Ketamine For Depression? (Page 13)
(Newest replies first)

It was recommended by the members of a separate thread that one be started that directly relates to ketamine and it's use to treat depression.

If anyone besides myself would like to discuss it's use as a treatment for depression, feel free to post your questions, answers and experiences here.

This thread is an offshoot of a related one that discussed a treatment of Scopolamine for depression.

REPLY

REPORT

Thank you Iron for your good wishes. I will contact the site to share my email with you. Please do look into the ketamine treatments. This past Monday I received a 4 hour treatment from Dr. Brooks in NYC and again my life was saved and my pain is now tolerable and my mind is at peace again. Came dangerously close to leaving here but Dr. Brooks quick reply to my cry for help gave me the strength not to go through with my plan and wait the two days for the ketamine treatment. It is truly a miracle that I am still here. Last time I tried to take my life I saw a darkness so scary that it had been saving myself. Things had started to get so bad in my personal life that that scary darkness started to look comforting and inviting and much better than staying here and suffering. I know that was pure evil trying to take my soul to eternal hell which there is no co ing back from. For 5 years I have been being abused by my 24 year old daughter physically, mentally and financially. I have tried everything and anything to remove her and also her abusive boyfriend from house. From orders of protection to commitment letter to Adult Protective Services with no results. Finally after being turned down by Legal Aid 3 times I contacted the head of Legal Aid in my county and he is going to help me and she will be served by this Monday. She and the boyfriend have already pretty much destroyed my beautiful home and once she is served I am sure will do much more damage until she is taken out of my home. Only because of the ketamine infusions and all the support I have gotten on here and through facebook groups have I found the strength to fight again and finally get help. My daughter is the one who actually gave me Complex Regional Pain Syndrome or RSD by assaulting me this past January after I was already disabled with MS, Fibromyalgia, PTSD, a brain injury from ECT, with a concussion also from my daughters assault. I'm leaving about 20 other things as to not make this longer than I already have. I consider myself very lucky to have you all here and owe my life also to the people that have gone out of their way to keep me informed and to make me feel cared about. The kindness showed to me is something I will never forget as long as I am on this earth. Much love and blessings to all of you.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Thank you Mark.

To folks for whom Ketamine has worked, are you happy with the use of intranasal route/tabs/capsules/torches indefinitely until booster treatments are needed? Has anybody done some research on the long term use of Ketamine on the liver/bladder? I'm definitely leaning towards getting Ketamine but wanted to know the full spectrum before signing up for it.

Many thanks in advance for your input.

Regards

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Iron, as you can tell I am either passionate about what I am saying or I run off at the mouth a bit. Caiguise is the talented one in here unless MD in Training stops by. Thank you for your kind words and the same back to you. I hate that you or anyone goes through this life not fitting in and feeling good enough. When truthfully we should all want what is rightfully ours and to enjoy those inalienable rights Thomas spoke of in that preamble. I wish you along with anyone that has stumbled down this long road of feelings and I hope you get the opportunity to give ketamine a chance. It was basically prescribed to me as a compounded nasal spray for pain relief yet noticed in a week at the most my depression of many years left me speechless to the point of saying. Wow, is this what the rest of the world feels like most of the time. And all of our lives are very important so do anything you can to investigate what you can regarding some type of treatment protocol that utilizes this. Good luck man, and if there is ever anything any of use can do we are usually here. They say educating yourself makes you over half the way through it. Godspeed man.
take care
mark

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

I've been following this thread for quite some time but haven't posted. I'm happy that caiguise, Mary and Mark are doing well. I pray that you all continue to receive the benefit of Ketamine. I'm a TRD sufferer like you all and am exploring Ketamine as an option having tried a host of antidepressants, ECT and rTMS. I'd like to stay in touch with you all. My e-mail address is {edited for privacy}. Best wishes for a bright depression-free future, Taz.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Dear Caiguise:

