Depression.

bumbledore said:
Yes, it does. Ketamine is fully licensed by the MCC. The treatment can be done as a day patient with an infusion pump. As a medication, ketamine is relatively inexpensive.

I know of a few psychiatrists in Cape Town that are already delivering this intervention, and am keen to start doing so myself.
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Thanks for the info! Do you know what name the drug is sold as here?
 
Bryn said:
Thanks for the info! Do you know what name the drug is sold as here?
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Ketamine-fresenius is the only formulation available, I think.

If you don't mind, I'd like to revert to another post chime in on the ketamine thing (it's a bit late, I know, but still may be useful for some) too:

copacetic said:
I'm under the impression that there's been a bit of excited media hysteria over Ketamine, as opposed to sober clinical investigation (with regards to depression)
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To chime in here, albeit a week late, it's not just media hype. There really is a large peer-reviewed literature supporting ketamine's rapid antidepressant effects in both unipolar and bipolar depression, most of which studying the effects of a single IV infusion. Whilst highly effective almost immediately, the problem is that the response is not sustained and tapers off after a few days. Other studies have demonstrated that repeated infusions can prolong this effect, and is well tolerated, although very few studies have focused specifically on longer-term negative side-effects, or on the actual long-term outcomes on affective disorders themselves. (Personally, I would say that the potential harms of a single dose are significantly less than those of an under-treated depression!)

You are right when you say that we should exercise caution, and this area definitely needs further study. Very often, though, patients with treatment-resistant conditions are desperate, and should be provided a safe space in which to try novel treatments, and I would also agree with your *edit* in that post.
 
bumbledore said:
Yes, it does. Ketamine is fully licensed by the MCC. The treatment can be done as a day patient with an infusion pump. As a medication, ketamine is relatively inexpensive.

I know of a few psychiatrists in Cape Town that are already delivering this intervention, and am keen to start doing so myself.
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I'd be interested in getting in contact with one of them...
 
bumbledore said:
To chime in here, albeit a week late, it's not just media hype. There really is a large peer-reviewed literature supporting ketamine's rapid antidepressant effects in both unipolar and bipolar depression, most of which studying the effects of a single IV infusion. Whilst highly effective almost immediately, the problem is that the response is not sustained and tapers off after a few days. Other studies have demonstrated that repeated infusions can prolong this effect, and is well tolerated, although very few studies have focused specifically on longer-term negative side-effects, or on the actual long-term outcomes on affective disorders themselves. (Personally, I would say that the potential harms of a single dose are significantly less than those of an under-treated depression!)

You are right when you say that we should exercise caution, and this area definitely needs further study. Very often, though, patients with treatment-resistant conditions are desperate, and should be provided a safe space in which to try novel treatments, and I would also agree with your *edit* in that post.
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Thanks for the info. It is something I'd like to know more about, although upon reflection, I can't see myself trying it (my main issues are cost, route of administration and periods between treatments).
 
This is what was going through my head daily/ monthly / years :erm: I almost ended my life a few times but the end of this song pretty much sums up what I told my self in my head every single day ( Still do at times randomly- the peeps who know me don't tell my friends):erm:.

Listen at 6 mins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=me6krWVfN8I
 
I seem to be becoming unglued.

I'm faced, it seems, with the unpleasant prospect that I probably need to get back on SSRIs for the remainder of my days, in order to become semi-functional.

No idea which way to turn, in all honesty.
 
Starting Serlife tomorrow and have Urbanol for severe attacks (Doubt I will need it). Anyway finally got the balls and went to the doc.
 
Alan said:
There is always god
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I am confident that were I able to muster whatever the necessary mental process is that allows people to indulge in such vast flights of fancy, it would indeed probably prove vaguely comforting.
 
Last edited:
As to my actual depression. Well. I'm eating healthily, seeing a therapist, abstaining from alcohol and generally endeavoring to make sensible decisions as well as making an effort to delve a little bit into mindfulness and CBT.

The process seems to be moderately successful so far. Suicidal ideations have abated, the oily black has receded, and I'm feeling, dare I say it, mildly positive, for the first time in, well, forever.
 
copacetic said:
As to my actual depression. Well. I'm eating healthily, seeing a therapist, abstaining from alcohol and generally endeavoring to make sensible decisions as well as making an effort to delve a little bit into mindfulness and CBT.

The process seems to be moderately successful so far. Suicidal ideations have abated, the oily black has receded, and I'm feeling, dare I say it, mildly positive, for the first time in, well, forever.
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Thats awesome, dont forget however that having a crappy day or week is totally normal. No one feels positive all the time, its part of life and one needs to process it to move on.
 
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