Ketamine Therapy

[ChiangMaiThai]

Yes, it's abused recreationally by a lot of people. At the same time, in the US many doctors are having amazing results with just a few sessions of Ketamine when it comes to chronic pain / depression / PTSD. Many studies show it's much more than a placebo effect. Of course Ketamine is available here, but is anyone aware of any open minded doctors who would consider using it in this way?

[HLover]

Yes, I believe those doctors are referred to as drug dealers. ?

[ChiangMaiThai]

1 minute ago, HLover said:

Yes, I believe those doctors are referred to as drug dealers. ?

Great. Thanks. There are a huge number of reputable doctors offering these treatments all across the US. The patient does 4-6 infusions over a week or two and then may come back every 3-4 months for one infusion. YouTube and Google a little and open your mind.

[HLover]

6 minutes ago, ChiangMaiThai said:

 

6 minutes ago, ChiangMaiThai said:

Great. Thanks. There are a huge number of reputable doctors offering these treatments all across the US. The patient does 4-6 infusions over a week or two and then may come back every 3-4 months for one infusion. YouTube and Google a little and open your mind.

I opened my mind and realized I am nowhere near the "US".

 

Edited March 8, 2018 by HLover
Added content

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Several bickering posts have been removed.  Please keep it civil, or don't bother to post.

 

Mac

[Sheryl]

Ketamine is being used off-label in the west for treatment of major depression that does nto respond to other drugs, and will likely be FDA approved for that purpose soon (there is already limited  FDA approval for situations where there is imminent risk of suicide). There is a nasal spray version that removes the need for IV infusion.

 

It is not being so used in Thailand and the nasal spray is unavailable here.

 

It is a very strictly controlled substance here and only hospitals are allowed to purchase it,, and they must account for its use with detailed records with the FDA monitors.

 

 

 

[ChiangMaiThai]

On 3/8/2018 at 8:52 PM, Sheryl said:

Ketamine is being used off-label in the west for treatment of major depression that does nto respond to other drugs, and will likely be FDA approved for that purpose soon (there is already limited  FDA approval for situations where there is imminent risk of suicide). There is a nasal spray version that removes the need for IV infusion.

 

It is not being so used in Thailand and the nasal spray is unavailable here.

 

It is a very strictly controlled substance here and only hospitals are allowed to purchase it,, and they must account for its use with detailed records with the FDA monitors.

 

 

 

Thank you for confirming that Ketamine is not just a substance that is abused by drug addicts like meth or something. There is growing body of evidence that just 4-6 treatments can lift depression / eliminate certain kinds of chronic pain.

 

I understand that it is a strictly controlled substance here and with good reason. But do you know if doctors here are permitted to use it 'off label' as they are doing in the West? I'm seeing a doc soon, but I'm doubtful that she will want to do anything that is new in Thailand. I have a hard time understanding this because hey, didn't you become a doc so you could help people and if so, wouldn't you want to use all tools at your disposal?

 

She would happily do an experimental nerve block, which could leave me impotent for life, but I imagine she will be pretty standoffish about 4-6 ketamine sessions with almost no proven side effects. I hope I am wrong. I will post an update once I know. 

 

Meanwhile I already have invitations from a number of doctors in the US to give it a try, which is nice, but obviously would be so much easier if they would just give it a try here.

 

 

 

 

[Sheryl]

1. Only hospitals can have this drug. No clinics or doctors in stand alone practices.

 

2. There is no provision that I am aware of which would allow this sort of off-label use.

 

3. As stated, it is nto being used for anything other than anesthesia in Thai medical practice.

 

US is your besy option, Thailand will not be possible.

 

 

[ChiangMaiThai]

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

1. Only hospitals can have this drug. No clinics or doctors in stand alone practices.

 

2. There is no provision that I am aware of which would allow this sort of off-label use.

 

3. As stated, it is nto being used for anything other than anesthesia in Thai medical practice.

 

US is your besy option, Thailand will not be possible.

 

 

Ok so as per your understanding, doctors in Thailand aren't permitted to use medications off label? It's beyond frustrating as it's a cheap medication and a simple experiment of a treatment. And it sounds like I may have to spend $10,000+ to fly to the US and get half a dozen treatments... Anyway, will update the thread if it turns out they have some flexibility in how they use drugs here.

