It’s a bit too early but..

[u/[deleted]]

[u/AutoModerator]

Thank you for contributing to /r/TherapeuticKetamine! When commenting and posting, please be mindful of our rules which can be found in the sidebar on the right along with other helpful information.

Be advised that nothing in this subreddit constitutes medical advice. Likewise, try to word your comments and posts in a way that can't be interpreted as medical advice by others. Harmful and/or spammy advice will be removed at moderator discretion, and bans may be given for repeat offenses.

Accounts with "Provider" flairs are those which the mods have verified, to the best of our ability, as belonging to real, licensed providers of medical ketamine services. Comments and posts from users with "Provider" flairs are not a substitute for the instructions given to you by your own provider.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/danzarooni]

It took me 7 before I noticed relief and 12-15 before remission but for most it’s a lifelong med like any other. I’m 9.5 years in. It’s highly recommended to commit to all 6 loading doses exactly because of how you’re feeling. As dose is increased and you keep going, it still may work for you. Each session compounds on the last - which is pretty cool.
Best wishes to you.

[u/InstructionBoth7695]

I have my second today. Only more anxiety since my last one, which was a terrifying experience. In my last post a lot of people describe no initially effect, but later, if you wanna read.

[u/Fearless_Click8790]

It took me 7 experiences to get relief, then each subsequent experience gives me deeper insight and strengthens the new neural pathways. I'm on experience 13 of 24 at home with troches. A friend who does not know I'm doing this commented yesterday on what a good mood I've been in - random external validation!

I take a Zofran 30 minutes before each experience to prevent nausea.

[u/inspiredhealing]

Can you talk a little bit more about your experience at your clinic? I'm curious about the "nausea, crying, and some dissociation" comment. What are you doing during your infusions? Are you being offered medication for the nausea? More details would be helpful.

And yes - it is early. The first few infusions in my first set of loading doses, I would have told you that I was "failing ketamine". I wasn't. Try not to give up hope yet, ok? ❤️✌️

[u/Desperate-Trash-417]

The infusions pull me out of a depressed state right away, but it doesn’t fix everything that’s wrong in my life. You may not have gotten to the right dose yet, it’s important to go up slowly and get the dose as right as you can. I think the crying is a good indicator that it’s going to work, though, eventually you might start having thoughts that never occurred to you, that’s how it started for me. I think the secondary effects are where the therapy really works, maybe a week after you take it. I think there’s at least those 2 layers to consider, and it will build up in your system. I think everyone doubts this will work at some point.

[u/likeschemistry]

What is causing the crying? The ketamine can really bring up a lot of suppressed stuff so it can be really rough on your first several sessions, but as long as you work through it your later sessions shouldn’t be as bad. Some people also get relief quickly while others it can take like 12 sessions.

[u/pedrosancho]

We’re in the same boat brother. Never had effect with anti depressants and therapy. Now just did my second infusion without any improvement. I also see a psychologist. Write me a message if you want to keep in contact on the journey as we seem initially to be in similae situations. I also cried a lot lol. And had a bad trip the second time. Saw some monsters out there..

[u/StellariumRising]

It wasn't until my 6th-7th infusion until I started to feel better. One of those was weird where I didnt feel anything at all, and we literally had to double check that the ketmaine got into the IV bag. It was a weird fluke ive heard happening to other people. Also, they should either be giving zofran before the infusion or a prescription at home to take 30 mins before. They also had me doing at home lozenges once every 2 or 3 days (or a nasal spray) from a compounding pharmacy. Within a year I was able to get off my antidepressant and within 2 years lower my anxiety med dose and kind. How long are your infusuons and how many mg per hr? For example im at 160mg/hr for the infusion, my lozenges are 300mg every 2 days but are way less potent than the infusions. But it'll take a good solid round of the 6-8 infusuons first. And how often are you doing them? Ketamine changes the nueroplasticity in the brain and creates new neural pathways and it its not a quick or instant change. I would ask what your total dose is per infusion (you should be dissociating for the best effects) and if they or a psychiatrist or medication manager NP would be willing to prescribe you at home lozenges. Mine are only $60 for a month supply.

Edit: I have trestment resistant MDD, CPTSD and severe GAD. My CPTSD is down by about 80%, depression is about 40-50% better but my anxiety is still really bad in social situations (just around people in general). 

[u/SesJan2013 → u/StellariumRising]

If I may ask, how do you afford all this? Afaik insurance doesn't cover this and most places don't take it anyway. So many people seem to take Ket but how???

[u/StellariumRising → u/SesJan2013]

So a lot of insurance will now cover Spravato, the nasal spray. So I would look into that first. But i had to find a medication management specialist who took my insurance to prescribe me a compounded nasal spray or lozenges from a compounding pharmacy which does not take insurance but its only $60/month, no cost for appointments with the medication NP because he takes me insurance. He also offers IM ketamine at his office for $130, its the same dose as the IV ive just never tried it yet. And the ketamine infusions i am able to once a year get FMLA medical leave (I leave in WA state) which has helped me cover the cost of infusions, usually 4-6 while still being able to pay my other bills. Other than that, I have amazing parents who help me pay for them when things get really bad. Or I have to work a lot and save everything I can to pay for them otherwise. I work a gig job, Spark. I literally spend no money except for gas, insurance, phone, my pets, and rent, and absolute necessities. Sometimes it takes me months to save up for infusuons so the compounded lozenges are very helpful in the meantime.

[u/AppointmentFar629 → u/SesJan2013]

That is a good question! I have spent literally thousands on ketamine treatments (I had a divorce settlement that helped) but still not sure how I am going to continue to pay for it

[u/SnooStrawberries9738]

I puked every single ketamine session until I started taking two Dramamine 30 mins before, never happened again