Thank you for your reply, I am praying they get your thyroid straightened out real quick. I started to do extremely bad again, with this loss of a dear lifetime friend and my dad being diagnosed with bladder cancer and mom just biopsied for thyroid cancer. I contacted Dr. Brooks and he had me come in for a 4 hour infusion yesterday. Today I woke up a new person again like I did after the previous infusions. It's raining out but the sun is shining in my soul. I had been literally walking around with the supplies I needed to take my life. I threw everything out this morning. I'm tired but I am truly happy I am still here. I thank you with all my heart for the amazing help and hope you have given me. In a way I feel we are lucky people because the world looks so beautiful to me today just looking out the window and know people that have not experienced what we have will take for granted the beauty we are now able to see. I would appreciate if you had the time being able to talk to you more often and more privately. I'm going to try and figure out the directions to share my email adress with you if you wouldn't mind. I feel very connected to you and have great admiration for you also. Will be keeping you in my prayers always, Mary

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Mary,

So glad to hear things are going better. Even if there are down periods in the future, you know that there will also be times when you get back to normal, and that is good. I really hope this treatment proves fully effective, financially viable, and continues to work. The torches/lozenges sound like a great idea, a less expensive route but allowing you to absorb under the tongue or in the cheek.

As for me, I've been discovering the difference between thyroid-related depression symptoms and regular depression ones. My thyroid is on the fritz, so when I take my ketamine some of the symptoms go away, then gradually they return. I started rTMS treatment this week (in the past it has been the only thing more effective than ketamine, and with no side effects). I see an endocrinologist in a week, and hopefully she will get the thyroid/adrenal/pituitary angle solved.

I hope you are able to enjoy the summer, feeling comfortable enough in your skin to go outside and be around people. I always find the grass looks greener when I come out of depression, and I wonder if people who never suffer depression can appreciate those little things the same way.

Best Wishes,
Cai

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Hi Cathy

Thanks so much for your detailed post on your experience with ketamine. I'm currently writing a book on the use of ketamine for depression with the hope of raising funds for further research and I would like your permission to quote you in the book. I'm not sure how best to contact you concerning this so perhaps you can respond on this forum otherwise I am happy for the moderator to give you my address.

Best wishes - Steve

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Dear Mark,

Thank you so much for replying so quickly. In answer to your questions about my infusions. For me personally they last about 6 days. Dr. Brooks who did the infusions in NYC prescribes me the capsules. I also am working with my local pain doctor who treat me for MS, Fibromyalgia, pain from PTSD and my newest Complex Regional Pain Syndrome which happened to me from an assault on myself from my 24 year old daughter last January. My pain doctor came up with the idea of using troches. They are little ketamine candies that are placed under the tongue and absorbed Into your body that way. I find them simply amazing though the dose is still to low and will need to be adjusted. At present I am taking 300mg capsules 3 times a day along with 5 mg troches 3x a day. I still can't disaccociate like during the infusions but also thinking that maybe that is not as necessary as I originally thought as I am no longer in danger of taking my life. Maybe this is as good as it gets without the infusions. I will take the suggestion of using the medication on an every other day trial basis to see if maybe my answer might lie with that protocol. Thank you for that. Btw I live in Rockland County, NY. I am also working with CRPS Partners in Pain who help people get treatments such as the infusions. I am 4th on the list but that could still be some time away. I know others will read this so if someone else is suffering and has Complex Regional Pain Syndrome or RSD, they are not a large charity but they will do all they are capable to do to help you and give you some hope. I also think that besides being a great source of information that these message boards also are a great form of support. In doing that it would help to have the names of known scammers so we can keep it a truly safe place for information and greatly needed support. Thank you again Mark and I am so sorry for your loss. That's a pain I do not know yet and wish you didn't either.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

