Help Anybody found ketamine helpful for treatment resistant depression or ptsd?

[ReallyTired]

I've been suffering from severe depression my whole life. The last ten years I've been on lots of different medications but nothing seems to work. As I'm getting older it's more and more difficult to carry on. The pain and suffering is overwhelming. I'm exhausted. Thinking more and more every day about catching the bus.
I've read that lots of people found way out of depression with ketamine. Anybody can help?

 

[nerve]

I haven't started it yet, but my insurance just approved me for esketamine (which is the nasal spray as opposed to a straight ketamine infusion) and I was planning to make a thread where I could talk about how it goes. I call to schedule the first appointment Monday @_@

It's relevant to me too, so I searched around here for anyone describing their experiences using ketamine therapeutically as administered by a doctor (i.e.: not recreationally) and found this thread from June where OP says it went well for them:

https://sanctioned-suicide.net/threads/i-love-ketamine-and-i-hate-society.68013/

 

[Pure]

If check the search function you'll find people's experience. Between that and people I've spoken to in other places, ketamine definitely works well. The main issue is that it's pretty expensive. I would have tried it but 1) not available in my area 2) I'm a broke student.

I only recommend ketamine treatment through a licensed clinic not self medication.

Other alternative treatments: psilocybin, dmt/Ayahuasca, mdma, and lsd.

 

[ReallyTired]

If check the search function you'll find people's experience. Between that and people I've spoken to in other places, ketamine definitely works well. The main issue is that it's pretty expensive. I would have tried it but 1) not available in my area 2) I'm a broke student.

I only recommend ketamine treatment through a licensed clinic not self medication.

Other alternative treatments: psilocybin, dmt/Ayahuasca, mdma, and lsd.

I live in UK. It's available here but very expensive. That's my problem as well.

 

[luten]

i need it for disabling pain, as with the other people here, cost is of concern. I will need to stay at nearby hotel or guesthouse for the first 6 days/infusions. It is about $841.00 for the first treatment. Hotel is $500.00. Traveling by Uber will cost the same as accommodation, so the uber option doesn't make sense. Self-driving is not allowed.

Ketamine topup once a month is $150.00.

This may not seem like much money to you, but in our local currency it is.

 

[ReallyTired]

i need it for disabling pain, as with the other people here, cost is of concern. I will need to stay at nearby hotel or guesthouse for the first 6 days/infusions. It is about $841.00 for the first treatment. Hotel is $500.00. Traveling by Uber will cost the same as accommodation, so the uber option doesn't make sense. Self-driving is not allowed.

Ketamine topup once a month is $150.00.

This may not seem like much money to you, but in our local currency it is.

It is a lot of money for me right now. Not able to work right now, because of my mental health and other health issues. I would have to start saving money. The problem I have is this: I will spend another year or two trying to put money together for the ketamine treatment. Enduring severe depression and more pain and suffering. Who can guarantee that the ketamine will definitely help me?
I've just read from people who tried IV ketamine treatment and it didn't help them at all.

 

[CozyTime]

A dear friend of mine has had a lot of success with it while dealing with resistant ptsd. He's essentially become a new person with it and I couldn't be happier for him, hoping to one day be able to try it out but my country's drug laws are extremely strict and won't allow the use even for medical purposes. Too expensive and too rare for me to be able to consistantly get a hold of it through unofficial means but maybe one day.

I hope if anyone tries it that it works just as well for you as it has for my friend.

 

[In2TheVoid]

It helped me a lot

 

[LittleJem]

I snort it sometimes. See Reddit Ketamine and depression. Not as effective as infusion, but so much cheaper. Does it help me ? I think so, somewhat.
How about microdosing psilocybin OP??

 

[ReallyTired]

I snort it sometimes. See Reddit Ketamine and depression. Not as effective as infusion, but so much cheaper. Does it help me ? I think so, somewhat.
How about microdosing psilocybin OP??

