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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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jaythomp | @jaythomp | Feb 18, 2020

I have been using a Rx cream that contains ketamine/lidocaine/gabapentin in a compounded topical cream for neuropathic pain. It seems to really take the edge off in conjunction with medical marijuana and lyrica. I also occasionally use Nucynta IR for breakthrough pain. This really seems to be effective for me. I was previously using methadone/morphine/fentanyl for this pain. I ended up in hospital in withdrawal after my body basically rejected this medication protocol. Thank goodness for small miracles as I'm now opiate free other than the odd dose of Nucynta.

REPLY
2 replies
Mentor
Rachel, Volunteer Mentor | @rwinney | Feb 18, 2020
In reply to @jaythomp "I have been using a Rx cream that contains ketamine/lidocaine/gabapentin in a compounded topical cream for..." + (show)
@jaythomp

I have been using a Rx cream that contains ketamine/lidocaine/gabapentin in a compounded topical cream for neuropathic pain. It seems to really take the edge off in conjunction with medical marijuana and lyrica. I also occasionally use Nucynta IR for breakthrough pain. This really seems to be effective for me. I was previously using methadone/morphine/fentanyl for this pain. I ended up in hospital in withdrawal after my body basically rejected this medication protocol. Thank goodness for small miracles as I'm now opiate free other than the odd dose of Nucynta.

Jump to this post

Great news for you! Very glad it's helping. Thanks for the info. -Rachel

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Mentor
Rachel, Volunteer Mentor | @rwinney | Feb 18, 2020
In reply to @bluegirl0 "I've been having ketamine infusions for Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD) and PTSD for over a year..." + (show)
@bluegirl0

I've been having ketamine infusions for Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD) and PTSD for over a year now. Initially, I had to have 6 infusions in 2 weeks at $495 each, then I went monthly. Now I get compounded oral sublingual ketamine 150mg which I take every other day and this sustains me for quite a while. I went on TV with my doctor and he gave me a freebie. Now he knocked the price down to $450. I'm going for a booster tomorrow. It saved my life. I've been reading that some people have infusions for pain. I don't know why insurance won't pay for that since ketamine is used for pain. It's only off-label for depression I thought. I'm trying to find a way around these big payments since I live on SSDI. My credit cards are getting maxed. My idea was to see if my pain management doctor would do muscular injections and if that would be paid by insurance. The nasal spray doesn't work. I would recommend a book called "The Ketamine Papers" - Edited by Phil Wolfson,MD and Glenn Hartelius, PhD. Tons of information. I'm also searching for clinical trials.

Jump to this post

It's wonderful that you've found better relief. Unfortunately out of pocket cost. Thanks for sharing insight. - Rachel

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Mentor
Rachel, Volunteer Mentor | @rwinney | Feb 18, 2020
In reply to @jaythomp "I have been using a Rx cream that contains ketamine/lidocaine/gabapentin in a compounded topical cream for..." + (show)
@jaythomp

I have been using a Rx cream that contains ketamine/lidocaine/gabapentin in a compounded topical cream for neuropathic pain. It seems to really take the edge off in conjunction with medical marijuana and lyrica. I also occasionally use Nucynta IR for breakthrough pain. This really seems to be effective for me. I was previously using methadone/morphine/fentanyl for this pain. I ended up in hospital in withdrawal after my body basically rejected this medication protocol. Thank goodness for small miracles as I'm now opiate free other than the odd dose of Nucynta.

Jump to this post

May I ask where your pain is located? As far as cream application.

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leftylucy | @leftylucy | Feb 18, 2020

left leg, quads, hamstrings, calves ----- dull cramping pain, worse when I sit.

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Rachel, Volunteer Mentor | @rwinney | Feb 18, 2020
In reply to @leftylucy "left leg, quads, hamstrings, calves ----- dull cramping pain, worse when I sit." + (show)
@leftylucy

left leg, quads, hamstrings, calves ----- dull cramping pain, worse when I sit.

Jump to this post

Thanks

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txsmo | @txamo | Sep 29, 2020

Does ketamine help your chronic pain?

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bustrbrwn22 | @bustrbrwn22 | Sep 30, 2020
In reply to @bluegirl0 "I've been having ketamine infusions for Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD) and PTSD for over a year..." + (show)
@bluegirl0

I've been having ketamine infusions for Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD) and PTSD for over a year now. Initially, I had to have 6 infusions in 2 weeks at $495 each, then I went monthly. Now I get compounded oral sublingual ketamine 150mg which I take every other day and this sustains me for quite a while. I went on TV with my doctor and he gave me a freebie. Now he knocked the price down to $450. I'm going for a booster tomorrow. It saved my life. I've been reading that some people have infusions for pain. I don't know why insurance won't pay for that since ketamine is used for pain. It's only off-label for depression I thought. I'm trying to find a way around these big payments since I live on SSDI. My credit cards are getting maxed. My idea was to see if my pain management doctor would do muscular injections and if that would be paid by insurance. The nasal spray doesn't work. I would recommend a book called "The Ketamine Papers" - Edited by Phil Wolfson,MD and Glenn Hartelius, PhD. Tons of information. I'm also searching for clinical trials.

Jump to this post

@bluegirl0 so ketamine is legal to prescribe for pain? I thought it was just a trial
Drug for depression. Any side effects?

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lioness | @lioness | Oct 1, 2020

@Ive been reading all these post on Katemine but don't drive so guess I,ll have to look elsewhere

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wheelerma | @wheelerma | Oct 14, 2020

My doctors say they don't know what Ketamine is. Comments?

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