Ketamine for chronic pain

Posted by ckeys @ckeys, Sep 3, 2019

My pain doctor recently prescribed ketamine as an adjunct to my pain management. Has anyone had experience with this? It has to be compounded and you inhale it through a nose spray. Since it’s compounded there is not much info on side effects so I’m curious about other’s experiences.

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@pepper2019 Ketamine Clinics really need to keep an eye on your drip rate and how you are doing. The one I go to has heart/bp monitors, a camera on you, and checks a few times at the start to make sure the drip rate is right. I feel for your friend. I know when I first started the treatments I would go from one extreme of emotion to another, depending on the session. I had someone come in to sit with me during one session because my heart rate had gone up. They got me settled down and then went back to monitoring the others. Now the treatments, 3 months apart, are just relaxing and sometimes euphoric.

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@teetee7

Hello to all! I wanted to share a little of my Ketamine experiences. I was prescribed the Ketamine nasal spray (compounded at an apothecary) over 3 years ago. It is mild and it takes a little while to "build up" in your system. It seems to take the edge off the beginning stages of a migraine and also takes the edge off of my Small Fiber Neuropathy. I haven't had any bad side effects with the nasal spray. You will start off at a couple of sprays a day and then you gradually titrate yourself up, to more sprays a day, not exceeding the dosage you are prescribed.

I just started the Ketamine Infusions, in April of this year, for my chronic pain and widespread neuropathy. They are nothing like the Ketamine nasal spray - no comparison whatsoever. I am prescribed the Ketamine Infusions from my pain management doctor and my Neurologist approved of them, as well. I first started with 3 infusions on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday (every other day for the first 3 infusions). After the first three infusions, you will go by how well your body responds to them and how long it takes for your pain to return. Once your pain starts to come back (usually 2 weeks or more after your 3rd infusion), you then go back and receive a "booster" infusion. The relief can last well beyond 2 weeks and you then return for any "booster" infusions. For chronic pain and Neuropathy, the infusions are 2 hours long. You will need a driver to take you home after each infusion. I hope this sheds a little light for everyone. Best wishes to everyone. I hope to post again, real soon!

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Hi there, wondering if you could give me your experience in how to go about working with my doctor to get a ketamine nasal spray prescription to a compounding pharmacy in AZ. I also have small fiber neuropathy, but my neurologist is not informed about the benefits of ketamine. Do you have a specific clinic or doctor you could recommend? Thanks so much

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I tried it to the tune of $100. for a small (nasal spray) bottle. Didn't do a thing for me, but then nothing has helped so far. Good luck!

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@biomedeng @wheelerma The neurologist I went to for headaches blamed them on ketamine. I said it must be powerful stuff for it to cause the headaches before I ever started it. He checked his charts again and realized that he had seen me a year before I started treatments. I am seeing a different neurologist now, one that has done his research. There are a lot of reports on ketamine that you can search and print out for your doctor to review. The problem is there aren't any full on clinical trials for ketamine because it isn't worth it for a generic drug. This means you have doctors that won't listen to the evidence of people who say it has worked for them. The nasal spray has been reviewed and is a "new" drug but it uses just one of the molecules of ketamine, not both like the IV so it may or may not help you. Still, it is covered by insurance where the IV isn't at this time so it is probably worth a shot. Best wishes you both find something that helps.

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I was told by my Psychologist to check into the nasal spray. I did and was really shocked of the lack of knowledge and what it really is. It’s called esketamine, allegedly a pure form of Ketamine (Spraveto). You have to have someone drive you there and session is 2 hours long, and someone has to pick you up. I asked why, I was told because it is a form of anesthesia. Wow, A requirement to start the program requires you be on an antidepressant,can’t take Adderall 1 day before an appointment, can’t eat or drink before a session. Xanax and Klonopin makes the nasal spray less effective. First 4 weeks you have to go two days a week. Start you with 56 mg and up to 84 mg, depending on the patient. No blood work or work up prior and that was shocking. Initially pushed through for authorization for Vets with depression and PTSD in 2019 and against recommendations from many experts in the military,due to lack of studies. A small group in small trial,revealed some commited suicide after a few sessions. Nevertheless, still pushed through and the manufacturer is Johnson & Johnson . This information I was told as I contacted a recommended clinic in Tampa. No way, and shocking. Do your homework on these alleged treatments and how everyone is different and other conditions known or not known about and how this stuff can create more damage

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@fatsfat

I was told by my Psychologist to check into the nasal spray. I did and was really shocked of the lack of knowledge and what it really is. It’s called esketamine, allegedly a pure form of Ketamine (Spraveto). You have to have someone drive you there and session is 2 hours long, and someone has to pick you up. I asked why, I was told because it is a form of anesthesia. Wow, A requirement to start the program requires you be on an antidepressant,can’t take Adderall 1 day before an appointment, can’t eat or drink before a session. Xanax and Klonopin makes the nasal spray less effective. First 4 weeks you have to go two days a week. Start you with 56 mg and up to 84 mg, depending on the patient. No blood work or work up prior and that was shocking. Initially pushed through for authorization for Vets with depression and PTSD in 2019 and against recommendations from many experts in the military,due to lack of studies. A small group in small trial,revealed some commited suicide after a few sessions. Nevertheless, still pushed through and the manufacturer is Johnson & Johnson . This information I was told as I contacted a recommended clinic in Tampa. No way, and shocking. Do your homework on these alleged treatments and how everyone is different and other conditions known or not known about and how this stuff can create more damage

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I tried the Kettamine nasal spray and it didn't do a thing but cost me $100! I think think what you are talking about is probably and infusion type of treatment. I would be wary too. The only thing I can think of is desperate pain for desperate measures.

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@mandrake70

@biomedeng @wheelerma The neurologist I went to for headaches blamed them on ketamine. I said it must be powerful stuff for it to cause the headaches before I ever started it. He checked his charts again and realized that he had seen me a year before I started treatments. I am seeing a different neurologist now, one that has done his research. There are a lot of reports on ketamine that you can search and print out for your doctor to review. The problem is there aren't any full on clinical trials for ketamine because it isn't worth it for a generic drug. This means you have doctors that won't listen to the evidence of people who say it has worked for them. The nasal spray has been reviewed and is a "new" drug but it uses just one of the molecules of ketamine, not both like the IV so it may or may not help you. Still, it is covered by insurance where the IV isn't at this time so it is probably worth a shot. Best wishes you both find something that helps.

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My insurance didn't cover it.

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@wheelerma

I tried the Kettamine nasal spray and it didn't do a thing but cost me $100! I think think what you are talking about is probably and infusion type of treatment. I would be wary too. The only thing I can think of is desperate pain for desperate measures.

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No, it was the nasal spray as the provider I was referred to only does the spray and only very recently started providing it. They do not do IV Ketamine at all and only did Electric Shock Therapy for over 20 years. Do believe I did my homework on this before it was recommended and I was quite shocked and thought it had to be the Ketamine IV treatment but, nope. Nasal spray.
I use to get Myers infusions at a totally different place and I figured it would be kinda like this. So, just a warning and ask the right questions for anything ordered,recommend because lots of bad things going on and many profiting from our desperate need for help. Really pathetic

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@wheelerma

My insurance didn't cover it.

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It’s important to remember that insurance is not your friend. They pay as little as possible, always. Your health is more important to you than it is to insurance carriers, so please don’t regulate your health needs based on what your insurance covers.

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Hello. Has anyone tried Ketamine IV therapy for pain? We're looking into it for my husband. If you've tried the therapy, what was your experience?

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