Anyone's experience with Ketamine?

[michaelaland]

Hello fellow christian sufferers,
Was curious of anyones experience with ketamine? I have had 5 injections so far and nothing with relief from the depression. Feeling pretty discouraged as this is sorta my last hope. Ive tried numerous medications, ect, tms to no avail. Its only the Lord that can bring me out of this latest episode of the depression. He always has in the past, but this is a long one, going on 15 months, cant help but be afraid I wobt come out of this time.... anyway, just wondering what you all have experienced with ketamine. God bless us, and have mercy on us....

 

[cloudyday2]

I haven't tried ketamine, but I have tried scopolamine. If you can't get results with ketamine, then maybe scopolamine will help you.

My experience with scopolamine patches is that about 50% of the time I get relief from the depression almost immediately. This may be placebo effect, but it is very noticeable when it does work. I hate using them, because they dry my mouth and eyes out so much, and sometimes they don't work at all. When I am unable to function, they are worth a try. When they do work, it is great. I can do my work again and I have hope.

Here is a link
NIMH » Rapid Antidepressant Action of Common Medication Confirmed by Repeat Trial

 

[cloudyday2]

Just wanted to add another thing that might help you. I discovered that I have an MTHFR C677T heterozygous mutation. The MTHFR mutations are believed to be linked to treatment resistant depression. Antidepressants are supposed to encourage neurogenesis, but that requires proper nutrients. The MTHFR mutations make your brain starved for nutrients.

Apparently like 40% of the population in North America has some form of these mutations. If you get your B vitamins from vegetables, then the mutation doesn't matter. But if you get your B vitamins from processed foods with folic acid then you will be deficient and your brain will suffer.

I take vitamins that have an easier to digest form of the B vitamins. It might be that combining these types of vitamins with antidepressants might make them work for you.

 

[31gH9N.9.]

I had no idea they used Ketamine to treat depression. I'm not sure what kind of doses they're giving you but I used to use it recreationally. I do know that using it the way I did can become very dangerous psychologically. Just be careful you don't let it take control over you. It has a tendency to become very habit forming.

 

[michaelaland]

I haven't tried ketamine, but I have tried scopalamine. If you can't get results with ketamine, then maybe scopalamine will help you.

My experience with scopalamine patches is that about 50% of the time I get relief from the depression almost immediately. This may be placebo effect, but it is very noticeable when it does work. I hate using them, because they dry my mouth and eyes out so much, and sometimes they don't work at all. When I am unable to function, they are worth a try. When they do work, it is great. I can do my work again and I have hope.

Here is a link
NIMH » Rapid Antidepressant Action of Common Medication Confirmed by Repeat Trial

Thanks cloudyday2, sounds reasonable to give scopalamine a try at least... hard to not be doubtful though when all the prescription antidepressants have had no effect on me, but still worth a try if this ketamine ends up not doing anything...thanks for the tip

I had no idea they used Ketamine to treat depression. I'm not sure what kind of doses they're giving you but I used to use it recreationally. I do know that using it the way I did can become very dangerous psychologically. Just be careful you don't let it take control over you. It has a tendency to become very habit forming.

Thanks 31gH9N, yes I am aware of the recreational drug super K back in the day. Dont know the doses everyone was taking at the time, but this is in a controlled atmosphere given by a psychiatrist in small doses and all vital signs are monitored. Here is a couple videos of the doctor I am seeing, he is from UCSD Hospital here in san diego.

and

 

[31gH9N.9.]

That's interesting. It sounds similar to treating people with mdma and psilocybin as well. If it's not working for you though I hope you find a better way. I used to take psilocybin as way of dealing with some mental issues I had as well. One of the problems though was that the effects would only last so long and then the problems would come back. Just make sure you pray a lot through all this.

Speaking of scopolomine, I've got a patch behind my ear right now. I didn't know I could be used for depression either. I've got the patch for anti-nausea. I had dental surgery today and they gave me some pain killers that made me feel great for a short period of time then absolutely horrible. Since I used to dabble in hallucinogenics, I steer clear of them even if it was offered as medicine, but I feel pretty sure pain killers and other medication can have just as bad and even worse side effects.

In the epistle of James it tells us to draw near to God and He will draw near to us. There's no one who can help us more than Him.

 

[cloudyday2]

Speaking of scopolomine, I've got a patch behind my ear right now. I didn't know I could be used for depression either. I've got the patch for anti-nausea. I had dental surgery today and they gave me some pain killers that made me feel great for a short period of time then absolutely horrible. Since I used to dabble in hallucinogenics, I steer clear of them even if it was offered as medicine, but I feel pretty sure pain killers and other medication can have just as bad and even worse side effects.

On the topic of scopolamine, I wanted to add a few things I forgot to mention in case they might help @michaelaland . I have only used the transderm scop patches, and I think the clinical trial for depression used a higher dosage administered in some other form. When I applied a patch I would feel totally different in about 30 minutes. I would go from basically a zombie state to being a whirlwind of optimistic productivity. The patches have a high rate of delivery initially to rapidly achieve the desired concentation in your blood and then they have a slower dosage for the next three days. I got most of the depression benefit in the first hour or so. Usually I would remove the patch after a day, because the dryness was so unpleasant. But usually I wouldn't become depressed again for a week or so.

You should be able to get a doctor to prescribe the transderm patches for depression even though they are not yet FDA approved for that use. Apparently scopolamine will probably never be approved for depression, because there is no financial incentive to go through the expensive process.

The ideal would be to get involved in a clinical trial where they can use higher dosages of scopolamine, but maybe the patches would help you even though they are less potent.

 

[cloudyday2]

@michaelaland , here is a link about methylfolate and treatment resistant depression. I take vitamins with methylfolate. I really think everybody should take methylfolate, because that mutation is so common. Vitamins are cheap and easy and they might make antidepressants work better.
Methylfolate and Resistant Depression

 

[31gH9N.9.]

@michaelaland , here is a link about methylfolate and treatment resistant depression. I take vitamins with methylfolate. I really think everybody should take methylfolate, because that mutation is so common. Vitamins are cheap and easy and they might make antidepressants work better.
Methylfolate and Resistant Depression

Vitamin B can sometimes help with depression.

 

[michaelaland]

You should be able to get a doctor to prescribe the transderm patches for depression even though they are not yet FDA approved for that use. Apparently scopolamine will probably never be approved for depression, because there is no financial incentive to go through the expensive process.

cloudyday2, very interesting stuff, I will definately ask my psych doctor if he will give me the scopolamine patches, hes kind of weird though with meds, I guess I could go to my general practitioner doctor also.... we will see what happens after a few more tries with the ketamine first... thank you and also for the info on the folic acid supplement...

In the epistle of James it tells us to draw near to God and He will draw near to us. There's no one who can help us more than Him.

31gH9N.9, I spend a lot of time in prayer and in the word, its the only thing keeping me somewhat going, it is hard though at times, we get discouraged when our prayers arent anwsered, but its in His time not ours... I also try and keep in perspective that there are so many more people in the world suffering so much more than I am, so I pray for Him to just give me the strength to carry this cross if not heal me completely, I also always pray for Him to give me a deeper faith and stronger relationship with Him so that I can endure this suffering.... God bless