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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Babak on September 5, 2008, at 14:00:21
Hi everyone
I am sure you have all heard about AD effects of Ketamine (best Biopsychiatric site).
I have a progressive and treatment resistant depression. Medication has had limited benefits and is getting less and less effective. I have had numerous ECTs, again with limited benefits which wear out completely over a couple of months. The last thing I have tried is VNS. It has improved my condition substantially otherwise I wouldnt have been able to do this. I was crippled, unable to walk or talk and even think at times. So there it has been a life saver but the improvement has not been to the extent that I can get a job and work which is my goal.
Now I have heard about Ketamine and I am hoping that it would give me enough of a push to break through. So I am desperate to try it but as you know it is not legal and doctors wont prescribe it.
However before I can commit to yet another chemical entering my body I want to know about the risks that I will be taking. The first issue which is of concern to me is its concomitant use with Effexor which is an SSRI and/or SNRI antidepressant. Now I know that SSRIs stop Ecstasy to have much of AD effect and from what I have been reading it seems that Ketamine can be considered of the same family. I have also read about the risks of Serotonin Syndrome, although before knowing about it I have mixed MDMA and SSRI (Seroxat) on many occasions and at very high doses. All I got was a relatively severe head ache.
I take 300mg Effexor and 5mg of Olanzapine. Coming off Effexor is a long and painful affair. But if it prevents Ketamine from having an effect or its full effect, I am prepared to take it once again but I would like to research the facts as much as possible before hand.
Now is there anyone who can contribute to the discussion? I would be most grateful as usual.
Thank you all in advance
P.s. Check out www.chinese-formula.com. Before VNS it was the only thing which brought me out my immobility. The doctors didnt believe me but if it werent for that stuff I would have died or starved. It is not a miracle cure as they claim on the site but boy o boy it is really fantastic. I used to give a couple to friends who also suffer from depression and they all have become regular clients as am I. My depression unfortunately is in a league of its own in terms of resistant, but Chinese-Formula is helping me on day to day basis more that Effexor or Olanzapine.
Posted by Sigismund on September 5, 2008, at 16:14:48
In reply to Ketamine + SSRI(s), posted by Babak on September 5, 2008, at 14:00:21
So the Chinese formula helps with depression as well as withdrawal?
Any side effects? Insomnia perhaps?
Posted by Babak on September 5, 2008, at 19:08:52
In reply to Re: Ketamine + SSRI(s) » Babak, posted by Sigismund on September 5, 2008, at 16:14:48
Absolutely. The thing is that I took it for withdrawal but I found out that it helped me with depression as well.
Well the Chinese say that when you stop taking opiates your body lacks heat and Chinese-formula recreates that heat until your body adjusts back.
But since I dont really believe in Chinese Medicine, they way I thought about it was that whatever it was doing in the western sort of thinking it must be getting my body to create endorphins and endorphins relieve depression and I think my hypothesis is correct. Because after I passed the stage where I was not suffering any withdrawals I was still feeling a lot less depressed.
So I kept taking it and I found out that it was lifting me out of depression. Then I thought maybe I was getting hooked on it. So when I ran out I didnt re-order. I didnt have any withdrawal symptoms like constipation, diarrhea, and pain, lack of sleep or sweating.
The only thing was that the depression came back. So I started taking it again and I was lifted out of depression again. I am not saying that I am cured but it gave me a lot more get-up and go and lessened the feelings of lethargy and anhedonia.
It is the difference of being functional and not functional. I take ten a day but my depression is particularly bad but my friend to whom I introduced it takes two a day and he feels fine.
It is a different effect to that of SSRI or other anti-depressants and the only side effect I have felt is dry mouth but that is because I take ten a day but my friends doesnt even have that.
Try it and let me know.
Posted by Babak on September 5, 2008, at 19:29:49
In reply to Re: Ketamine + SSRI(s) » Sigismund, posted by Babak on September 5, 2008, at 19:08:52
Oh, and one more thing. The reason I am going to try Ketamine is because this herbal thing works out too expensive for me, considering that I take ten a day. Although they give me a discount in the way of additional capsules for every two purchases, it is still too expensive for me because I dont work. But my friend who takes two a day, it works out a lot cheaper and who knows Ketamine might actually give me a complete remission. I can always dream.
Posted by Sigismund on September 5, 2008, at 19:36:56
In reply to Re: Ketamine + SSRI(s) » Babak, posted by Babak on September 5, 2008, at 19:29:49
Some TCM preparations contain a Tibetan variant of rhodiola, the main type of which (rhodiola rosea) is said to boost beta endorphin levels.
As I recall being told, that's the kind of endorphin associated with exercise.
Posted by Phillipa on September 5, 2008, at 19:50:01
In reply to Re: Ketamine + SSRI(s) » Babak, posted by Sigismund on September 5, 2008, at 19:36:56
Really? So could cut down excercizing? Love PJ
Posted by Babak on September 6, 2008, at 2:17:56
In reply to Re: Ketamine + SSRI(s) » Babak, posted by Sigismund on September 5, 2008, at 19:36:56
Well they say something similar on their web site. What ever it is, it really works. I don't have much faith in TCM and homeopathetic stuff but this one really works.
Hello but can we get back to Ketamine and SSRI(s)
This is the end of the thread.
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