@caiguise, found myself thinking of you during my prayers. I wanted to update and see how you were doing also. I now have Dr. Brooks and my local pain doctor working together to get me better. The infusions for me last 6 days. Dr. Brooks had increased my capsules and we forgot to order more and I was out for 5 days. I didn't realize that they were working until I went with out. My pain doctor has just added ketamine torches. Little candies you put under your tongue to dissolve. To me these seem to have the best delivery other than an actual injection. I know if I could have a booster I would feel better than this as trying to get to the right dose is tiring. I have to admit though I have not thought about killing myself and my thoughts are not compusively on my pain. I'd like to get the word out to more people like us about the torches. I really think my doctor is onto something with these. I give this site permission to share my email address with you but don't know what their procedure is except for saying that it is ok to do so. Was curious if you are also an artist. Now that I am feeling a bit better my gratitude you and the other that helped me stay alive is eternal. I see Gods purpose in you as I know it is just not me that you have saved and given hope to. You are always in my prayers although I wish I could do more. Your friend, Mary

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hey Mary,

Perhaps I can save you a small amount of research time as that is one avenue I have looked into. The one thing I was curious of from you was how long was it before the infusions wore off. And you said you were followed up with the "pills"? That was the first I had heard about the "pills"? Have you asked your doc about the "nasal spray" that seems to work well, ( at times ) for me. Also, a very smart person in this room told me that if you went say, a day with and a day without the effects would work better. This is sort of true. (for me anyway). As for your question I am not the most educated at what you are asking but unless you can go there from the states and actually "see" what you are getting then I would be "way more" that fearful to try mailing or sending anyone any money. There are more people scamming about this on different sites that it makes me sick. When you think about it they are taking advantage of people just wanting a little better life and "in my opinion" a life that a great deal of folks take for granite each and every day. In my existence my need extends from a pain issue that after a few days of taking it then I realized this cloud of sadness that has been hanging over me since my Father was killed 41 years ago. I am sorry to hear of your pain and while I would never try to pretend I understand what you or anyone is going through my good wishes for wellness and happiness go out to you. I wish there was a way of emailing through this site but I do not know how to accomplish that. Perhaps I could tell you more about what you were thinking about. Regardless, I would not do anything unless you had it in your hand before releasing funds. A friend of mine in similar situations to some of us is trying something new to achieve what you are speaking of. If he is successful then somehow I will let you know. I feel this time he will be for the trouble he has gone through. I think it is a sickening to learn how you feel after those super expensive infusions. I understand a doctor's need to make money, the responsibility, the insurance, the liabilities etc. however it sort of ticks me off that they took a product that does not cost very much at all and turned it into something that is very expensive to do. The last people in the world that should be subjected to that type of "depression mill mentality" are the folks like ourselves ( speaking for me) that cannot afford this treatment that the insurance providers wouldn't a bit more pay for than a cheese cracker in hell. I just hope that in the very near future they (the drug makers) are able to come up with some type of nasal or whatever form of introducing it to ones system in a safe fashion, that will help folks. And wipe out that "hopeless" feeling of not getting better or continued ability to fight off that depression. Sorry for the novel. Its just I could sort of hear in your words what you are saying and try to keep the faith. And don't get ripped off with what you are saying. Hope that helps a bit. Take care of YOU.

mark

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hi Fletch,

Was wondering if I could get more information about obtaining ketamine from Mexico. I have had 5 infusions but the effects have worn off. I get the capsules but they don't allow me to dissacciate like the infusions did. I have Complex Regional Pain Sydrome and suicidal depression amongst a host of other ailments all of which were ok after my infusions. I have depleted my savings and can not afford to get a booster I desperately need. If you could help me with the information I would be eternally grateful. Thank you and hope you are doing well, Mary

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

CAIGUISE,
What I was trying my very best to get out was THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH for all the help you have been to so many and myself. I owe you a great big thank you.
Mark

