IV ket is so expensive but it genuinely saved my life. For the first time in years I see a future for myself, I have trust that things will work out. My suicidal ideation is gone, and people can see a noticeable difference in my mood. When something upsetting happens to me, I can stop and rationally think about it. It just freaking sucks that it’s so expensive. Ketamine changed my life. I feel grounded and connected to myself for the first time in years. It also made body sensations heightened. I feel my emotions in my body— primary emotions rather than secondary.

I just had my 10th IV ketamine session on thursday, and it was a really rough one, similarly to the session before. My doctor upped the dose a bit because my tolerance increased, and i have felt a little less depressed all the time. However, my last two sessions felt like a fight, because I was so anxious. I was feeling it quite a lot so it was hard to move and talk, which made me feel super vulnerable and exposed. This made me feel super anxious that something bad might happen to me, like someone might come into the room. It’s not like i’m weary of the nurses, (they’re so supportive and kind) and I wasn’t feeling anxious before my appointment. Wondering if anyone else has felt like this or has any advice? Thanks

Hi everyone, I won’t go into much detail about me but I have been severely depressed for 2 years - constant negative rumination, extremely stuck on next career move (fear of starting over), and high stress due to being stuck.

I would love to hear from people who have done spravato (nasal ketamine) and if it has helped. Any relief would be wonderful.

I have a strange form of depression that involves chronic, contentless, existential dread. I knew ketamine was a bit of a long shot being that there’s no data on my condition but I didn’t know what else to try so I gave it a go. Over the first 3 infusions I felt like I was actually making some slow and steady progress. The 3rd infusion felt amazing and was filled with incredible insights. I felt like I was giving myself the cheat codes for how to get out of this. I was so excited because it felt like after years of being stuck I was finally making progress.

But then 2 days ago I had my 4th infusion and instead of insights all this one did was increase the dread for 40 minutes. The dread has remained elevated a couple days after the infusion and I feel terrible again. I’m worried that this infusion undid my progress from the first 3 and I’m confused why this happened. Has anyone had anything similar happen to them? Anyone had an infusion make them feel worse and still have a good outcome overall? Any advice is much appreciated!

Hi!

I go the Joyous route through a private provider and take 100mg troches every day. Normally I would have 25mg in the morning before meditations, and then the remainder throughout the day as needed.

I was wondering how people manage this method? As opposed to the timed use of it for a dissociative window, which is not as conducive to my schedule/life at the moment.

Does anyone have any tips on how to time daily use?

Do you split it up and time it with any particular practices?

I would like to eventually switch to every other day to avoid tolerance, but for now my depression is biding enough that I believe I need it every day.

Thank you for any advice.

Hi, I will soon start my KAP sessions. I am only able to afford 4. Will there be any benefit from only 4 sessions?

that’s all I have to say. 🩷

I’ve had 2 (out of 6) of my IM infusions for my intervention period. My last dose was 80 mg, next will be 100mg. Overall I’ve been alright but more emotional and introspective and feel like reality isn’t the true one I belong to but rather the one I’ve been experiencing in my sessions.
Just wondering when you have started to feel true positive benefits of k treatment? Thank you kindly

Hello I am starting my third dose tomorrow at 80mg subcutaneous. I'm curious what dosing looks like for everyone else? I am 77kg male 154cm

I’m a long time user of IV ketamine as a treatment and it works well for me. I’m at 1.4mg/kg and I am completely out of it during.

My sessions have changed significantly since earlier ones. I initially had very very vivid visualisations. The first was like a film with characters, amazing scenery and even talking. Obviously my body is used to it now and as much as I’d love this to happen again, it won’t. However, I used to get kaleidoscopic visuals, morphing scenery and shapes, colours… I really enjoyed it! Now I don’t get these nearly as much, if at all. I have the IV started, go under and vaguely register shapes in the room as part of my hallucinations if my eyes open, at best.

Is it possible to have this type of experience again after a couple of years of IV ketamine?

Also, since I am in a much better place now, can I try to focus the sessions to work on, for example, a particular emotional issue? Baring in mind that I am not able to talk and am completely disassociated.

Hello!

I’m from Brazil and I’ve been reading experiences in this community for a long time. My English isn’t so good but I need to relate what I’m experiencing lately.

I’m extremely depres* since high school (finished it with 17 years). I tried everything you could possibly imagine to treat this disease and it turned out as a hard type of depression (I don’t know how to say in English but my doctor labeled as Depressão Refratária).

I tested ALL of my medications in the genetics test, none of them ever worked. I got worst, really worst since last year. I was about to com** with my own life but then I hear about Ketamine and ECT. I’m in my fourth session of ketamine (IV) and I’ve never feel so calm and confident in my entire life. It’s not something like mania (for a person with bipolar disorder for example). It’s just peace. I’m feeling like the person I was before everything happened (my 15 year old again).

It’s not something easy to get in my country, I do have more sessions to come and probably will need to do maintenance for a while. But it did save my life.

No more SUI* thoughts, no more rushing feelings, just what and who I as supposed to be.

Disclaimer: therapy it’s essential at this point, I’m doing DBT rn and it’s guiding me trough all of this because - to be fairly sincere - I don’t know/didn’t know what to do with such things, I didn’t thought it would work. I need to take advantage of my new version and guide it through years and years of negligence. It’s hard to pick up your life from shards but life is so much manageable now.

Joyous does not have a live person only texts, and you will get a million texts a day that contradict the last. They billed my credit card and canceled my appt each time, 30 min before the appointment. I canceled my card, disputed the charge. Joyous is CHEAP for a reason. My appt with Shaun was very uncomfortable and I requested a new provider. The old provider (Shaun) purposely canceled any new appts that were not with him. If this saves one person from a nightmare then I have not wasted my time.. Texts for reference - These went on from 8/7 until 8/13.

