I have been dealing with depression off and on for about ten years now. In the last six months it has become worse. The last two months have been pure hell to say the least. I went through a bad break up, have had five family members and friends pass and three good friends now all with stage four cancer. My depression is like never before! I drink daily, do not shower, miss work and all I think about is death! I have stocked up on sleeping pills, I bought Sodium Nitrate off Amazon as I read that it is a way to do yourself in as well. I have been going to my VA Hospital for three months now and they have not been any help at all. I see a therapist once a week and I sit there and cry the entire time. I cannot function on a day-to-day basis at all. I will just break down for no reason at all and loose it. The VA wants to start ketamine treatments on me if they ever get the paperwork done! I know I need to do something before I do any self-harm but after reading post on here, I am not sure if this is the right treatment or not? Please any feedback from anyone out there dealing with the same thing and any advice someone can offer I am open to listening.
Ketamine treatment questions. Help please?
Question posted by Par5BNA on 25 Oct 2022
Last updated on 7 August 2023
3 Answers
Dear Par5BNA. First I'm sorry your feeling so crappy. I was feeling pretty suicidal and wanting something that would help in any way assist me through just one day without me crumbling. I had asked my doctor for shock therapy with hopes that wiping my memory would ease the depression. She told me I was a good candidate for ketamine therapy. I looked at the paperwork she gave me a thought she was crazy. How would going on some "dream" help ease my pain? I had spent my life abstaining from drugs and now she wanted me to take some mushroom like trip. No way! I didn't throw the paperwork away for some reason and picked it back up and googled it myself and read pages after pages of research and peoples stories about how it helped. I had my follow up appointment with the Dr. and I agreed to try it, but she was going to have a harder time selling it to my husband who is a retired officer, who said no in a second when I told him what the Dr. had suggested.
I needed him to drive so he had to be ok... lol Well it's been over a year now. Im not depressed I've dealt with more issues in my past than 25 yrs of counseling could not do. I have not thought of killing myself since I started. I haven't been in the hospital since before treatments. I will say this I do take my regular psych meds but I haven't had to change dose or type. My history of psych meds is extensive and was always being adjusted. Now I'm stable. Being over a year is extremely good for me. I'm bipolar/PTSD and a few other things I can't remember but I hope you get the point. Ketamine has been a lifesaver for me. I know it's not for everyone, but I know it works out for me.
I am a retired police officer (15 yrs on the force) who has been fighting migraine for 30 years, which became chronic & daily, depression & anxiety. When I started Ketamine Infusions I felt like my life had changed & is getting back on track. I highly recommend this treatment too.
I’m very sorry for the struggles you have been through.
I started at home ketamine treatments for depression, anxiety, ptsd, and OCD a couple of months ago. I’ll be honest, I am extremely happy with the results so far even knowing I need to continue treatment to continue to see results. I would prefer to try the infusions, as I suffer from chronic pain (10+ years now), but there is no where near me that offers infusions.
I notice that the treatments I am able to do, very noticeably affect my mood and I feel much less depressed afterwards.
I haven’t had any side effects but prevent nausea with zofran since I’m prone to getting sick with many meds and it’s common with the at home treatments. I’m not sure with infusions tbh.
After years of suffering from my various mental illnesses, since being a teen and now I’m over 40, I actually have hope that this medication will provide a way for me to function more like a normal human adult for the long term. I know it has been very successfully used for people who are suicidal.
My own thoughts of harm have been drastically reduced now that I compare my thought patterns pre-ketamine to now.
I was extremely hesitant to try the treatment because I was scared of how it would make me feel, as I have never done a drug in my life other than medical marijuana. It was pleasant and spiritual for me, though I believe the nasal dosages are smaller than what’s given for home treatments - sublingual troches. I’m now a very staunch supporter of these treatments after experiencing the benefits (for me, my OCD has been immensely improved, in addition to my depression).
Best of luck with getting these treatments for yourself!
I am so sorry to hear you're having such a bad depression. I have suffered from depression all of my life but currently I am on a cocktail of medications that are working for me so far! I tried Ketamine infusion treatment last Spring for 6 sessions. I have to say it was wonderful and it helped me a lot in the beginning, but the effects did not last for me. Also on my last session I got too much in my system and passed out and woke up in the hospital which scared me quite a bit! Enough to not go back to it. My psychiatrist offered the nasal treatments originally but I wanted the infusion because I had heard it works better than the nasal spray. From everything I've read so far, it sounds like it's something that works but needs to be repeated in order for it to work. It didn't have any negative long term effects on me. I wouldn't be afraid of it if I were you! You can have them give you the nasal spray if you are afraid of the infusions.
Specially, if you are drinking daily, I don't think Ketamine would be any worse! I hope this helps and good luck to you. Remember all conditions are temporary!
Related topics
Further information
- Ketamine uses and safety info
- Ketamine prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Ketamine (detailed)
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