Esketamine and Headaches: What Users Say

• MIS...
• October 31, 2020

Esketamine for Depression "I have mixed feelings about this drug. This has taken the suicidal thoughts and squashed it. My depression is very little. I really don't like the treatment - feeling spaced out for 45 mins. I've had high heart rate, dizzy, sickness, headaches. The BIGGEST most important part of this treatment is to take no medications the night before and day of treatment, don't drink the night before or you will pay for it with super sickness, panic attacks, and high heart rate. Everyone is different with this treatment, don't think it's going to be fun because it's not. But versus being dead, it was worth the try! I had to find this out on my own, the doctors don't tell you much about what and what not to do when you take this medication. Most important, put yourself in a calm state during, I found playing soft music is a must, and try not to get up during, or it will cause you to be dizzy and sick. Wait at least 45 mins after when it wears off. I hope this helps someone."

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 6, 2020

Esketamine for Depression "On Spravato, I felt like I was going to die. It took 4 minutes to kick in. I couldn’t feel my face, couldn’t speak, couldn’t breathe, the room was spinning, music felt far away even though I had headphones in. I heard the ocean. I was sweating, felt like I was sinking, mind racing, nauseous. I felt like I was strapped to a Ferris wheel that wouldn’t stop spinning or falling really fast. I was crying and sweating, 22 minutes in I had a ringing in my ear. It gave me a headache. I couldn’t hear my music anymore, that scared me. I couldn’t move. I was crying for my mom. It was really scary. I don’t feel 100% back to normal today (appointment was yesterday). I feel lethargic, spacey, with no appetite. I feel sad and disappointed that this didn’t work. This was literally the last thing to try treatment-wise. I have to go back to doing TMS every day. Please don’t try this unless it’s your last resort."

• Cat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 11, 2020

Esketamine for Depression "I have bipolar, untreatable depression, BPD. I have done esketamine as both IV and Spravato. Spravato is a waste of time and money. After going through the initial 8-week transition, I was in for Spravato almost every other week, where I was in for IV once a month to as long as every 6 weeks. The side effects were horrible: headache, exhaustion for a day or two, and not knowing where I was. This drug was barely vetted by the FDA, with only 80 test subjects in their group. IV ketamine has years of use and they know it works, but because there is zero money to be made, they will never approve it, so our insurance will pay for it."

• Win...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 4, 2022

Esketamine for Major Depressive Disorder "I only tried Spravato once, but it was too bad to continue. A few minutes after the nasal sprays, I had a horrible taste in my mouth, then nausea, then crying, dissociation, sweating, etc. Now I’m back home after a few hours with somewhat of a hangover feeling: headache, still nauseous, and now also a sore throat. I can’t accurately “rate” this drug since it needs to be taken for quite some time to get the results, but the side effects were just too horrible to go on. *Side note: I have also done several ketamine infusions prior to this, with only a bit of nausea once."

• Mic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 22, 2020

For Depression "I started taking Spravato nearly two months ago. Started at the 56 mg loading dose. At four weeks, it had done nothing positive. So the doc upped it to the 84. First off, that first double-dose treatment had me on one hell of a trip. I really felt that I wasn’t coming back! After that treatment, I was hungover, then treatment 2. After that, I was sick as a dog. Severe headaches and terrible nausea. Took me 5 days to recoup, and as of today, still with the headaches and nausea. Called the doc and stopped treatment altogether. I just can’t spend day after day feeling sick, not able to work, etc. This was a last-ditch effort, and now I don’t know just what I am going to do."

• Sti...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 24, 2019

Esketamine for Depression "Have been on Spravato for over a month now and developing headaches. My anxiety level is through the roof. Still sad but not crying. Going in for assessment tomorrow."