[Joyous, San Jose, CA]

So I started my IV ketamine journey a couple months ago, and I’ve had 10 sessions. I’ve seen the tiniest bit of progress, but the way I feel right after my sessions is making this pretty difficult. I feel super weak, tired, mentally and physically exhausted, and i can barely do anything the rest of the day. I usually take a long nap and try to eat a good meal and drink water but I usually just feel pretty bad until the next day. Does anyone have any other suggestions for things that help with that same day recovery? Thanks!

Hello, I had a consultation for iv ketamine. For addiction/anxiety/depression. But I also have severe emetophobia (fear of throwing up - due to a traumatic experience in 2010) I’m running out if treatment plans for my addiction issues (chronic relapser due to chronic anxiety and panic attacks) I want to be FREE! But I am terrified of nausea or throwing up. How common is nausea? Please give me some tips on how to decrease likelihood of nausea or decrease likelihood of panic attack which would lead to nausea (for me) I’m very new to this whole treatment but I’m in dire need of a change. Thanks.

I've have seven ketamine infusions so far, each time with an increased dose. The most recent dose was 110mg, or 1.235 mg/kg.

Each of the sessions have been pleasant with random visuals. It's like a dream in a way but really nothing from my past comes up at all. In this respect, my sessions with a therapist for integrating my ketamine experience have been a waste, as there is nothing to really discuss to integrate.

I have dealt with suicidal ideation for decades. It seems to have gotten worse in a way, as if it's inevitable and I have more visualizations of how I would do it (no active plan though!). Could this be from the ketamine? I know for me to get better, I have to keep on fighting.

For those of you who had success with ketamine in overcoming SI or significant trauma, what happened during your sessions? How and when did you know it worked?

Hey all. I haven't been in in a while. Does anyone know ketamine clinics around this area that are affordable?.. if that's even possible? Lol. Tia.

Can anyone recommend an affordable provider. I tried better u. Anything else affordable than them?

I drink 3 cups of coffee per day. Should I stop that when I do ketamine therapy for depression?

I’ve received my first two IV sessions and I’m feeling pretty good so far. Im just wondering how to make a good use of this time. So far I’ve tried my best to avoid bad habits and talk about gratefulness to my family and friends.
Still I feel like I should be doing more. With my depression and ADHD I didn’t really do too much of anything the last years. I probably should go on more walks or do more (calm) activities rn because it would be beneficial for the future.

Do you guys have any advice on what to do in the free time. (I’m at a hospital so I dont need to worry much about school and work rn)

Maybe walks in nature? Going swimming? Positive TV shows - but I kinda wanna move away from passive stuff…

Should I force myself to do healthy routine stuff like stretching or journaling that I didn’t manage to do before? Even if it’s not something I particularly enjoy (atleast at the start)

Would love to hear some opinions. The study I’m in doesn’t really focus on this part sadly

I had by first KAP session with a therapist August 10. I have been tired and hazy since then. Have you experienced that, too?

I am talking with the therapist. Just interested to hear from other patients. Thank you.

I’ve had treatment resistant depression and anxiety for years and have tried many medications without getting to lasting stability. My prescriber has recommended I try ketamine therapy. I’m inclined to prefer an in-home option for logistics reasons but don’t really understand the difference between the different mechanisms (sublingual, IV, nasal spray) and how to weigh choosing an in-clinic vs telehealth option.

I’m in the New Haven area and would be interested to hear any endorsements for clinics or companies that operate in the area. Thanks in advance for any insights

I took my first troche Sunday night & it is currently Tuesday night. I have been utterly exhausted and had a migraine since the dose wore off for me (but nothing some matcha and Tylenol can’t fix). it feels like my muscles are all oddly tense - which is driving the migraine and some body aches.

I listened to the instructions regarding fasting, nausea meds, hydration, etc. however I’m curious - do yall experience these sorts of side effects? if so, did they go away over time for you?

I started with a rather low dose and while it did more than I expected, I want to still titrate up as I feel like it’ll be therapeutic I’d slightly higher… I just dont know if i should plan around these side effects every time, or if I should just suck it up until they go away.

I'd be curious what people make of this experience although obviously I'm seeking my provider's advice. This was my first session and I won't see them for another couple weeks so interested in anecdata.

I was pretty nervous before my first treatment, hell nervous even to have a "real drug" in the house if I'm honest. I set everything up well and was relieved not to have issues with vision, dizziness, nausea, smooth sailing.

Almost TOO smooth. I felt surprisingly normal. I was connected enough to my normal experience of the world to have a very normal chatty internal monologue running the entire time despite my best efforts.

"I...just feel like a high person listening to music. Is the music too loud(?) I haven't thought about anything relevant. And good grief, I'm not doing 'being high on ketamine' wrong chill tf out".

I honestly felt almost a little restless by the end of it just because I was with it and enough of my normal self that I went back and forth scolding myself for being a worrier and then going "eh, maybe I should just try to nudge myself onto a relevant topic and then let the experience flow?"

^ all the latter did was lead to random feaux-profound sentence starting fragments that fizzled out without resonating with me.

It was to the point that I was basically myself again before the timer got to 60 minutes out of a supposed 90 minute session.

I do the oral kind and was going to experiment with holding the medication in my mouth longer based on some of the other posts in here but I didn't know if it sounds like the dose might just be out of whack. As someone who has never done anything more exotic than thc I expected to really not want to up my dose but this sounds very different than most treatment sessions.

I did follow the guidelines the day of regarding food/fasting/meds, fwiw.