Ketamine For Depression? (Page 14)

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.

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@Paula, You started it. So own it.

Also,who said anything about LDN being expensive? I said, and I stand by it, that Ketamine treatment is overly expensive because the protocol says there is to be an Anesthesiologist. As for who sponsored your study and their reputation, it is meaningless. The [insert whomever you respect the most here] could have sponsored it and that doesn't mean the study site followed protocol.

If you have a link to the protocol please share it, not because I think you are wrong, but because if others can take the protocol to a doctor they might be able to get help using it.

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Keller, regarding your post about seeing a doc in Atlanta for Ketamine, can you say who you are seeing? I just moved to Rabun County, about 2 hours away from Atlanta and that would be a heck of a lot cheaper for me than going to NYC as I posted about many months ago. I will say that my major depression has definitely gotten better on its own just being out of the environment I was in...still plagued by anxiety and anger, agitation, ptsd - some depression, but not the kind that puts me on the couch for days on end...

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@Mountaingirl, I do not know what the forum's policy is on naming specific doctors etc. I can tell you that if you search on a really big search engine for "ketamine atlanta depression" the doctor Shows up in the top results a few times.

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I am trying to get ketamine treatment for bipolar depression at a reasonable price. Do you know of any in US or Mexico?

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@Jeff
Depends on what you call reasonable. Right now both doctors I have spoken too, using the standard IV treatment private pay is around $600 per treatment. The only protocols I have found require 12-16 treatments then maintenance. So that is $7200 - $9600 + maintenance. If I could go back to work this would be reasonable for me.

There is a new protocol coming this Spring involving Nasal Ketamine delivery, while I have seen no prices as yet I expect the cost to be substantially less, I suspect perhaps 1/3 of current prices or less. IV Ketamine is only in stage 2 trials presently and people are reporting locations using different protocols (though they have yet to share the protocols so YMMV).

Unless you live on the US/Mexico border you are going to have to find a US doctor willing to do maintenance, and my personal opinion would be to use the same doctor for initial treatment as for maintenance.

Personally, I consider any phase 2 trial to only be viable if you have exhausted everything but the final 2 options (ECT then TMS). Some of us are at that point already. Have you looked at clinicaltrials dot gov to see if anyone is near you running a trial? If not I would suggest that route.

You really will not know if you are a candidate for Ketamine treatment until you find a doctor who can diagnose you and tell you if they will support you using one of the protocols.

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see: trifectahealthnyc

Dr Edward Fruitman
115 Broadway, Suite 1300.
Tel: 212-233-2830.

They do injections; use about 1/4 of anesthetic dose and normally total of 12 to16 treatments. I called and was told it is $250.00 per treatment. We live to for from NYC so we are still looking for someone close to home.

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@Keller- if I had a link I would be glad to share it. Unfortunately, I do not. I have read of poor results on this forum for the Ketamine intra-nasally. But I would try it were it available. I have also read of people obtaining intra-nasal Ketamine from a compounding pharmacy. One would need to have a cooperative M.D. to prescribe. I have given up at this time on Ketamine, it seemed to be the magic bullet for me but is not possible to obtain the treatment I need. But I look forward to seeing further posts hoping that sometime soon there will be an answer.

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I just came across this article. I never take the time to write comments or product reviews of purchases on Amazon. I feel I need to contribute, because I have been using the ketamine nasal spray about 2 yrs.

I suffer from Bipolar manic depressant with rapid cycling. I didn’t get diagnosed till 22. I had tried every medication to stable my mood. I mean every medicine known to treat mood disorders. I don't remember the name but with one of them I had to do blood work every week for 6 months, then every other week for six more months.

During this time I had major weight gain and severe side effects all the above. I’ve always had a solid diet and have always been huge into working out. I was doing all the right things that were in my control (ie. routine, working out, eating healthy) Well about 2yrs ago my Dr came back from a conference and discussed Ketamine nasal spray. He had not treated anybody with it yet and didn’t know what to expect. I told him I’m willing to try. 2 months later I was able to taper off a lot of the medications I had been taking which in turn lifted side effects. It has been an amazing transformation that my close family all noticed. I’m very private and don’t discuss my condition with anyone other then close family. I just got to say this helped me get my life back. I’ve entered back into the corporate world and have had great success.

