SPRAVATO (esketamine)
Has anyone taken this drug? My depression is severe and I have many thoughts of suicide. I am taking electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) on a 14-day schedule. The next one is tomorrow morning. My PDoc is going to call on Monday to see if the ECT helped to relieve the bipolar depression that I am in. What do you think about taking Ketamine?
Replies
I have no idea, hopefully someone else does. Prayers and support!
I was looking at the Mayo clinic cause I like the site for online medical info and they seem to be doing a lot of research on it and also seem to think that it might be a good alternative for severe depression
https://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-professionals/psychiatry-psychology/news/ketamine-exploring-continuation-phase-treatment-for-depression/mac-20430307
Howdy Thor,
I found this article in the Scientific American might be worth a read: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/getting-the-inside-dope-on-ketamine-rsquo-s-mysterious-ability-to-rapidly-relieve-depression/
Holding the best for you to find a way out of depression and feeling suicidal...
Its really new, like since 2019 used in the U.S. new. Its in a different Class than other anti-depressants, it's an NMDA Receptor Antagonist and is generally used in Nasal Spray form or you have to get injections. It comes with a hefty list of serious side effects, i.e. Sedation, Disassociation, Serious potential for Abuse, Increased risk of Suicidal thoughts/ideation. Cognitive Impairment, Impaired Ability to Drive, Increase Blood Pressure and since you have Heart Issues I'll add this one, not sure if it pertains to you:
Patients in whom an increase in BP or intracranial pressure poses a serious risk such as patients with aneurysmal vascular disease (including that affecting the thoracic and abdominal aorta and intracranial and peripheral arterial vessels) or arteriovenous malformation.
Its a serious med, a very new med and not prescribed a lot. You might want to keep a diary and keep watch of side effects or changes in mood when you start it, as they can be serious.
It also has a long list of drug interactions, so you might want to double check all the other meds you take for medical and mental health.
It does have a short half-life, only around 4 hours.
Its not a "stand alone" anti-depressant, it's designed to be used with other anti-depressants to enhance them and together help clear the depression.
Let us know how it goes.
Have they said what the plan is for the ECT or are they just leaving it open ended?
I just started a Study, last week the UNC Chapel Hill is doing on the effects extensive long-term ECT has on the patients genetic code. Basically seeing if the ECT changes or alters the patients genetic code and is that how the Depression is stabilized. Its an interesting theory.
Dunno about the drug, Th0r, but others here offered info on it. I'm just hoping the ECT went well again. That's been working for a while now, it seems.