[BigBug]

I am hoping to hear from those of you who actually take oral Ketamine... I know I've seen a few posts about it. If you do, is it a compound and what is the formulation and dosage? And does it help at all? I've read conflicting reports about it working and am wondering if it would help in conjunction with outpatient infusions of Ketamine. While my wife responds to the infusions, even large doses are short-lived in their effect. While it seems to push back the recent spread it does not last long at all on the long-term location of the pain. Any help would be appreciated.

[msdrea83]

Originally Posted by BigBug

I am hoping to hear from those of you who actually take oral Ketamine... I know I've seen a few posts about it. If you do, is it a compound and what is the formulation and dosage? And does it help at all? I've read conflicting reports about it working and am wondering if it would help in conjunction with outpatient infusions of Ketamine. While my wife responds to the infusions, even large doses are short-lived in their effect. While it seems to push back the recent spread it does not last long at all on the long-term location of the pain. Any help would be appreciated.

i was on oral ketamine for 2 years, i just got off it after having a ketamine infusion a month ago. it is a compound. my dosage was 20mg/mL and i took 2-3 cc's every two hours as needed. it did help. i was given a liquid, but after my infusion the dr put me on pill form. so i guess it depends on how ur doc writes it out or the pharmacy.

[MominPainRSD]

Msdrea.....how are you doing in the month following your ketamine infusion??? I hope to hear you are still pain free!! So you continue to take the pills every day as a maintenance???

[ali12]

I take 10mg or Oral Ketamine however I am only allowed to take it whenever I absolutely have to has my Pain Management Doctor feels that it could affect hormones because of my age (I am 13).

The Ketamine has been the only drug that has helped with my pain somewhat - it doesn't take it all away but it takes it from an 8 and a half to a 5 and a half within a few hours. Thankfully, I don't have any major side effects that some people have reported however I do get the giggles and it is sort of like I am drunk and I know what I am doing but can't stop myself from doing it - my PM Doctor say's Ketamine acts in a similar way to the Date Rape Drug and I guess he is kinda right.

The effects of the Ketamine don't last that long for me - I probably get about 4 hours pain relief at the most!

If you have any questions, please let me know as i'll be happy to help you if I can! I hope your wife finds something that helps her more real soon!

[superduck95]

I didn't know that Ketamine could be availible in pill form, I only knew about the Ketamine fusions and the Ketamine Coma treatment,I apologize I if said that wrong.Can doctors in the US persribe Ketamine in Pill form and can they do the infusions? It may be something to talk to my pain managment doctor about.Good Luck. Hope your doing well msdrea after the infusions! Let us know how u made out!

[BigBug]

Yes, doctors in the US can conduct Ketamine infusions... Ketamine is an FDA approved anesthetic and IV infusions are okay for the treatment of pain. However, it is only slowly that INSURANCE companies are agreeing that the infusion of Ketamine for the treatment of RSD shows promise. FDA guidelines allow for the use of non-anesthetic doses for the teatmewnt of pain... in other words, it is my understanding that Ketamine can be used to treat pain but they can not fully anesthetise you as in the Ketamine coma. They can put you in deep but not "under" i.e. intubation required.

As far as the Ketamine in pill form, as msdrea83 described, pharmacies can formulate Ketamine into creams, lozenges, pills ... almost into any form. Just need a prescription. My main question really is personal benefit derived from it and was doses are being used by members of this forum.

I would encourage you to look into the infusions and use of Ketamine if the other forms of treatment have been tried and failed. Best of luck!

[msdrea83]

Originally Posted by MominPainRSD

Msdrea.....how are you doing in the month following your ketamine infusion??? I hope to hear you are still pain free!! So you continue to take the pills every day as a maintenance???

i am still pain free. before my infusion i was taking the ketamine every 2 hours if i didn't need to do something important (drive, be in class, do homework... etc). then i had the infusion and stopped taking my regular dosage of ketamine, and for 2 weeks after the infusion i would take a 40 mg pill twice a day. since those 2 weeks have passed i have been off all pain meds.

[msdrea83]

Originally Posted by BigBug

Yes, doctors in the US can conduct Ketamine infusions... Ketamine is an FDA approved anesthetic and IV infusions are okay for the treatment of pain. However, it is only slowly that INSURANCE companies are agreeing that the infusion of Ketamine for the treatment of RSD shows promise. FDA guidelines allow for the use of non-anesthetic doses for the teatmewnt of pain... in other words, it is my understanding that Ketamine can be used to treat pain but they can not fully anesthetise you as in the Ketamine coma. They can put you in deep but not "under" i.e. intubation required.

As far as the Ketamine in pill form, as msdrea83 described, pharmacies can formulate Ketamine into creams, lozenges, pills ... almost into any form. Just need a prescription. My main question really is personal benefit derived from it and was doses are being used by members of this forum.

I would encourage you to look into the infusions and use of Ketamine if the other forms of treatment have been tried and failed. Best of luck!

i was taking it in liquid form 20mg/mL, 2-3 cc's, every 2 hours as needed. the only real side effects i had was feeling high for about 15-20 min after i took it. but if i was taking it consistantly every 2 hours i would stop feeling the high after about the 3rd or 4th dose because it was still lingering in my system.

[SandyRI]

Hi Andrea,

Did insurance cover your ketamine treatments? And what other treatments did you try before that? I thought you had posted pictures of yourself with the scs, but I might have you confused with someone else..... And you are off all your meds, no more pills? How cool is that!?!?! I can't wait for the day that I might have a clear head and lots of energy again! You must be on cloud 9!

I am really, REALLY happy for you, and I hope you are well forever!!

Keep in touch,

XOXOX Sandy

[msdrea83]

Originally Posted by SandyRI

Hi Andrea,

Did insurance cover your ketamine treatments? And what other treatments did you try before that? I thought you had posted pictures of yourself with the scs, but I might have you confused with someone else..... And you are off all your meds, no more pills? How cool is that!?!?! I can't wait for the day that I might have a clear head and lots of energy again! You must be on cloud 9!

I am really, REALLY happy for you, and I hope you are well forever!!

Keep in touch,

XOXOX Sandy

the doc that did my ketamine infusion only took cash, however, we submitted the reciepts to my insurance and they did fully reimburse us. I have been completely off all pain meds for like 2-3 weeks now. i still occasionally will take muscle relaxers, but cause i've been hitting the gym everyday working on rebuilding my muscle in my arm.

before i had the ketamine infusion, besides all the different combos of drugs, i had s.g. blocks, lumbar blocks, bier blocks, a lidocaine infusion, a SCS- which made it spread so i had it taken out a year or so later, laser light therapy, tried bio feedback, acupuncture.... um....i think that about does it. i had all that stuff done with in the first 2-3 years of having rsd. i kept pushing the pain team at stanford about ketamine so once i had exhausted every other options that's when they gave it to me to take at home. i went and saw dr kirkpatrick in tampa about seeing if i qualified for the coma, but he said no. that was in may, and so we got the info for dr. leverone in LA from him- he's the doc that did the infusion on me.