At this point I'm willing to try anything to get some relief from constant low mood and suicidal thoughts. I know Germany's running programs to test psilocybin for depression but I don't think there's anything like that in UK. But I've found online, there is a ketamine clinic in UK but I would need a referral from my psychiatrist ( I worry it might be a problem). The fees: Assesment £150, the treatment(3 infusions) £645, any additional maintenance infusion £195. Also,I would need to pay all the money upfront. I would also need to pay for a hotel as I don't live near by. There are other ketamine clinics in London, they can prescribe esketamine nasal spray-Spravato, but they are really expensive, completely inaccessible. The other option would be to get ketamine to snort it. It would be much cheaper, but I have no friends who can get it for me. I wouldn't know where to go to get it. The same goes for psilocybin.

 

[LittleJem]

At this point I'm willing to try anything to get some relief from constant low mood and suicidal thoughts. I know Germany's running programs to test psilocybin for depression but I don't think there's anything like that in UK. But I've found online, there is a ketamine clinic in UK but I would need a referral from my psychiatrist ( I worry it might be a problem). The fees: Assesment £150, the treatment(3 infusions) £645, any additional maintenance infusion £195. Also,I would need to pay all the money upfront. I would also need to pay for a hotel as I don't live near by. There are other ketamine clinics in London, they can prescribe esketamine nasal spray-Spravato, but they are really expensive, completely inaccessible. The other option would be to get ketamine to snort it. It would be much cheaper, but I have no friends who can get it for me. I wouldn't know where to go to get it. The same goes for psilocybin.

I would try the Ketamine clinic - it is worth seeing if it helps, it does have good efficacy. The infusions are much more effective than snorting it at home, so that is the best method to give it a proper try.

Psilocybin - if you are on psychiatric medication already, then it renders psilocybin inactive. The stuff I get is sourced on the darknet, but I can't get my head around the darknet - am just lucky a friend has access to it.

My other top tips are a) Modafinil ( you can buy this online, legally, in the UK) which augments anti-depressants and b) Tramadol (check your contraindications). I used it when I was bedridden with depression and it could get me out of bed. It is similar to SNRI anti-depressants. Not for use every day as it can be addictive, but if you look on Drugs.com it has 9/10 reviews for treatment-resistant depression.

I'm the same as you - currently on Prozac which is stopping me being bedridden, and weed which stops me crying constantly (today) and I'm not currently feeling suicidal.

Wish there was a way out of this nasty situation.

How many meds have you tried? Did you try Seroquel? I was nervous to try it, but it does have some good reviews for depression, as well as some side effects I wanted to avoid.

 

[tardis]

I always worry about treatments like this making you blind to your own problems instead of actually helping you. I would rather try to fix my problems and be in pain, than not experience pain but still have my problems. I don't know if that makes sense.

That is even if I could afford it.

 

[peach75]

Yes ketamine is awesome unfortunately I don't have it anymore, I think with the right dosage it can help a lot

 

[SuicidalDream]

I've been suffering from severe depression my whole life. The last ten years I've been on lots of different medications but nothing seems to work. As I'm getting older it's more and more difficult to carry on. The pain and suffering is overwhelming. I'm exhausted. Thinking more and more every day about catching the bus.
I've read that lots of people found way out of depression with ketamine. Anybody can help?

I found ketamine very helpful. It can be expensive though. The clinic I went to prescribes ketamine infusions and esketamine nasal spray, and the dr said infusions are better for long-term effectiveness. Infusions are cheaper than spray if you're paying out-of-pocket, but the spray is far more likely to be covered by insurance. You should also make sure you have transportation to and from the clinic if you're taking it there because you will not be able to drive for at least 12 hours. The trickiest parts of ketamine treatment are the cost and planning. I started my treatments by going twice a week then tapering the frequency. After that, I would get an infusion every time the depression came back.

 

[ReallyTired]

I always worry about treatments like this making you blind to your own problems instead of actually helping you. I would rather try to fix my problems and be in pain, than not experience pain but still have my problems. I don't know if that makes sense.

That is even if I could afford it.

I don't think you understand. Ketamine treatment is targeting people who suffer from treatment resistant depression. People like me, who have been with mental health services for 10+ years and tried every possible treatment, but nothing was effective. Living with clinical depression is a hell. Constant low mood, and suicidal thoughts, anhedonia, complete loss of appetite, exhaustion, cognitive problems, brain fog...Because of depression I already tried to ctb. Depression stole my identity, my joy in life. Everything I knew and enjoyed seems like a distant memory. Because of my depression I lost most of my friends and I'm completely isolated. Because of depression I spend all day in bed, wishing I was dead. If ketamine could help to lift my mood and to pull me out of this darkest abyss, I would so grateful. If not, then I can ctb in peace, because I've tried everything.

