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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Michael Bell on October 22, 2014, at 22:20:03
After the second one (my most recent), I have noticed a marked decrease in anhedonia, dysphoria, anxiety and obsessive rumination. rTMS, which I tried last year, did nothing. Ketamine, on the other hand, which I have never tried before, is having such a profound effect that I am scared to even talk much about it out of the foolish notion that I might jinx it.
Posted by SLS on October 22, 2014, at 23:39:32
In reply to Ketamine Infusions - my review, posted by Michael Bell on October 22, 2014, at 22:20:03
> After the second one (my most recent), I have noticed a marked decrease in anhedonia, dysphoria, anxiety and obsessive rumination. rTMS, which I tried last year, did nothing. Ketamine, on the other hand, which I have never tried before, is having such a profound effect that I am scared to even talk much about it out of the foolish notion that I might jinx it.
Thank you.
Get well and stay well!
- Scott
Posted by SLS on October 22, 2014, at 23:52:13
In reply to Ketamine Infusions - my review, posted by Michael Bell on October 22, 2014, at 22:20:03
Quick questions:
To what degree were cognitive and memory impairments features of your depressive state?
What were the most prominent symptoms?
An article I read reported that anhedonia resolved more quickly than most other depressive symptoms with ketamine. It is interesting that you listed that first among the symptoms of depression to improve..
- Scott
---------------------------------------------
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141020105037.htmA drug being studied as a fast-acting mood-lifter restored pleasure-seeking behavior independent of -- and ahead of -- its other antidepressant effects, in a National Institutes of Health trial. Within 40 minutes after a single infusion of ketamine, treatment-resistant depressed bipolar disorder patients experienced a reversal of a key symptom -- loss of interest in pleasurable activities -- which lasted up to 14 days. Brain scans traced the agent's action to boosted activity in areas at the front and deep in the right hemisphere of the brain.
Posted by Michael Bell on October 23, 2014, at 8:38:41
In reply to Re: Ketamine Infusions - my review » Michael Bell, posted by SLS on October 22, 2014, at 23:39:32
Thank you, I appreciate it.
Posted by Michael Bell on October 23, 2014, at 8:46:45
In reply to Re: Ketamine Infusions - my review » Michael Bell, posted by SLS on October 22, 2014, at 23:52:13
I suspect you will like my answer. I never suffered from melancholy or "typical" depression. Mine manifests as lack of the ability to derive pleasure from pretty much everything, although mainly social reward. I also suffer from constant negative thought loops and rumination. Throw anxiety and some anger into the mix, and there you go. Also, I suffered from severe social anxiety for most of my life which thankfully has abated significantly through the years. For the past several years, I would say I had Health Anxiety at a 9/10 (without clomipramine), social anxiety at a 3/10 and atypical depression at a 6/10.
So what has Ketamine done so far? Given me a positive mental, emotional energy that has reduced the anhedonia (which NO medicine has ever touched), minimized the negative rumination and made me overall less anxious. I will say that I have been on clomipramine for almost a year, which had already brought my Health Anxiety down to about a 3/10, but did nothing for social anxiety, atypical depression or anhedonia. So far, the Ketamine is doing better than I expected.
> Quick questions:
>
> To what degree were cognitive and memory impairments features of your depressive state?
>
> What were the most prominent symptoms?
>
> An article I read reported that anhedonia resolved more quickly than most other depressive symptoms with ketamine. It is interesting that you listed that first among the symptoms of depression to improve..
>
>
>
> - Scott
>
> ---------------------------------------------
>
>
> http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141020105037.htm
>
> A drug being studied as a fast-acting mood-lifter restored pleasure-seeking behavior independent of -- and ahead of -- its other antidepressant effects, in a National Institutes of Health trial. Within 40 minutes after a single infusion of ketamine, treatment-resistant depressed bipolar disorder patients experienced a reversal of a key symptom -- loss of interest in pleasurable activities -- which lasted up to 14 days. Brain scans traced the agent's action to boosted activity in areas at the front and deep in the right hemisphere of the brain.
Posted by oceansun on October 23, 2014, at 11:23:32
In reply to Ketamine Infusions - my review, posted by Michael Bell on October 22, 2014, at 22:20:03
That's wonderful! Are you in a clinical study?
Don't worry, I don't think talking about it will jinx something as strong as Ketamine ;-). I would love to hear all about it.
Posted by Lamdage22 on October 23, 2014, at 13:07:56
In reply to Re: Ketamine Infusions - my review » Michael Bell, posted by oceansun on October 23, 2014, at 11:23:32
Sounds great. Maybe Naurex´s compounds will do the same without having the danger of causing psychosis.
Do you suffer anything that goes into this direction?
Definitely let us know how you do if you continue the treatment.
THanks
Posted by babbler20 on October 24, 2014, at 19:06:12
In reply to Ketamine Infusions - my review, posted by Michael Bell on October 22, 2014, at 22:20:03
Thanks for posting. How many times did your doctor say you could do this before you start experiencing major problems as a result of it? Glad you are feeling well.
Posted by Chris O on October 25, 2014, at 0:41:12
In reply to Ketamine Infusions - my review, posted by Michael Bell on October 22, 2014, at 22:20:03
Michael:
That's awesome. I hope your results with ketamine last. There certainly have been some encouraging stories about ketamine as an effective antidepressant out there over the past couple of years.
Sorry your rTMS treatments didn't do anything. My insurance has just approved rTMS for me and I am starting next week. I have mixed hopes based on what people have said on these boards and what I've read online. My psychiatrist seems very positive on it, though, based on the results he has gotten.
Chris
Posted by SLS on October 25, 2014, at 6:21:09
In reply to Ketamine Infusions - my review, posted by Michael Bell on October 22, 2014, at 22:20:03
> After the second one (my most recent), I have noticed a marked decrease in anhedonia, dysphoria, anxiety and obsessive rumination. rTMS, which I tried last year, did nothing. Ketamine, on the other hand, which I have never tried before, is having such a profound effect that I am scared to even talk much about it out of the foolish notion that I might jinx it.
Do you think you could use intranasal ketamine as a maintinance treatment?
- Scott
Posted by Michael Bell on October 25, 2014, at 7:22:55
In reply to Re: Ketamine Infusions - my review » Michael Bell, posted by SLS on October 25, 2014, at 6:21:09
Yes, the dr said that that is the plan. However most people still go in for infusions every couple of months or so to keep the positive benefits at a high level.
Posted by phidippus on October 31, 2014, at 20:22:54
In reply to Ketamine Infusions - my review, posted by Michael Bell on October 22, 2014, at 22:20:03
How were the side effects?
Eric
Posted by Michael Bell on November 2, 2014, at 22:05:35
In reply to Re: Ketamine Infusions - my review » Michael Bell, posted by phidippus on October 31, 2014, at 20:22:54
> How were the side effects?
>
> EricNonexistent. Just a little woozy for an hour at the most after each session.
Posted by mogger on November 18, 2014, at 20:15:38
In reply to Ketamine Infusions - my review, posted by Michael Bell on October 22, 2014, at 22:20:03
Michael how are you doing with your Ketamine treatment? Hope you are continuing to see benefits. I am trying to get treatment myself but I am finding it so expensive. How did/do you afford it?
mogger
This is the end of the thread.
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