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

To Caiguise: Truthfully, I have been so very fortunate compared to many and I am grateful for that. You have educated me regarding this so much thanks could never be enough to properly thank you for all of the compassionate help, education, willingness to share your experience as you have with me and just to let you know you are what I have always called people in my life one of the most empathetic individuals I have ever met , not to mention your kindness, your caring and actually using what I would call your God given gift to help and educate people like me puts your right up there in my "angel lists". People like you are special and to see what your words, your encouragement, your eloguent distribution of the kindness to each and every struggling person ( self included ) somehow needs to get your awarded the nobel prize for "Giving a damn about their fellow man" I rarely see this in people anymore but that is all that I have EVER AND I MEAN EVER seen come from you. Thanks from my self and a lot of others that you have and continue to extend yourself so selflessly to help other people that some one needed to stand up and say, Hey, Do you not realized who took time out of their schedule and life to actually help you.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Mark,

Sorry for the delay in responding. Discovered one downside to taking ketamine as a liquid. My husband bumped into me when I was taking it and spilled most of the dose, so the last few days have been unpleasant (we are on vacation and if I retook the dose I would run out before getting home). Ketamine works better for me than any other drug I've been prescribed, but how long it remains effective varies (I think hormone based), so it tends to be a bit of a roller coaster. Like KETMIDWEST rTMS therapy is the treatment that works best for me. Getting access to it, and in the format that is effective is the problem.

I am quite lucky in having a support system. My husband and kids are supportive, and the fact that they wouldn't manage to cope without me (that milk replenishes itself in the fridge is still a mystery to them) makes suicide not an option. I was extremely lucky to have a family friend with connections, so I was able to see an excellent psychiatrist who is good at both chemical and talk therapy, and when I went to the states for grad school I was able to learn more coping skills with group therapy and some cognitive-behavioral therapy. But I think the biggest thing is that I am pig-headed and won't give up. I've learned that when I'm depressed I need to ask myself 'what would real-Cai do?' and in general try really hard not to be passive.

My knowledge of psychiatric meds comes from too many years experience being prescribed things that didn't work, and being a researcher who does not automatically defer to doctors, so I read up on everything. Actually, my dissertation in the History of Technology and Science was about the development and reception of Valium, an anti-anxiety drug. I tend to be very open about my depression/anxiety because I decided that it wasn't anything to be embarrassed about, and because I was teaching I thought it important for students to know ahead of time that I might change during the term. It ended up being useful to my students, because those going through depression for the first time felt safe coming and talking to me.

As for your question about the least expensive form, from what I've seen on the board compounded capsules seem to be the least costly. Someone recently posted that he was using intramuscular inj's, which is probably even cheaper, but I suspect most doctors would associate inj's. with abuse and/or not trust patents to get the dose correct. Talk to your doctor, be honest, and maybe bring him the posting about the protocol used in Toronto. It sounds as if your physician understands that patients have financial limitations. If you can get off the roller-coaster of normal to depressed it should make it easier to get back to a regular life (work/relationships/hobbies).

I hope this helps.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Hi, I just wanted to post that I received my 3 more ketamine infusions and was prescribed the capsules for at home. I am literally a different person. I finally know what people are talking about when they say they are happy. I feel at peace for the very first time in my life. Dr. Brooks I truly believe is a Saint and has most definetly saved my life. I was supposed to be moving from NY to NC. Had rented a place for $350.00 a month including utilities in Little Switzerland, NC and everything just fell through. I truly believe if this kind of life changing dissappointment had happened before I had the infusions and capsules I would not be writing this now. I am able to say to myself something better will come along and still feel at peace. I thank all that have helped save my life with your support and help before I had the infusions. God Bless you all and if you are finding out about the ketamine infusions for the first time and have suicidal depression, PTSD, OCD, please dont give up until you find a way to get these infusions. I can truly say Dr. Brooks cares much more about helping his patience than he does about the money. I owe Dr. Brooks my life and all that have helped me here. Mary

