Do you have experience with ketamine treatments?

Posted by deadpoets @deadpoets, Sep 21, 2016

Does anyone have any experience with ketamine treatments? Either as part of a clinical trial or otherwise?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.

dqg | @dqg | May 5, 2022

In reply to @audriana "I have been receiving Spravato since November 2021. Ask me. I will be as objective as..." + (show)

Thank you for your support. Could you tell me a little about the number of treatments you had the first month or two. Then how many times do you go after that?
Do you feel it has helped with depression and anxiety?
Do you also take meds and if so what do you take?
Right now I am in a very bad place and have been going downhill the past six months. I take wellbutrin 150 And geodon 20. I don't think it's helping at all.
I have contacted another psychistrist and explained to him how limited I am.
Don't want to see people, Don't want to go out even to the supermarket. He says this treatment will help me because the drugs I'm taking are not working.

I don't know anything about Ketamine and I am afraid to commit to these treatments until I learn more. Also do you have to have these treatments for the rest of your life?
Any and all information you can send to me would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for helping

bcool123 | @bcool123 | Jul 1, 2022

In reply to @kelster69 "Hi. My depression is intolerable right now. I started ketamine infusion therapy last August. It helped..." + (show)

My counselor has suggested looking into ketamine for depression. Has anyone used it and what have your results been? My psychiatrist suggested ECT but it is quite a distance, requires transport three times a week for four or five weeks and expensive. So I’m wondering if anyone has experience with Katamine? Appreciate your input. Bcool123

marjou | @marjou | Jul 2, 2022

In reply to @bcool123 "My counselor has suggested looking into ketamine for depression. Has anyone used it and what have..." + (show)

@bcool123 I did some research on ketamine but quite expensive and not covered under insurance. It also required hospital stay for patient observation. Now I understand that it can be administered in micro doses. So for me it was not a viable option.

bcool123 | @bcool123 | Jul 2, 2022

In reply to @bcool123 "My counselor has suggested looking into ketamine for depression. Has anyone used it and what have..." + (show)

madhouse, I have some more research to do on it too. Thanks for your response. Bcool123

Shirley Hugh-Jesst | @audriana | Jul 2, 2022

In reply to @bcool123 "My counselor has suggested looking into ketamine for depression. Has anyone used it and what have..." + (show)

I have been receiving Spravato treatments--esketamine delivered by nasal spray in a controlled setting. Spravato is not an anti-depressant. It is used with patients who have treatment resistant depression. It is helping to alleviate the suicidal thoughts I take an anti-depressant. In 2018, I took the Genesite test. SSRIs such as Zoloft and 30 more are not effective.
Based on the definition of insanity, my docs kept prescribing SSRIs, expecting a different outcome. NOPE.
We found one in a different class for me that is being titrated verrrrry slowly. I'm experiencing positive results. My rule of thumb now is, "Get me off of one creepy feeling medicine before you start another creepy feeling med."
Talk to your doctor.
I come to my appointments with a list of questions, comments, and concerns.
Be your best advocate.
There are lots of comments on the Spravato discussion.
Here's to your health.

laurine7 | @laurine7 | Jul 2, 2022

In reply to @audriana "I have been receiving Spravato treatments--esketamine delivered by nasal spray in a controlled setting. Spravato is..." + (show)

This is the first I have TITRATE instead of TAPER. I am under the impression that they are different. Does titrate mean to take with a mix of water? Taper does not mix with anything.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jul 2, 2022

In reply to @bcool123 "My counselor has suggested looking into ketamine for depression. Has anyone used it and what have..." + (show)

@bcool123, I moved your post looking for experiences others have had with ketamine for depression to this existing discussion:
- Has anyone tried Ketamine for depression? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/has-anyone-tried-ketamine-for-depression/

I did this so that you can read previous comments as well as the responses you've received from @marjou and @audriana.

You may also be interested in this discussion that @audriana started a little while ago too:
- Questions to ask about ketamine infusions https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/questions-to-ask-about-ketamine-infusions/

Shirley Hugh-Jesst | @audriana | Jul 2, 2022

In reply to @colleenyoung "@bcool123, I moved your post looking for experiences others have had with ketamine for depression to..." + (show)

Thank you @colleenyoung1
@laurine7 ... I responded in detail. When I clicked reply, I got an error. Good sign. My new med was titrated /increased by 25mg last week. My reply failed, but I didn't.
So, here is the bottom line for ME.
I spoke to my doc and told him last year, after 30+ years of psych meds... ( plus other meds)
"I want to stop one creepy medicine completely before I start another creepy medicine. No overlap. My choice. For ME"
●Taper, tapering = decrease slowly to lower dose and/ or discontinue with least # side effects. Some meds cannot be stopped cold turkey.
●Titrate, process of titration (meds mix in bloodstream) = increase dose until we reach the most effective dose with the least side effects.
So, for 6 weeks, late 2021 into 2022, I was tapered off of Med #37 slowly. Discontinued.
No Overlap. Several weeks later, for ME..
Started #38 @ 25mg in February.
Slowly, over time, #38 was increased by 25mg.
June 29, 2022, our titration schedule reached 150mg.
Our goal might reach 200mg and be titrated (increased) by 25mg.
Or, for ME, maybe 150mg will be most effective with least # of side effects.
Taper= weaned off slowly
Titrate= add slowly until we reach the best dose for ME.
Hope I clarified for you.
Hope when I click REPLY...

Shirley Hugh-Jesst | @audriana | Jul 2, 2022

In reply to @audriana "@amandaburnett @dog @clutch Hello! Nov 12, 2021 marked my first treatment in over 2 years. The..." + (show)

@dqg
Wow! I just realized I replied on 5/5/22 w/your wrong handle. I hope you happened to see it because I think I addressed your concerns.
7/2/22, I'm still receiving 84mg Spravato per week. My suicidal ideations, thoughts, plans have decreased.
My antidepressant has increased.
I am feeling "better." As in today, I started an Arts & Crafts Program. I followed through with a grant application and my proposal was accepted. That is a good sign. Wanted to do something--didn't just think about it...no analysis paralysis and now I'm participating.
Spravato is not a miracle drug. I followed it's research for over 5 years as ketamine, Esketamine and now Spravato as the brand name.
In 2006, I was diagnosed with cancer. After the surgery, I did not struggle as I was in the recovery room. I felt bright.
I found out that ketamine was a part of the anesthesia.
One of these days, I'm going to read my ALL my posts and replies for continuity and to see how I've interacted. This month will be a year that I've been sharing on Mayo Connect. There was a dry spell for a while because I couldn't think clearly. The antidepressant I was on was an SSRI & totally ineffective. Then I was on Savella and that was a nightmare. I was having a series of TIAs-mini strokes.
That's when I decided...taper me off of one creepy medicine...NO OVERLAP...and then I was started on a different antidepressant--titrated slowly from 25mg to 150mg.
Hope you're well in Body, Mind & Spirit.
BTW...I had ECT and my doc discontinued it..." not getting the results I anticipated."
For the record, I've been in a discussion about ECT.