Discussion Another Spravato update

[ferrie]

I had my third Spravato appointment today, and I took 56mg. Most people go to 84mg at their second appointment, so they probably see stronger effects than I do. My mood has already been noticeably affected though. I've had multiple people tell me I've seemed more upbeat this past week, and I do feel a bit lighter. There's like a physical sense of relief, like after you finish a task you had been stressing about. I'm not really happy, but even just this slight shift seems promising since peak effectiveness is around 4-6 weeks & it hasn't even been 2 for me yet. In terms of suicidal ideations, I don't feel the really intense despair of needing to ctb. I think I will still end up ctbing, but I'm not constantly thinking about it like I was even a week ago. I also don't really want to recover so the more rational aspects of why I want to ctb will always stay, but the emotional aspects are lessening. From how I'm reacting to Spravato in such a short time, I think it's probably a really good option for people that want to recover & whose main barrier is depression

 

[Placo]

Do you have to stop taking antidepressants to take it?

 

[DefinitelyReady]

Do you have to stop taking antidepressants to take it?

It typically is used to augment your antidepressants. So going off of what you're taking is hard to say what to do. They typically want you taking one antidepressant to even be on it. Haven't heard of someone not being required to at least take one antidepressant. It isnt said to be used alone, more of in conjunction. But I switched up my antidepressants while on it.

 

[ferrie]

Do you have to stop taking antidepressants to take it?

You're actually required to be on an oral antidepressant while attending Spravato, at least at my clinic. I'm on Pristiq, Remeron, Prazosin, Seroquel, and lithium on top of my Spravato. Some clinics make you stop meds like Auvelity, but that's really dependent on the brand reps in your area

 

[let.me.let.go87]

Spravato worked wonders for my depression tbh but it unlocked some sort of door in my brain and made me hallucinate temporarily (about four months of auditory hallucinations) so they took me off of it. It's the only thing that ever made a dent in my depression. I'd put up with the voices all over again if they would put me back on it.

 

[ferrie]

Spravato worked wonders for my depression tbh but it unlocked some sort of door in my brain and made me hallucinate temporarily (about four months of auditory hallucinations) so they took me off of it. It's the only thing that ever made a dent in my depression. I'd put up with the voices all over again if they would put me back on it.

It's honestly working really well for me too. I just did my sixth treatment today, and I really feel like a different person than when I started. I hope you get the chance to go back on it. Were you doing the full 84mg kit? They probably tried it before they took you off of it, but I wonder if staying at 56mg or even 28mg would lessen the hallucinations but still give you some of the benefit

 

[let.me.let.go87]

It's honestly working really well for me too. I just did my sixth treatment today, and I really feel like a different person than when I started. I hope you get the chance to go back on it. Were you doing the full 84mg kit? They probably tried it before they took you off of it, but I wonder if staying at 56mg or even 28mg would lessen the hallucinations but still give you some of the benefit

I was on 84mg, yes. They did lessen it but that's how the shitty community mental health works here. They wound up just cutting me off

 

[ferrie]

I was on 84mg, yes. They did lessen it but that's how the shitty community mental health works here. They wound up just cutting me off

Oh that sucks. Maybe it would be a matter of just finding another clinic if there's one close enough to you? They're becoming more common. Mine is letting me stay at 56mg bc it's too strong for me & I get to choose when I switch from twice a week to once instead of just the normal month. Another idea might be ketamine troches that they can prescribe in place of Spravato, but those aren't as common

 

[let.me.let.go87]

Unfortunately the way my insurance works out here they pay directly to this clinic and if I end up in the psych ward the clinic pays the hospital and such. The clinic basically owns me

 

[ferrie]

Unfortunately the way my insurance works out here they pay directly to this clinic and if I end up in the psych ward the clinic pays the hospital and such. The clinic basically owns me

Damn that sounds awful I'm so sorry. I really hope they figure out something else that works for you or somehow agree to put you back on it