![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by SLS on June 8, 2012, at 13:07:08
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/765252?src=mpnews&spon=12
Low-Dose Ketamine May Be Effective for Resistant DepressionJune 7, 2012 (Phoenix, Arizona) The administration of 6 low-dose intravenous infusions of the fast-acting drug ketamine over 2 weeks shows efficacy in improving symptoms in patients with treatment-resistant depression, new research shows.
...
Ketamine may rapidly reverse prefrontal cortexbased deficits in depression at the neurocircuitry level, leading to an amelioration of clinical symptoms," said study investigator James W. Murrough, MD, a research fellow in Mount Sinai's Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program in New York City.
...
After undergoing a washout of antidepression medication, patients were treated with a series of 6 intravenous infusions of low-dose ketamine (.5 mg/kg, which is about one quarter of the 2 mg/kg typically used as an anesthetic), administered 3 times a week over the 2 weeks. The patients were then monitored for up to 3 months or until a relapse.
The results showed a significant decrease in depression during the 2-week treatment phase, with an overall improvement in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score from baseline to postinfusion number 6 of 22.8 points (mean baseline MADRS score, 32.1 ± 6.0; endpoint MARDS score, 9.3 ± 11.3).
As many as 70.8% (17 of 24 participants) had a reduction of 50% or more in their MADRS score at the study's endpoint, compared with baseline. The remaining 29.2% (7 of 24) were considered nonresponders.
Posted by Phillipa on June 8, 2012, at 19:03:55
In reply to Low-dosage ketamine infusions, posted by SLS on June 8, 2012, at 13:07:08
I saw this yesterday what are your thoughts? Phillipa
Posted by SLS on June 9, 2012, at 7:08:48
In reply to Re: Low-dosage ketamine infusions » SLS, posted by Phillipa on June 8, 2012, at 19:03:55
> I saw this yesterday what are your thoughts? Phillipa
I would love to see an effective ketamine treatment that doesn't involve infusions or nasal-sprays. Other than that, I agree with the article that the antidepressant properties of ketamine need to be studied and understood so that the etiologies of affective disorders can be elucidated and their treatment improved. Ketamine might be the Rosetta Stone of depression. Even if ketamine itself does not represent a convenient first-line treatment, other drugs that are based on its mechanisms of action might be developed.
- Scott
Posted by JohnLA on June 9, 2012, at 14:27:52
In reply to Re: Low-dosage ketamine infusions, posted by SLS on June 9, 2012, at 7:08:48
excellent metaphor scott.
as i mentioned in my other thread i am most likely going to do ketamine infusions in the near future. hoping the bit of relief i seem to be getting from the ketamine nasal spray will mean i will respond to the infusion.
my sister is currently battling cancer. she goes twice a week for chemo. i believe the chemotherapy is also thru an iv...
when i first got depressed over 2 years ago i began a journey in to learning about this most vile condition (depression). i have read many excellent descriptions of depression. one simple and quite good description is that depression is 'cancer of the psyche/soul.'
as my sister was having chemo on thursday i was making the first steps towards treating my depression via an iv w/ketamine. i find this ironic and sad. i also find it extremely hopeful.
my sister beat her cancer one time already, 10 years ago. and, just like depression, it came back unfortunately. she is confident she will beat it again. she is using all that medicine, faith and love from family and friends have to offer.
many of us who suffer from depression are also in the fight of our lives. we are losing days, precious days of our lives. i don't know how you have stayed alive for so long. i really don't know how much longer i can last.
back to your rosetta stone/ketamine metaphor; i'm not going to wait until they crack the code. regardless of cost and risk i will be doing the infusions. hoping those and faith and love from family and friends gets me back to life.
hey, i always compliment you on your writing and vocabulary. (must be the teacher in me.) i compliment you on your simple post on this thread as well. i would really have liked to have had you as a student in my class...
Posted by Bryn B on June 21, 2012, at 14:35:01
In reply to Re: Low-dosage ketamine infusions, posted by JohnLA on June 9, 2012, at 14:27:52
wow, so interesting. I would love to hear more about this. I'm battling a major depressive episode right now & can't rebound. was sobbing when I went to my podoc yesterday & he was useless. (I take lexapro & started deplin 2 weeks ago.)
my episode started about 2 months ago. though I'm pretty much sober, I have had problems in the past w/ drug addiction. because I've been so depressed, I've been abusing painkillers as they indeed give that quick fix. I stopped a few days ago--I was using every other day or just a few days a week--but of course I'm feeling sh*tt**r than ever now. I never dealt with opiate withdrawal before, but I'm thinking that I could be in wd now. it's all made the depression so much worse and I'm physically a wreck. is this even possible?
my doc basically advised me to clean my system out (thanks!) and then see how I feel. I'm rambling here, but what I'm getting at is that even if the opiates made it worse, once they're out (and that should only be a few days, right?) I'm still left w/ this horrible bout of depression. I've tried so many meds in the past, and keeping it simple (such as my current lexapro rx) has been the way to go (except that now it's pooped out).
how/where do you get ketamine??
Posted by alchemy on June 21, 2012, at 14:36:19
In reply to Re: Low-dosage ketamine infusions, posted by JohnLA on June 9, 2012, at 14:27:52
I really want to try ketamine, although it may not work for me, it keeps me holding on. I left a msg at a university neuro psych center and they havent responded. I am trying to get anapt with a neuro for my headaches and maybe they will help.
A friend thT works as a medical assistant said thT a drug rep came in with ketamine nose sprays to their pain clinic and the dr responded that cocaine is also snorted up the nose..
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.