Esketamine Therapy for Treatment Resistant Depression: Experiences?

Hi @clutch, I agree it has been a while since people have discussed it.
I'd like to invite @kdo0827, @hopeful33250, and @parus to your post so they might discuss updates with you about their therapy.

Does your doctor what you to start the treatment and continue Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)?

@amandaburnett,
I will be ending the TMS before a trial of esketamine.

Its been a while since I've seen posts related to esketamine therapy. I was wondering if some in the group would update us on their status before, during, or after esketamine? I know @hopeful123 was involved with the therapy 3 years ago or so....others in the group???

I am currently finishing up a second round of TMS. My doc thinks that I may benefit from esketamine now, since the response from TMS has only been minimal, but thankful for that!!

Would really like those that have esketamine experience to chime in here on this new thread and let us know how it's going.

Many thanks!

@hopeful33250 , thank you I will. I was sure hoping some one who had the esketamine therapy would give us updates. Obviously you and @hopeful123 are two different people.. The clinic I get therapy from reports good short-term results, but the relief is not long standing. Still, they have 30 patients on a waiting list to begin treatment!
I would like to hear others' experience with it especially long term results and side effects.

I will be starting intranasal eskatamine in a few weeks as a treatment for treatment resistant depression (TRD). My psychiatrist will combine it with Family Systems Therapy in the second hour after the dosing, for a two hour treatment. In talking to him he said that the FST would be more effective on my TRD than the ketamine. I've read that the Spravato (compounded eskatimine) works a little less than ECT (electro convulsive therapy). So I'm hopeful despite what he says! Are there any others who have been treated this way for their depression. Prior to getting Covid last August (22) I was not depressed, had not been taking antidepressants for several years. Then after Covid the depression hit from out of the blue.

@prn2016, you may wish to check out these discussions on Spravato (esketamine) where @audriana @clutch @intheprocess and others share their experiences.
- Esketamine Therapy for Treatment Resistant Depression: Experiences?https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/esketamine/
- Positive Awareness+ Medical Intervention (Spravato) + Lifestyle https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/spravatoesketamine/

Spravato is not a miracle medication. It's a medication that is combined with an antidepressant, cognitive therapy, and support from my psychiatrist and pharmacist.
I receive Spravato treatments every two weeks. Its component in the therapeutic inter-relationship is that the suicidal ideations have significantly decreased.
SSRIs, for me, were the least effective and exacerbated depression. Having gone back to the drawing board, desipramine is the most effective. It has its drawback--it tears up my stomach. So, I have to make adjustments and accommodations.
One of many things I've learned from my psychiatrist is that anxiety is often manifested first, and then my brain can go into panic, depression, or...kick in new healthy behaviors.
Also, my psychiatrist doesn't just do med checks. I see him every two weeks for monitoring many aspects of my mental health.
On alternative weeks, I engage in talk therapy with my LCSW.
I acknowledge gratitude and appreciation for my team of health care providers-- my inter-relationship with a variety of therapies--and my family members and friends.
I've returned to the classroom as an adjunct professor and I'm teaching a composition course. I thrive on academic stimulation and inter-personal communication.
'If you don't use it, you lose it!"