Positive effects only last for a week then steep decline/ depression relapse. Has anyone else navigated this?
Hi everyone. I’ve been doing IV infusions since April. Currently I’m doing it every 2 weeks, and the most common regime at my clinic is to get a booster every 4-8 weeks. I’m 20f and in the UK. I initially had a positive reaction when I started but then after my initial sessions, I relapsed quickly (about a week).
It was then agreed to try and do it every 2 1/2 weeks. Unfortunately during this time I attempted. I wasn’t really feeling the benefits but also there were deffo other factors contributing to it— e.g. I couldn’t access any therapy etc. Now I’m getting therapy and have a good support network. I’ve deffo done my fair share of therapy over the years haha.
My main is issue is that I have my infusion and feel good for around 8 days. It’s not perfect, I still experience suicidal thoughts but I’m more able to engage in hobbies and not listen to the thoughts. But by day 9 it wears off the mental agony and despair that I experience with my depression comes back in full force. I sh and my thoughts get louder. It feels pretty unbearable.
To try and prolong the effects of the ketamine, I’ve been put on Memantine as it targets glutamate and it’s been used in the clinic for years. Ik it’s common for people to take oral ketamine in between sessions, but I think this hasn’t been offered potentially due to being quite young (20) and thinking of the longevity and long term effects of me being on ketamine.
I’m just feeling hopeless and in a lot of pain. I ofc know that it’s still important to try and do things when you feel low and I do try but I just feel so horrible. I’m asking if anyone has navigated this or if anyone else relapses quickly. Does anything help you? I do have regular reviews with the team and we are trying to figure out something that works, but it’s very disheartening tbh.
TLDR The ketamine helps only to a certain extent and it doesn’t last long. Has anyone experienced similar?
P.s. ketamine is much less common practice in the UK and where I am it’s only IVs are offered and sometimes oral/ nasal spray if required to supplement.
Thank you in advance x