Ketamine Safety
 

Hi Everyone,

I have been reading on FB about ketamine, it's Called "Ketamine Club/CRPS" or close to that. Anyway I felt I had to post about the fact that there are some doctor[s] who are doing outpatient ketamine 10,5,3 days with very high doses and not requiring any pre-testing. That's the concern. I know my infusions where back between 2005 - 2009 and where inpatient. But things could not have changed that much. I would of never been able to be admitted for my inpatient without proper pre-testing. I did 3 inpatients. My target number was 37mg, but that was pushed up from a low does over 24 hours trying to reach 37mg per hour my late Tuesday or Wednesday. I couldn't get to the 37mg per hour my problem was my stomach just couldn't take the way it made my head feel which made my stomach turn kind of like I was drunk. I thing I made it to 32mg if I remember correctly. I did get success from ketamine eventually.

I'm not a doctor, but what I do know is that I have done it, it's a tough procedure. I did not have any hallunciations or terror or fear like I have read and heard from other people. These high amounts of ketamine on a outpatient basis with no testing at all is just scary. Not even a physc. evaluation. I just remember my doctor taking the pre-testing quite serious and discussed with me at length the pro's and con's of the ketamine.

I'm just throwing this out there out of concern.

Gabbycakes

Gabby you are right, and many of these patients are really young. I had extensive cardio and a psych clearance done prior to my treatments. But my doses are NOWHERE near as high as what yours and these kids are getting.

I also get Versed and Zofran along with my ketamine.

Sandy

Yes, I also got the versed and the zofran. I don't think I would of completed them without the zofran.

Thanks again, hope your feeling well!

Gabbycakes

Great to visit with you... The use of zofran and versed scare me...My tummy is sensitive enough... Is the Ketamine infusion still effective if our RSD is internal???

Hugz, kathy:hug:

Hi Kathy,

Wish I had an answer but I really don't know. It's not a normal thing for me for have stomach issues, I usually never have a problem, except with the ketamine I mean it's just bruttle, for me. I have heard some don't have any problems with the nausea. The Versed is suppose to be claim you and help with the mental issues but the zofran is simply for the nausea and it works incredibly.

Gabbycakes

I don't know this for a fact but I don't think Dr K does pre testing. When I called about making the apt for the consult since I was coming a distance the nurse who I spoke to said if I decided to do it I could do it right away. I could be wrong though since I have not went for the consult yet.
Unfortunatly this issue does not surprise me. Some doctors just want you in asap to make the money. Sorry to be negative

If that is how they run there ketamine program I would not entertain that facility for 1 moment.

You can get Ketamine covered. Everything I had done was covered by insurance and when I had my boosters with Dr. Schwartzman he was in-network. The only out of pocket was any co-insurance, I have a PPO type plan, and a small payment directly to the doctor for his 3 to 4 times a day daily visits to my room which the insurance would not cover, but it was not any crazy amount and I did see him 3 or 4 times each day.

I just think it's very irresponsible of this doctor. To me he only wants the dollars. And I have never heard of "cash up front", maybe if I'm buying a car and trying to make a deal. It's puzzling to me.

Gabbycakes

As much as I struggle with the idea of our journey and safe haven with Ketamine, being covered by insurance or not...it's about money...Money to be made for others on our painful life altering condition... It's a bunch for us to go thru..monitary provisions, decision to go forward with it then of course, to have the treatment done..which is no walk in the park for the patient...AND we still have RSD!!

Seems like the treatments that become available to us always have a price tag wrapped all around it and a profit for the Dr.'s..I fight that under lying fact... Like whats the hot intervention this month??? At the time, the newest is very believable and we go forwarding fully believing this could the magic answer least in managing our pain.... While the Dr.s pad their pockets and we once again come up empty.. Now they need to be attentive to do pre work procedures and never minimize the importance of these pre-procedure work ups and the risks at hand...it needs to be about our well being and it needs to cautiously handled.. ESP. Due to our suspect-ability of repercussions of our illness. We pay the biggest price, always..

Does anyone have an idea if the Ketamine treatment is beneficial once our RSD has gone inside, internal ???? Iam having some chest wall, tummy RSD issues.... The monster has wandered!!

Hugz to all and thank you for allowing me to spew!!

Kathy

Dear Kathy,

Yes, ketamine is absolutely effective For RSD that is internal. When my ketamine starts wearing off, after maybe 3-4 weeks, I have issues... I can totally feel the difference. Then I get an infusion and things return to normal...

I take Zofran orally and it is administered for me during my infusions because I get so sick to my stomach from ketamine. That goes away within a day or so. Versed is administered to minimize any other effects of the ketamine and to help me sleep during and after my infusions. My doctors want me to rest on the days I get my treatments, the Versed is a good way to ensure I go home and take a nap instead of walking my dog or doing yard work! They know me too well!

The money part about pain management with docs is so profoundly painful. I agree with everything you said...it is an extremely profitable venture for a lot of docs, and you never know if what they recommend is really in YOUR best interests or theirs. after being sick for 4 and a half year years I've learned to be skeptical of the entire profession.

For me, ketamine works well. I need it in order to work, otherwise my pain gets to be too much because I get horrific head aches. My head always hurts, but as my ketamine starts wearing off I can't control the pain with any of my usual like Fiorcet or Frova.

Kathy, what's the status with your 5 day inpatient? I thought you might get that done? I truly hope that you give it a shot...keep us posted.

Xoxox Sandy

My insurance said they would pay a part of it, after I pay the first $7500 initially, and the first $600 for each infusion. Since the doctor I go to does it in an in office "ward" in a building that is part of a hospital, they won't pay the room fees, bed fees, doctors or nurses fees, or supply fees. From my part, I don't see much they will actually cover. :mad: one series of infusions would take every dollar I have left in savings and probably run up quite a bill on top of it. Now that I am on SSDI, I just would not have a way to pay it off.

On top of that, I know from having many animals over the years and working for a vet for a little bit, ketamine is a serious drug. It scares me. I know my veterinary is not an M.D. but he has been a good friend for 30 years. He has been using ketamine for over 35 years. He says if he were in my place, he would not do it until there is a lot more research, that follow people longer years.

Pain medications have not helped me. Nothing has helped me very much. I would love to be out of pain, but I am afraid of "at what price?" I don't just mean the money. I mean the effects of the ketamine, long term.