[Sheryl]

38 minutes ago, ChiangMaiThai said:

Ok so as per your understanding, doctors in Thailand aren't permitted to use medications off label? ...

Not controlled substances, no.

[tifino]

 

I endured ketamine infusion treatment, 16 years ago

Done as a Hospital Inpatient, and it took 7 days of continuous infusion...

 

Your belly soon becomes a bed of big circular red welts, as the drip can be replaced about 6 times per day, to maintain a continual 24hrs/day infusion

 

after 3 days I was sick as a dog (nausea)

 

by the time treatment ended, there wasn't much tummy left, without a welt effect

 

It was I who made it known to the Drs that the treatment had reached a desired plateau, in that I had actually lost all feeling in my left arm, which told me the expeted pain de==reduction had reached it's goal

 

My requirement for the Ketamine Infusion, was my Dr's course of action to enable me to finally get away from my long term medical requirement for OxyContin, for chronic neuropathic pain from muscular skeletal injuries

[ChiangMaiThai]

20 hours ago, tifino said:

 

I endured ketamine infusion treatment, 16 years ago

Done as a Hospital Inpatient, and it took 7 days of continuous infusion...

 

Your belly soon becomes a bed of big circular red welts, as the drip can be replaced about 6 times per day, to maintain a continual 24hrs/day infusion

 

after 3 days I was sick as a dog (nausea)

 

by the time treatment ended, there wasn't much tummy left, without a welt effect

 

It was I who made it known to the Drs that the treatment had reached a desired plateau, in that I had actually lost all feeling in my left arm, which told me the expeted pain de==reduction had reached it's goal

 

My requirement for the Ketamine Infusion, was my Dr's course of action to enable me to finally get away from my long term medical requirement for OxyContin, for chronic neuropathic pain from muscular skeletal injuries

7 days of continuous infusion. Wow! What country was that in? Were you conscious throughout? Has the pain stayed away? I have never heard of such an intense dose. Even the docs in the US I am in touch with want to start with 1 hour a few times in a week and if that shows promise, then move into 4 hour sessions.

 

Bumrungrad Pain Clinic has used Ketamine for chronic pain. However, you don't have the opportunity of doing it until they think they have exhausted all other options. And they say that they aren't impressed with the results they have seen anyway. However, if it's worked for anyone, then it seems like it's worth a shot. Oh, also it has to be done in ICU so you incur I am sure a huge fee for that privilege. I am not sure yet if it's cheaper to do it in the US or here. I will post when I know more.

 

 

[tifino]

4 hours ago, ChiangMaiThai said:

7 days of continuous infusion. Wow! What country was that in? Were you conscious throughout? Has the pain stayed away? I have never heard of such an intense dose. Even the docs in the US I am in touch with want to start with 1 hour a few times in a week and if that shows promise, then move into 4 hour sessions.

 

Bumrungrad Pain Clinic has used Ketamine for chronic pain. However, you don't have the opportunity of doing it until they think they have exhausted all other options. And they say that they aren't impressed with the results they have seen anyway. However, if it's worked for anyone, then it seems like it's worth a shot. Oh, also it has to be done in ICU so you incur I am sure a huge fee for that privilege. I am not sure yet if it's cheaper to do it in the US or here. I will post when I know more.

 

 

yeah, well ,it was all done back in Australia. I was shipped back there from Malaysia after I'd had my big accident.

They'd had me on Oxycontin for over a year and they surmised I was going to suffer long term more so from the OxyContin,  so...

The Ketamine was their way to ease me down, pain wise; until I could then take something less potent.

 

So, 7 days as inpatient, and that drip was in all through that period.

They said me belly would have become pretty bad if they didn't keep on moving it around.

 

long term, it worked! as so far as I could get by without OxyContin!

Trouble is that their replacement, was Orudis (ketaprofen) - which in itself stuffs up your kidneys eventually

 

A couple of years ago, I reached the pont where the kidnay damage would become intense, so they then took me off that, and now I have to grin and bear the leftover pain, by using Panadol-Osteo; which was all that Veterans Affairs would authorise for a veteran

 

 

but hey! I've had worse... through the original accident, my neck had damage (now arthritic); still have some partial paralysis to multiple Serratus Anterior muscles; a stuffed knee; and nerve damage between the a/c joint down to the elbow...

 

at least I am off the Oxycontin!