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

To: Caiguise,

Hello, and first I want to thank you as well for all the informative information you always have to offer people in pain, depressed and you do so going through your own issues you rarely discuss. You are very intelligent and more so than anything you are well versed at the ways of talking to people. MD in training is very smart as well however I have known you on this support page longer. You made me want to choke up speaking to "Mary" and comforting her and you need to know that level of comfort does not stop at Mary. It helps me, and I am sure it help so many people that read these posts. So, with what I just said I think I need to ask you sir, How are YOU doing? How are things going with you while it seems you do so much for so many you do it with tact that helps them and quite often I wonder are your support mechanisms that strong or do you have educated folks like MDin training and others that sustain you through the crap you are undertaking. Regardless, this may seem like a smoke blowing tournament but its not. It is simply an observation of someone (you ) that really helps people in here yet I wonder who really helps you. I wonder if it is just your strong mental and social skills that enable you to do what you do but you get my vote for some nobel peace prize for the kind words, the true words, the intelligence, the experiences that you are kind enough to help us all get through this thing we call life. Please understand I am very sincere about this. I mean it. And like all the others it seems Aristotle was right by saying people have agendas for what they do. I guess I am the same. I just don't want it to be that way but I can't get an understandable answer from doctors. MD in training I think has predisposed thoughts he is entitled to have and while his answers are very clever and smart, I guess his irritation with or my own stupidity get s in the way. What I wanted to ask was this: The first time I heard the word ketamine was 2.5 years ago when my doctor prescribed it for pain. It was only later ( 4 or 5 days ) that I realized this "not being good enough" and this "not fitting in" stuff dissipated. For the first time in my life my depression lifted. I was amazed. My doctor put me on 50 cc of 10% ketamine nasal 1 a month. Since the very first time I ran out of the spray exactly two weeks into the month.

I am not intentionally taking over what I am prescribed but obviously it happens. I spoke to a kind young man person to person at the Portland Ketamine Clinic and he is smart and I think a wonderful doctor. I just can't afford to go to Oregon and pay that much however he referred me to a kind man in Charleston SC that was as described,,,helpful, kind, compassionate, willing to help. A great guy. All the while I would never "doctor shop for I wanted to keep my 3 doctors informed as to my treatment. Since I cannot afford the prices of infusions and my script is helping me for 2 weeks of a month to me it would seem by doubling my nasal spray to 100cc a month would solve my problem. My like so many folks life is hanging on to this. The Charleston doctor said he would help with hardship costs. But still. All I am begging is to have the depression and pain free state of mind to get my business going again and my problems to me would be solved, my wife would be happy again and not plague me with her guilt trips of my disease. I was use to making a very large amount of money until business and health went bad. Having been with the Justice Dept. I did not want nor my pride could accept disability. Bad move. Now each morning I wake up wanting to do myself in from pain originally and immediately the thought for the first time in my life I am allowing my wife or anyone for that matter to help me or take care of me. My wife does not deserve to have her life ruined by my diseases. What I wanted to know which would be my cheapest way out is this. Would it be plausible to get my pain doctor to double the amount he gives me as instead of two weeks that would last me for a month??? That would eliminate having to get infusions, or spending money I do not have. Is 100cc or 10% an unheard of amount or something or am I asking too much. I just know I have never increased the amount since 2.5 years ago I was taking. It has always ran out in two weeks. And I am fine for 3 or 4 days and then wham. The spiral of depression sneaks back in like a fox stealing chickens in the middle of the night. Would you if you were in my shoes talk to my doctor and make that request for I am at the end of my rope. For some reason I trust you implicitly and I would so much appreciate your input if your time allows. Thank you again. Hope to hear from you when you can.

Mark

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I had to call my ketamine pain management Los Angeles specialist, Dr. Prager about what he knows about scopolamine. He said it was just another alternative to ketamine, but recommended the less risky and more widely approved the procedure.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I have not posted here for nearly one year but I can see how this subject matter has really taken off. I have been receiving Ketamine treatments for over a year. Although my official diagnosis is BP. I have never experienced anything except depression for a 30 year period. There is no way using any form or medium that I can convey the level of suffering.

