Ketamine treatments

@spluck ,
Any updates since the therapy that you can share?
Thank you!

@mandrake70 ,
Any updates that you can share since your last post re: esketamine

To the best of my knowledge, only one facility in my city offers Spravato. It has exceptionally bad reviews. Won't go near the place. Other offices my general area are difficult for me to get to. (I don't drive.) The private practices that offer Spravato are high end, don't accept Medicare and charge in the vicinity of $600USD cash just for an evaluation to determine if one is a candidate. I've given up any hope I had of getting Spravato.

@clutch Still going strong with the treatments every three months. I do still feel a drop off towards the end and I went almost four months which, looking back, was a mistake. Three seems to be a magic number for ketamine IV. I did find out that there is some hope for insurance covering the IV treatments in the future. We will see what happens there. My Flex account does cover the costs so there is some benefit there.
Life has improved some and I can say I am handling things much better with the ketamine. Still a lot of issues with work and the divorce but all and all, doing much better.

Hello. I'm new to this forum. I'm actually relieved to find this group, so I hope you don't mind if I share my story.
In 2006, I was diagnosed with cancer and after the surgery, I had a psychiatrist and 3 med students waiting for me in recovery. Anticipating that I was going to have a major depressive crash, they were there for support. The opposite occurred. I didn't come out of anesthesia struggling to breathe, feeling that I was dying, in terror-- as was the usuall norm after previous. procedures.

I felt good...happy!

In reviewing my records, we found out that Ketamine had been part of the anesthesia.
So, for years, we waited to see when Ketamine would be approved for treatment resistant depression.

In July 2019, I was the first person to blaze the trail at the REMS clinic in Fayetteville NC. I went into the project with an open mind and cautious optimism.
Titration took several months and once I was at the therapeutic level--84 mg of Spravato, maintenance was right around the corner...I felt good...happy!...more than just functional.

Since 1988, I have been prescribed more than 20 meds from the arsenal of anti depressants and their relatives... even a novel med--Neudexta...I also received ECT. With the latter, my MD expected that I would need 12 treatments . After 6, he discontinued them. His response, when I asked "Why?" was, "I'm not getting the results I anticipated"

I was getting a bonus result from Spravato--no suicidal ideations...what a relief!

Then, after my last treatment in January, I found out that as of 1/1/2020, without any warning, Spravato was removed from Tricare's formulary...a total shock...but because the bulk of the titration was completed, the $100.00 copay was going to be manageable, plus I have Medicare and private insurance...Then in March 2020, my provider stopped providing the REMS program.

I was left high and dry while searching for another provider...encountering the anti-Medicare wall ...and then COVID.

I actually experienced "remission" of my depression for almost 6 months...
BTW, I don't rely just on medication...body, mind, spirit...

I found an REMS provider in Benson, NC. Transportation is a great inhibitor.80 miles round trip...and at this point, titration would revert to twice a week== $800.00 monthly co pay...

So, I'm hanging in there...God Bless Us Everyone!

@audriana , thank goodness you found a provider. I'm in eastern NC, too. Would you please share the name of your provider with us? Thanks and good luck with your maintenance therapy.

I did find a provider, but ironically, I could not access their services due to logistics.
NO transportation, NO treatment... you need a designated driver.

I haven't had a Spravato treatment since March 2020.

@clutch , I'm really glad to share the info with you:
Please contact
Andrew Blum, Head Clinical Pharmacist
919-894-5787
Eastern Carolina Medical Center
Benson, NC

I had stage III breast cancer. The head dr afterwards for follow up asked how I was doing w my depression meds. I’ve been on them since 1989 and had every combo since then. He was doing trial w Ketamine. I was up to try, although was slightly hesitant bc of prior documentaries about hallucinations. He said this is much less and controlled.
I had to go to compound pharmacy and they weren’t fast or consistent.
My experience was that it made me weepy all day. Remember I was going through chemo or maybe was on to radiation, but the crying was too much. I wasn’t sad, I just cried or felt like crying.
I decided to stop. Only used it for a couple months. Maybe could have waited longer, but decided I didn’t want to go through extra meds and hassle of compound.

@audriana ,
Yes, I see now. You found a provider but without transportation, it wasn't feasible. Maybe you could ask family or a friend, or even a transportation service? I guess it all depends on how valuable the treatments are to you, especially with the high co-pays.
I am familiar with the Medical Center at Benson, but was wondering who is actually giving treatments at that facility? I assume the pharmacist that you mentioned is the initial contact person? Thank you for the information and I wish the best for you.

Yes, Andrew Blum is your contact person. He supervises the administration of Spravato.
Vyas Pantai, MD is the physician.
Yes, Spravato was an asset and my life improved beyond measure intrinsically...but reality is, I am restricted
Not poor enough, thank God, to receive financial assistance
Medicare is primary, BCBS-secondary,
Tricare--smh

In Fayetteville, I did have support from family, friends, neighbors...I could have walked 1.8 miles to get there...I still needed a designated driver at "discharge"...
80 miles round trip & three hours to wait...that's a great expectation from someone

Thanks for your feedback. Yesterday, I called Pinehurst---No follow up from them, yet.