Is Anybody Being Prescribed Scopolamine For Depression (Page 3)

is anyone being prescribed scopolamine off-label for depression? the NIMH is doing clinical trials for same and apparently it works, however my p-doc won't prescribe it for me.

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Btw, one of the treatments I've become very interested in is this scopolamine and possibly the ketamine. I'm lucky because I think my doctor will prescribe it no problem. He's very liberal in his approach.

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Michael,

Thank you for sharing your experience with the Ketamine treatment. Are you still being treated with Ketamine? And is this through your primary doctor?

I'm looking into clinical trial for either Scopolamine or Ketamine, but I do not want to raise any false hopes. If something does work I need to be able to have access to it. I cannot go back to being depressed, which has become the "normal" for the past 20 yrs.

Thanks.

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Hey folks, apologies for not writing sooner. So I have taken two of my four doses. After the first round I felt dizzy & very nauseas for a solid day. I can't say I felt much dep/anx relief, however it was easier to get up in the morning. After the second dose I didn't exp any side effects. Unfortunately my mood isn't getting any better (tho there are some possible external causes). I take dose 3 tomorrow & will update u all on any changes. Fingers crossed .

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Michael,

Unfortunately, since I am not currently being treated by a psychiatrist and have no history of treatment, since I have been off meds entirely by choice, I do not qualify for the Ketamine treatment at UCLA.

You may want to ask your Dr. about a drug called Riluzole. It's suppose to have the same effect as Ketamine. I heard about it in an NPR segment regarding a patient who underwent Ketamine treatment at an NIH study and continued treatment with riluzole.

'I Wanted To Live': New Depression Drugs Offer Hope For Toughest Cases

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Hi everyone!

Thanks for the tip. I read and heard the same NPR article and know about Riluzole. We (my doctor and I) are considering using Riluzole if the scopolamine treatments are ineffective, but since it would be prescribed "off label" my insurance would not pay for it either and if I remember correctly, although not as expensive as the Ketamine treatment, I believe it is a rather expensive drug. So I am trying to save money and am seeing if the scopalomine works before I take that route.

Last time my doctor and I chatted about a month ago, we both decided to see how long the effectiveness of the Ketamine treatment would work by itself and I withheld using the Scopolamine if/until the Ketamine treatment worked.

About a week ago I had bit of a dip in mood (although not nearly as debilitating as what I was dealing with previous to the Ketamine treatment) which seem to warrant a more treatment so, rather than shell out for the Ketamine infusion, I am on the Scopolamine patches. It's only been two days now and even thought the change isn't nearly as profound as with the ketamine treatment, I do see a leveling off in mood.

FYI, I do recommend that the users of the patch consider buying a product called Tegaderm which is a thin film patch that you can put over the scopalomine patch and not worry about taking showers. Mine would always come off the the shower unless I was super careful. This film covers the entire patch, is clear and ia barely noticeable and you can shower, sweat, work out, scuba dive, whatever, and the patch stays in place. Good stuff to have on hand especially for someone like me who loses the patch a day or two into the three day wearing period.

So, like I said, the scopolamine "seems" to be working, but I state that with a caveat. I am going to see about either upping my dose to two patches (I am 6'4' and over 250lbs) and a former body builder so I am pretty sure that if a single person who weighs 125lbs can handle a single patch, I might be able to get away with two. But before I attempt to alter my dosage, I will check with my doctor, have no doubts about that.

I am still poking around in the dark and so, more or less, is my shrink. But he has an open mind and ALWAYS takes my opinion into consideration. That being stated, I do know the ketamine actually worked for me.

I have heard that ketamine can be purchased overseas in a nasal inhaler, which would dramatically bring down the costs, but to find it and to procure it seems to be rather difficult. I do live in Southern California and the Tijuana pharmacies are not too far away... I might just take a trip down there to have some tacos and inquire about the inhaler and/or the Riluzole prices while I am there.

Anyhow, that is where I am at. I will check in on the board in a week or so. And feel free to ask me any questions. I'd be happy to help, especially fellow sufferers of long term depression.

Warmest regards to you all,

Michael

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Try whatever you can. You deserve to feel better. Let me know if you can't find the ketamine treatment in your area and I can steer you to the doctor at UCLA who is doing ketamine infusions. My infusion worked, and worked very well ;-) I don't think the effects are permanent, at lease for me, but the effect was profound.

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I am curious if any of you are on other ADs while you're trying these treatments or did you go off? I'm currently on Effexor and Wellbutrin which I want to get off of, but am having a heck of a time doing.

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Has anyone had problems with the Scop patch causing skin irritation and any idea how to prevent it? I made sure my skin was clean/dry before putting it on. It causes itchiness and when I finally took that patch off after the 3rd day there was a red mark which took a LONG time to go away. This stinks because they do help me. Also, does anyone know if the patch would work in a different spot than behind the ear? Thanks.

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I am on an SSRI called Vibryd. Cut down from the 40mg to due to the sexual side effects but my doc thought it better safe than sorry and keep me on the low dose. If I could afford to experience the relief that the ketamine gave me all the time, my personal opinion would be that the Vybrid should be eliminated since before this treatment it wasn't doing much but cutting down my libido.

Michael

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Hi Callie,

I have a bit of irritation, but not that much and since the patch has been right behind my earlobe not many people, including me, can see it or the potential red mark that it might cause.

As for placement of the patch, at least for depression treatment, I would think that as long as it is against some of your thinner skin (upper arm, under the upper arm, etc.) that you are getting the medication delivered into your bloodstream. This is unlike it's on label use which is for sea sickness and therefore it is supposed to be close to your ear because the inner ear is what is affected by motion sickness.

