Depression: What treatment can I try after so many years?

Yes! I had a ketamine infusion when I was inpatient many years ago and it was a game changer!! I didn't realize how depressed I really was until I was on the other side. Unfortunately, the clinic I was going to getting the infusions stopped doing them by infusion and only by injection.. because of insurance or something. The effect wasn't near the same. It didn't help at all.. the depression returned, suicide ideations, crying.. all of it. The only places that I can get the infusions again don't accept insurance. I'm on SSDI and only work part time, so it's out of the question for me. I even tried the nose spray form of ketamine, Spravato.. didn't make much of a difference. I have tried ECT and TMS, too. The only thing that helped was the ketamine infusion. I'm now trying to get Vagus Nerve Stimulation or Deep Brain Stimulation. I've tried everything else.

Thank you for that information. I hope you can find the relief you need. The only option where I am is the nasal spray. It's discouraging to hear it was not effective for you. Wishing you all good things!

Thank you for your encouragement. It could be worse.. I don't have psychosis, hear or see things that aren't there, etc. I have a special friend who lives with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and is in off the chart pain 24 hours a day, so it could be so much worse. Who knows.. maybe the vagus nerve stimulation or Deep Brain Stimulation will help. Peace and blessings!!

Thank you for your encouragement. It could be worse.. I don't have psychosis, hear or see things that aren't there, etc. I have a special friend who lives with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and is in off the chart pain 24 hours a day, so it could be so much worse. Who knows.. maybe the vagus nerve stimulation or Deep Brain Stimulation will help. Peace and blessings!!

Hi @miray67, I encourage you to also join in this discussion:
- Depression and Anxiety at an older age https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/depression-and-anxiety-at-an-older-age/

You ask some great questions about what medications to try after having treated anxiety and depression from childhood to senior years. You said you've taken many. Do you return to medications that worked in the past? Are there better, newer ones to try? How do you work with your doctor instead of changing docs? I'd like to invite a few members who have faced these questions too, like @jimhd @pjss48 @wandasophia @stsopoci @parus and others.

@marjou and @miray67 have either of you considered genetic testing to see what drugs are more likely to work for you?

I've had 2 Traumatic Head injuries and suffer terribly with depression. I've suffered severely since the late 1990s, the 2nd head injury in 1996. I'm medication resistant & haven't found anything that works (I am bipolar, 74 and really need something to hold on to!) Can anyone advise me about genetic testing? My Father's sister had schizophrenia. I am presently taking Lamictal & just started with Remeron/ Mirpazapine (started 1/24) I was successfully taking Zoloft for many years (it worked really well). But I developed Colitus in the Spring, 2021 (one of the primary causes are SSRIs) & had to wean myself off the Zoloft around 9/30/2021. Really crashed with depression around the end of the Fall, 2021. The Dr. I was seeing retired & didn't/ wouldn't return calls or refer me to someone else! So I'm stuck & really do need to function. I am alone & care a bit for my retarded sister. Any ideas? I also believe I have bad hormone problems. At my age I still have "heat problems" somewhat similar to hot flashes. I feel like I'm all goofed up & really need to be completely evaluated. So I ask again about genetic testing, and what about hormone testing? I hope you can help me. Thanks so much for reading this. Take care and God bless you.

Yes! I had a ketamine infusion when I was inpatient many years ago and it was a game changer!! I didn't realize how depressed I really was until I was on the other side. Unfortunately, the clinic I was going to getting the infusions stopped doing them by infusion and only by injection.. because of insurance or something. The effect wasn't near the same. It didn't help at all.. the depression returned, suicide ideations, crying.. all of it. The only places that I can get the infusions again don't accept insurance. I'm on SSDI and only work part time, so it's out of the question for me. I even tried the nose spray form of ketamine, Spravato.. didn't make much of a difference. I have tried ECT and TMS, too. The only thing that helped was the ketamine infusion. I'm now trying to get Vagus Nerve Stimulation or Deep Brain Stimulation. I've tried everything else.

I've had 2 Traumatic Head injuries and suffer terribly with depression. I've suffered severely since the late 1990s, the 2nd head injury in 1996. I'm medication resistant & haven't found anything that works (I am bipolar, 74 and really need something to hold on to!) Can anyone advise me about genetic testing? My Father's sister had schizophrenia. I am presently taking Lamictal & just started with Remeron/ Mirpazapine (started 1/24) I was successfully taking Zoloft for many years (it worked really well). But I developed Colitus in the Spring, 2021 (one of the primary causes are SSRIs) & had to wean myself off the Zoloft around 9/30/2021. Really crashed with depression around the end of the Fall, 2021. The Dr. I was seeing retired & didn't/ wouldn't return calls or refer me to someone else! So I'm stuck & really do need to function. I am alone & care a bit for my retarded sister. Any ideas? I also believe I have bad hormone problems. At my age I still have "heat problems" somewhat similar to hot flashes. I feel like I'm all goofed up & really need to be completely evaluated. So I ask again about genetic testing, and what about hormone testing? I hope you can help me. Thanks so much for reading this. Take care and God bless you.