Thank G-d, around a year ago I merited to begin ketamine treatments, first in California and then ultimately in chicago to avoid the long travels. This has changed my existence. I initially received IM from a Dr. in CA and then I wanted to continue with IM but the DOC in Deerfield recommended his protocol. At first I was skeptical. I can honestly say there is no comparison between an IM shot and the IV coupled with TMS.

I continue to the following regimen in addition to a boatload of Rx that I need: I receive ketamine in Illinois about once per month and on the weeks in between I self admin with an IM just to keep me progressing.

There is no question in my mind that Ketamine treatments have been the single most powerful response that I have had to my disease. Rx, whether AD, mood stabilizers, or atypicals AntiPsch's compared to ketamine is like comparing a third string high school group of players to the all stars in the pros.

I wish the rest of the psych world would hear that message and really start to push for greater adaptation to ketamine in the mainstream. It's kind of sad that it is all about money. It just demonstrates that we don't have the ability to rise above our own selfish needs.

Thanks

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

@Caiguise: thank you so much again for all the information and the time you took to that. I went to my regular pain doctor yesterday and he convinced my mother to continue with the ketamine treatments. Dr. Brooks is actually coming into the office on July 4th to give me my 3rd infusion, and then will have two more Monday and Tuesday. Problem is Dr. Brooks is taking time off until the 14th and I can't get back until the 17th. I asked Dr. Brooks if he would give me the nasal spray but he said he doesn't use that anymore but would give me the capsules. I was a little unsure of them until I read your message and feel much better now about using them. Thank you so much for that and the warning about the opioids. I didn't have a problem last time but my doctor has increased my dosage of pain medication since my last infusion so I will be sure to take less on the days I use the ketamine. That actually is fantastic news to here as I was on a morphine pump 20 years ago when I first got sick and it destroyed my tolerance. That made it very hard to find a doctor to treat me because they were nervous prescribing for high tolerant patients. If the ketamine resets my tolerance, it will make my life so much easier not having to take high dosages. You've been a great support to me caiguise and probably saved me from taking my life because I knew there was at least one person out there who cared about me. Thank you doesn't seem sufficient for what you've done for me but know you will be in my prayers forever. Will post again to let you know how the treatments go.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Mary, here is a synopsis of the protocol my doctor uses:

Regarding availability and prescribing:Compounded oral capsules of ketamine can be obtained from any compounding pharmacy. The prescription they usually start out with is "Ketamine 25 mg compoundedcapsules, 4 capsules po qhs, q 3 days, or as directed under supervision. M: 50 caps". In Ontario 50 capsules will cost about $70-120, and "Ketamine 50mg/ml nasal suspension" costs about $150 for 90 ml, an oral suspension is slightly cheaper.

The ketamine is only given every 3 days and is only in the system for a few hours after each dose. The one thing to watch out for is opioid medications as ketamine can reset the tolerance to opiods, so people who are on high doses because they have developed tolerance run the risk of their opioid dose being dangerously high. If you are on a higher than initial dose of an opioid make certain to talk to your doctor about this, and you may not be a suitable candidate for ketamine therapy.

The doctor usually starts with a low dosage and adjusts up (if there are signs that it is working) until either it is efficacious at reducing depression or you find the initial side effects are not acceptable. He usually starts patients at 100 mg (4 capsules or 2 ml) for the first dose. Then increase by 1 capsule at each subsequent dose, with the doses 3 days apart. I took the first two doses in the doctors office, but it appears he now does not require that now that there is more experience with the procedure. You should be at home, in a quiet space and dim the lights. In case you find your balance off for the first few hours, use the washroom beforehand. I like ambient music. With tablets or an oral liquid you take your dose and lie down, or recline while it takes effect and for 2-3 hours until the acute effects wear off. Do not drive for at minimum 6-8 hours afterwards. I think they recommend taking it at bedtime now, which reduces the wasted time. The acute effects at low doses are minimal. I found I was processing things as Gestalts (from 15-20 min after dose my Sudoku speed goes up), found binocular vision strange, and was not ignoring sounds of things father from me. I also found that my speech had a slight delay, but felt as if it was coming out before my brain told it to do so. At medium doses there may be some visual hallucinations, disorientation, dizzyness. I found that my mind liked examining objects by mentally rotating them, and I was only aware of my body if I thought about it. Closing my eyes I would have vivid, mainly abstract, dreams, not scary, fascinating really. At higher doses there can be a dissociative state (not noticing your body or feeling a sense of unreality) for about half an hour, and hallucinations. Again strange, but I didn't find it scary. Note that the dose that causes the dissociative state is not linked to how effective it is for you. The acute effects may differ each time and how 'strong' the acute effects are is not a sign of how well it works for depression.