I do one spray in each nostril in the morning and one at night. Very minimal dose. Word of caution, I get mine from a local compounding pharmacy. It's in a glass bottle and each spray is extremely consistent. I did how ever use a CVS for 2 months. They gave me one in a plastic container that had to be refrigerated. The liquid amount in each spray was extremely inconsistent and my mood shifted towards depression. I switched back and everything leveled it self back out.

Do I still suffer from bi-polar, absolutely. But it’s now manageable without severe mood swings or the major side effects from drugs like lithium.

I am very thankful for this discovery. I would be happy to answer any questions if anyone has any.

Thank you for you time and I hope this helps.

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@Clint Thanks for sharing. I am glad yo found a doctor willing to work with you. Nasal ketamine trials are supposed to start int he spring I suspect sometime after this falls IV trials end and they decide what the dosage timing and amounts are. There is always titration involved when using a nasal form over IV and as you intimated that titration can be very difficult if the dosage is not constant each application.

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Emory is doing ketamine. Some insurers are covering ketamine IV infusions for depression. I believe Emory accepts insurance. Maintenance Ketamine is patient specific. Obviously, trials utilize protocols, but so far there is no published protocol for ket maintenance. I have not used nasal ket, but am moving in that direction and imagine dosage and consistency of product are critical.

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@Newday Do you have a link? I know there is a private group doing Ketamine research in ATL and I know there is a Dr. in NE ATL doing private treatment but if Emory is doing treatment / or Study I really want to know about it. They are a bit over an Hour away but even so.

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No need for a link; just call the psychopharmacology clinic, tell whomever answers you are interested in ketamine .... I would give u the name and phone number, but the site rules seem to preclude that - am I correct? I will be there this Friday and confirm, but I do not think u need to qualify for a study, though there may be one going on; in other words, I think Emory recognizes ketamine by iv as a viable treatment for trd and offers it in accordance with guidelines it has developed/is developing.
I think you would be screened re treatment resistant MDD and/or chronic depression ... I do not want to "speak out of turn" or misrepresent facts,

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Thank you for sharing your story. Ketamine via iv has helped me enormously; logistics, etc. associated with the iv have me eager to try the nasal spray. I respect your desire for privacy but wondered if you would be willing to answer any of the following questions: Is the ketamine mixed with anything - what is the prescription/what does it say on it? In your case, how much ketamine is delivered per spray? How much do you weigh? How do you feel immediately after inhalation and what is the rest of your day like in terms of driving, etc? Many thanks!

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To my knowledge it is ok to bring up Dr's on this forum, I have done so previously. I would like to know who is doing intra-nasal Ket. So if anyone out there can tell me who is prescribing the nasal spray please share your Doc. Even if he/she is not in my area, perhaps he/she could recommend someone who is. I would really like to try it. Up to this point I haven't read of any success with intra-nasal but am glad to hear of it.

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Paula, "Clint" posted on Sept 17 re his intranasal ket success - I think I "replied" to him today requesting script details.

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@Paula Also if you can wait a few more months (I know it is difficult we are all in similar places) The Intra-nasal Ketamine protocols will be finalized and more doctors are likely to go with a Phase 2 trial than a pre-phase 2 trial.

I know that UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) is scheduled to participate in those IN trials in the spring, though I do not know an exact date.

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I am on a pretty stable footing with my meds at this point, so no probs waiting. But the reaction I had from IV Ket was nothing short of amazing and would more than welcome it's addition to my current regimen. Glad the important questions are being asked.

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@newday Were you able to make it on Friday? If so do you have an update? I am particularly interested in cost since I know medicare is not going to pay for the treatment.

If naming Doctors is OK then Dr.Giorgadze in Atlanta is currently providing Ketamine via IV for qualified patients.

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Yes! I do not know the cost, but will ask on Wed when I get there - again. Call Del at 404-727-3903. I will ask re cost, but Del will probably know/be a better resource. If u feel up to it, check back in with what u learn. Let me know re any other questions

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I am interested in the intra-nasal Ket. I live in the suburbs of Chicago. Anyone have knowledge of prescribing Docs in my area? Even if you aren't here and have a prescribing Doc, could you please share, maybe they would provide a referral.

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