Ketamine infusion therapy & rTMS

[Kaytee1981]

Hi,

I'm an inpatient currently and following several suicide attempts (aa outpatient and inpatient) and apparent lack of response to the variety of medications they've tried, the consultant suggusted ketamine infusion therapy and rTMS- which as i understand is a less invasive ECT. I know both treatments are very rare as they are only offered in a couple of areas (lucky i live in one of the areas) but was wondering if anyone has any experience of either as a treatment for their depression and/or anxiety.

Everyone around me, nurses, husband, family healthcare assistants are like 'its really good' 'take the opportunity' 'your lucky to be offered it' etc i feel really divided by it - im not sure im ready for it, i dont know what feeling 'better' feels like and im kinda used to feeling like this and thats if it even works - if that makes sense.

[dore13]

I didn't know how normal people felt until I was in a ketamine study. It worked, I take ketamine once a week, as an IM injection. I had already tried ECT, and it failed. I do not know how much they give you with an IV therapy though. I also take one pill for my add, and that is it. The ketamine was a god sent to me, I have lost half my life to depression and now I can live my life. I know that medication effects us all differently, but I hope it works for you. The only thing I don't like is when I take the shot, I lie down because you feel super spacey, I hate that, I do not like feeling like I am not in control of my body. After a couple of hours, you feel fine, and more importantly, not depressed. I wish you luck!

[Kaytee1981 in reply to dore13]

Thanks do you have that in the UK?

The treatment plan as i understand is 3 infusions over 40mins on 3 separate occassions over 1-2weeks, the dose is based on body weight - its a very low dose. The short term affect of it bothers me in that it's not long lasting as in as little as 3 days relief.

[dore13 in reply to Kaytee1981]

well, I wouldn't know, I am in the US. LOL! I also did not do the IV , I was given a shot, which I now give to myself once a week. I know they do low doses on the IV but I don't know what it totals or how that works. Do they have the options of doing a once a week IM shot?

[Kaytee1981 in reply to dore13]

No, this iv is the only option and i think there is only two places in the UK that do this treatment. Thanks for your insight though - i do feel a bit railroaded to do it though 🤔

[hypercat54 in reply to Kaytee1981]

Got to be better than succeeding in killing yourself?? x

[Kaytee1981 in reply to hypercat54]

Depends where your heads at i guess?

Just been denied home leave this afternoon, and had my room searched 3rd time in a week too - feeling on top of the world - not 😭

[hypercat54 in reply to Kaytee1981]

Well if you have run out of other treatment options then there does seem to be little choice. And it's got to be better than succeeding in killing yourself hasn't it? x

[dore13 in reply to Kaytee1981]

I hated room searches. What am I? The great Svengali!?!? LOL! Talk to your doctor about IM injections once a week , I take 80 mg, maybe there is a study you can get into, or maybe they'll start one! I will say this, I feel an incredible amount of responsibility in taking this medication. One screw up by anyone could spoil the chance for others to get the help they desperately need! All I know is it took half my life to find a treatment that worked, and I wouldn't want anyone deprived the same chance. You just have to be responsible for taking a serious medication like this.

[Kaytee1981 in reply to dore13]

Thanks- I'll see what happens next week- consultant back Monday so I'll talk to him then

[Terry4949]

I’m not sure about ketamine as I don’t know much about I have seen some positive things from it and for people like us who struggle with TRD it’s sounds promising when all else has failed . What I can tell you by my experience is that I would personally forget ECT I have had this 12 sessions out of desperation and I have been permanently harmed by it I know many people who have suffered the same fate , you will the odd success story from this treatment where people swear by it when all else has failed but believe you me I have seen so many people more injured than helped , this so called ECT is a cover up they force you brain to have a seizure and people who have epilepsy can get brain damage from seizures so that’s all ECT is causing you a seizure and damaging your brain it’s a horrible experience and if it goes wrong you are left with it for life with no help or follow up this is what has happened to me and I can give you names of at least a hundred others so please think carefully about it , I was like you so desperate to end the suffering having lived with depression for 30 years but this was the biggest mistake of my life as my doctor told me it would be the answer to my problem now I have depression and brain damage , ketamine might be worth researching but we don’t know much about that really . I truly understand your pain as I would give anything to have a life free from this

[Hidden]

I have heard of although not talked to anyone who has had Ketamine. I know what the drug is used for generally and I would in my own eyes question its use

However you have confidence in your Health Professionals and if you feel the pathway is worth trying go for it.

BOB