If it works, you will definitely know. If the treatment works, even at the low dose you should notice a marked reduction in depression and anxiety either immediately after the weirdness wears off, or at least by the following day. So you should know after the first dose if this treatment will work for you. If it does then your doctor will want to find the right dose to keep the depression at bay. If it does not work, I really am sorry, and hope one of the other treatments help, but trying a higher dose is not likely to help. (if this is the case, I strongly suggest looking into rTMS therapy)

My doctor says that the effects tend to start wearing off after 2-3 days, and are gone in a week. So the doctor will titrate the dose to figure out how little you need to get good effects that last at least 3 days. His patients take it either every three days or on two days of the week, generally. A stronger dose than necessary can actually be less effective.

My doctor has generally found most people who do respond to this treatment find therapeutic effects in the 175-250 mg range, with a few needing up to 300 mg. Personally, I'm at the 150mg dose, and a higher dose does not seem to make it last longer, in fact it seemed to make it less effective. Sometimes patients find they need the dose adjusted up by 25-50mg after a month, but after that there should not be need for increasing dosages. My doctor has patients who have been on ketamine for over a year with continuing efficacy.

The known adverse side effects have generally been found in people taking far higher amounts (10x) and more frequently. There can be bladder inflammation, persistent psychosis, or corneal edema. Be aware, but note that these problems are infrequent and generally associated with abuse of the drug.

Note that this information is for oral tablets, or oral liquid. My doctor also has patients who use a liquid suspension and and nasal aspirator (mist up the nose), which in theory reduces the required dose by up to half. The theory did not apply to me, however.

Treatment-resistant depression is distressing, but there are a wide variety of treatments out there, and if you hold on there should be something that works. I've had at least one bout of depression every year (except one year when I was on rTMS, which I get to start again in August, hurrah!!!) for the past 26 years. I've learned to really appreciate the time when my mood is normal, and I'm so glad I kept stubbornly continuing to keep going.

Best wishes to all of you.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

I will go to the states to take ketamine treatment for depression. Ketamine is probably a great pill for depression, as ...

34 REPLIES

## What is Cispin? ## Cispin is a common misspelling for the antidepressant called Zispin SolTab. Active Ingredient: Mir...

3 REPLIES

My friend was prescribed Haldol for depression. My friend suffers from being addicted to Perocets, and because he was go...

1 REPLY

My Son went to the Dr. for anxiety and depression, pristiq created more problems for him, panic attacks, insomnia, loss ...

13 REPLIES

Has anyone started taking Rexulti, if so how is it going so far. I just started 1 mg today and will phase out abilify? #...

8 REPLIES

After being on every imaginable antidepressant over the past twenty-five years and undergoing ect, I have found that Rit...

4 REPLIES

This thread is to discuss Ibogaine as a means to treat Depression and Pain Management, including, but not limited to, an...

34 REPLIES

DOES ANYONE KNOW A MD WHO PRESCRIBES SUBOXONE FOR DEPRESSION IT HELPS ME TREMENDOUSLY ## HAVE YOU FOUND A DOC TAT WILL W...

2 REPLIES

is colozapam for anxiety and depression ? ## The pill in description is Clonazepam; which is a benzodiazepine derivative...

2 REPLIES

anyone with experience using riluzole for treatment resistant depression ## Hello, Pance! How are you? I've not take...

1 REPLY