, and as I learn new things I will post here.

Thanks to everyone who reads this thread. If it helps even just one person, my work here is done.

Werewoman, thanks for the update. My friend is scheduling me to attend a consultation at a ketamine clinic near me and I am so SCARED. What if it does not work ? What if it makes me worst ? Will I have to go for boosters for the rest of my life ?

My depression/anxiety is bad right now I think about ending my life all the time, nothing is going to work I have got my hopes up so many times with no good results. I am so down I can't even take care of myself - life just hurts all the time.

Sorry for being a downer but I am glad it is helping you !

You sound EXACTLY like me before I did the ketamine infusions. Lol!

I was convinced it wouldn't work and all I wanted to do was die just to make the pain stop. Ketamine takes you to a place where nothing hurts. I swear it feels like it is anesthicizing your soul. Now that I'm not afraid anymore, I relish each time because it just feels so damn good to be completely numb. Please at least try it. You should feel different after the first infusion, but don't expect to feel a real difference until after your third or fourth time. Since the last one, my anxiety is finally improving.

Seriously, do it. There's no reason to think it won't work for you too.

(((((HUGS)))))

WW

My consultation is scheduled for this coming Wednesday - I am so scared !

Did you have to stop your anxiety medication completely for these infusions ?

I will be the angel on your shoulder when you go for your consult, okay?

I only had to abstain from buspar and hydroxyzine on infusion days. I was highly advised not to take my klonopin at all during the three weeks of initial infusions, although Dr. Dathorp assured me they will give you medication for your anxiety if you need it. Some people get nauseous so they'll give you meds for that, too. I never needed either one. It was HARD going without my klonopin, though it's gotten better. I only take it PRN anyway.

Try to relax if you can. One thing I did that really helped was I bought a weighted blanket and some lavender essential oil. When I relax under the blanket with the lavender it helps a lot, too.

Good luck and keep us posted. If you have any more questions, don't be afraid to ask.

Werewoman, went to my consultation today, my first infusion is next Tuesday - I am trying to keep my hopes up but I am basically hopeless and scared.

How are you doing ?

I was hopeless and scared too. Ketamine is a dangerous drug and I had to keep reminding myself that no matter how intense it got, I would not die as long as I remained conscious. The dosage they give you is miniscule compared to what is used for surgery. There's no chance it can kill you. I suppose if you're allergic it might, idk.

I am about to turn 58 in a couple of months and I am planning out what I want to do for the rest of my life. I want to learn how to train PTSD dogs for veterans. I'm just waiting to see if my social security disability goes through so I can afford the training.
Prior to ketamine, I was so suicidal I had a constant death wish. Now I hope I live to be 100 just so I can see what life is really like without debilitating depression.

I now see my life in two ways, "The Before Time" and "The After Time". The time before ketamine came in to my life and all the changes afterward.

Hang in there. You are stronger than you know.

(((((HUGS)))))

WW

I was very worried about you since it took you several days to respond, my high anxiety caused those feelings so I was just scaring myself.

I am really worried about my first infusion, thank you for your kind words of encouragement !

((((HUGS))))
AllIHaveIsHope

P.S. sounds like you have a great outlook on life now, is this from the treatments ?

Most definitely it is due to the infusions. I have a much brighter outlook on life than I did before.

Had my first infusion today and I felt wonderful during it but since it has now worn off I feel basically the same maybe a tad calmer. I have the second one this Thursday and the doctor is going to up the dosage, he always starts at the normal dosage on the first one but increases it throughout the remaining 5 for a total of 6 infusions, then the booster protocol begins.

Werewoman, what's your booster protocol now ?

Today I did my third booster. I chose to do one booster a week for three weeks after the initial six simply because I still had a lot of anxiety even though my depression was much better. My anxiety was so bad, I walked around with what felt like an elephant on my chest before the ketamine. Now I still have some tension, but I'm a lot calmer.

I didn't notice any change after the first one either. It's different for everyone, but by the third one I realized I was feeling better. It kind of sneaks up on you.

I'm impressed that you are doing this. It's not easy, but it's not bad either.