Take this with a grain of salt though because I am not a medical professional. As a matter of fact, I googled the same question and wasn't able to find any suggestions on alternate placement.

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Michael, you mentioned issues with libido from your regular meds. Have you noticed if the Scopolamine is effecting your libido? I'm sure it may be hard to tell, especially if you are still on your previous meds. Not only am I trying to get my extra 20% relief (I consider I'm getting 80% from current meds), but I aim to eliminate the side effect of decreased libido also. If Scopolamine or any of these other new drugs can't fit the bill I may opt for ect and eliminate all meds.
VAUX

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Hi Michael,
I am a RN on the East Coast who has depression and I have tried different meds Effexor being one of them (I feel for anyone trying to get off that particular med) and have never heard of using scopolamine or any of these meds for that matter, for deression. Can u send me a link for some info. Right now I am taking Zoloft at max dose and topomax 200mg with slight relief. Would really appreciate the help, please.

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Hi Sue,

I haven't noticed a decreased libido from adding the Scopolamine to my meds (i.e. 20mg of Vibryd daily) But it has only been a week, so I am not sure what my long term experience will be.

Regarding the decreased libido on Vibryd, I hope this isn't "too much information" but I don't have a problem performing in bed and I do desire sex with my girlfriend, but I still don't have the libido I did previously and what is even more problematic is I have trouble experiencing orgasm. I never had that problem when I am not on SSRI, the latest one being Vibryd.

I believe the biggest side effect for me from the patches is a dryish mouth. Then again, so far with the patches I haven't experienced the more profound lift in my mood like I did when I did the Ketamine infusion. I am hoping that the scopolamine will work over time, but in the 6 days or so since I have been back on it (along with the 20mg Vibryd) I am not experiencing the relief that I did after the ketamine treatment. Things aren't super dark nor am I in any deep, unmanagable depression, but the "lightness" that I felt and the lifting of anxiety that I experienced after the ketamine was pretty remarkable. I am going to give the scopolamine more time, especially as the ketamine treatments are so pricey and not covered by my insurance.

Best,

Michael

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Hi Kasey,

I'd be happy to help. Take a look at this NPR article that spells out the various drugs (ketamine, scopolamine, and riluzole) that work on the glutamate receptors.

npr.org/blogs/health/2012/01/31/146096540/i-wanted-to-live-new-depression-drugs-offer-hope-for-toughest-cases

There are plenty of other articles out on the web. Just google "depression" along with any of the drugs previously mentioned or with the phrase "glutamate system" and you will find lots and lots of stuff out there, but this article is a good start. I hope you find the relief you deserve and feel free to ask me any more questions. I am happy to help if I can.

Best,

Michael

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Kasey,

I've been taking Theanine Serene by Source Naturals that I purchased off Amazon. It's been helping with sleep and anxiety with no side-effects, though it does nothing for depression. I take half a pill before bed. It contains 200mg L-Theanine which is a glutamate antagonist.

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Thank you so much, I look forward to reading the material and hopefully feeling happy again. Didn't help that I just turned 40 either, talk about rubbing salt in the wound. Well thanks again and it's nice to talk to someone that has depression. My husband doesn't understand it and I really don't know of any forums or support groups so...even thought I know I'm not alone, it was still nice to read that I'm REALLY not alone. Hope that made sense.

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Hi Dave, I have tried that before for sleep but have found that melatonin works best for me, although, I seem to not be able to stay on a regular sleep pattern. It will rotate no matter what I do or try. I have pretty much just surrendered to it. Maybe once my depression is better controlled so will my sleep. Who knows. Thanks for the info though, I'll take any and all info I can get. :)

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Hey guys, believe it or not, I am the guy that called in on the NPR program. David from Lawrence. I was doing a google search and the message board popped up. I have suffered from depression as long as I can remember. Ketamine is the most amazing anti depressant I have ever had. Lots of trials being conducted. Ketamine has some chemical cousins that can be ordered legally. I hear the work just as well, but not nearly as much data is available. I am hoping that ketamine is cheap and available some day. I buy it in asia for 20$ per vial. A vial lasts around 1-2 weeks. If I could get good quality in mexico, I would do it. LIFE CHANGING

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Hi Dave,
I did do the reading on Ketamine and it's side effects...I'm afraid I would be one of the people who would have mind blowing hallucinations. However, I am thinking that scopolamine might be a "close cousin" to Ketamine bc lots of drugs in the same family have the same suffix in this case it would be mine. I understand thats not always the case but quite frequently. I have two patches left over from a cruise I went on with my mom in Feb. of course I didn't feel depressed then...I was on a cruise!!! I never attributed that to the scopolamine. LOL

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Hi Guys,

Well, it appears that the scopolamine patches just aren't working for me. I've been on them for almost two weeks now and I haven't noticed any shift in mood since looking the mood boost that the ketamine infusion gave me which lasted about 3 weeks to a month.

I am writing to let you all know about a doctor out of San Diego who, after an initial consultation, will provide you with a ketamine nasal inhaler. According to her website and some others that I have read, an intravenous infusion or ingesting the ketamine via a nasal spray is much more effective than orally dosing.

Her name is Dr. Nancy Sajben and she is out of Scripps Institute. Her initial intake visit fee is around $800 but the actual prescription of self administered ketamine (made at a local compounding pharmacy) is only about $80.00 for a several month supply. I have made an appointment with her in a couple of weeks and look forward to getting the same relief that I got with the infusion that I got at UCLA but at a vastly reduced price. I just can't come up with $1,250.00 every time I need a reduction in my depression and anxiety symptoms.

Do a web search using her name, ketamine and depression and you will find out all the info you need if you are interested in following this path a bit further.

Best,

Michael

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