 

[tardis]

I don't think you understand. Ketamine treatment is targeting people who suffer from treatment resistant depression. People like me, who have been with mental health services for 10+ years and tried every possible treatment, but nothing was effective. Living with clinical depression is a hell. Constant low mood, and suicidal thoughts, anhedonia, complete loss of appetite, exhaustion, cognitive problems, brain fog...Because of depression I already tried to ctb. Depression stole my identity, my joy in life. Everything I knew and enjoyed seems like a distant memory. Because of my depression I lost most of my friends and I'm completely isolated. Because of depression I spend all day in bed, wishing I was dead. If ketamine could help to lift my mood and to pull me out of this darkest abyss, I would so grateful. If not, then I can ctb in peace, because I've tried everything.

You're right I misunderstood you, I'm sorry. I'm sorry about what you are going through, I hope you are able to get it and it helps you.

 

[luten]

At this point I'm willing to try anything to get some relief from constant low mood and suicidal thoughts. I know Germany's running programs to test psilocybin for depression but I don't think there's anything like that in UK. But I've found online, there is a ketamine clinic in UK but I would need a referral from my psychiatrist ( I worry it might be a problem). The fees: Assesment £150, the treatment(3 infusions) £645, any additional maintenance infusion £195. Also,I would need to pay all the money upfront. I would also need to pay for a hotel as I don't live near by. There are other ketamine clinics in London, they can prescribe esketamine nasal spray-Spravato, but they are really expensive, completely inaccessible. The other option would be to get ketamine to snort it. It would be much cheaper, but I have no friends who can get it for me. I wouldn't know where to go to get it. The same goes for psilocybin.

Here $830,00 for the first 6 infusions, which is 4,5 hours each, for 6 consecutive days. Then, $147, for one maintenance infusion per month. Problem is, the clinic is located 90 km from me, an uber will cost me $554,00 for the first 6 session, then $92 per month. A nearby guesthouse would workout cheaper I guess. Spent a fortune on medical this year, simply cant afford this treatment now. I want it for chronic pain.

 

[Nolife33]

Did one line of street ketamine once and it made me feel happy

 

[endthispain]

I had iv ketamine for severe depression and it did nothing:( treatment resistant depression so painful. Living in hell. So painful. Nobody understands:(

 

[Deleted member 32964]

wine. more wine. more sleep.

 

[Depressed Cat]

Ketamine could help some suicidal people

Giving suicidal patients ketamine could save thousands of lives each year, a study suggests.

French researchers say the illegal party drug can alleviate suicidal thoughts within days.

Doctors tested the therapy on 160 patients who were admitted to hospital because of their severe suicidal thoughts.

Almost two-thirds of the participants on ketamine were free of their ideations after three days. For comparison, the figure was slightly less than a third among patients on a placebo.

Ketamine could help save the lives of suicidal people

Researchers, who studied 160 suicidal patients in France, found those given the illegal party drug were half as likely to still be suffering from suicidal thoughts three days later.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Oblivion Access]

I abused ketamine for a while and it did improve my mood tremendously, but only for a few days to a week after use. Ended up causing much more harm than good overall, though it did give me the most profound experiences of my life (meeting 'god', near death experience, seeing my body from space, other spiritual voodoo bs).

Maybe look into MDMA treament? MAPS was/is researching it and based on what Bessel van Der Kolk (author of Body Keeps the Score) said it seems very promising.

 

[angiegirl30]

I personally haven't tried it but have read some studies where it has been incredibly successful. If you are interested in the studies, you can find them on an app called MedScape. I can't remember if you need a medical affiliation or not. If you do just let me know and I can access them for you.

 

[SovietSuicide]

It works very well, better than any anti-depressant I've ever done, but it doesn't last. First time the afterglow lasted a month, slowly became a week and then it stopped working altogether.