Ketamine User Reviews & Ratings (Page 3)

• Rsd...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 11, 2015

For Pain "I've been having infusions at least every month and I must say, this has given me the best results. I am 90% pain-free while under treatments and could not ask for better results. Granted, if it does start to wear off, those effects are not good, but I will gladly take the treatment and continue to have my life back."

• pop...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 30, 2020

For Pain "After a 5 1/2 hour spine surgery, I woke up in the post-op recovery room, on ketamine for pain control. It was ineffective. I was having terrifying hallucinations and started pleading for something that would work. Just when the confusion, dizziness, and hallucinations would begin to subside, they would come up and 'refresh' my IV line with more, perpetuating the side effects. Among the several bizarre hallucinations I recall is looking down at the floor from my bed, which was stuck on the ceiling. It felt like I was defying gravity, and the potential for my bed to come crashing to the floor with me underneath it was very real! It was undoubtedly the most unpleasant and terrifying hospital stay I've ever had!"

• BeJ...
• September 15, 2019

"Just had my first ketamine infusion on Friday, the 13th and a full moon. 9-13-19. Did a ton of research and justified the cost. I've spent more on self-medicating than the ketamine will ever cost. I've lived with depression all of my adult life. Attempted suicide as a teenager. I also have a pancreatic duct issue, so a lot of pain. The infusion itself was a little loopy. Was hoping for the immediate relief that so many have reported. Had the infusion at 1 pm and was home by 5 pm. I felt .....surprise!...nothing. Could not sleep for the next two nights. I wouldn't say I feel worse or better. I think I was so desperate that my expectations were way too high. Have another infusion scheduled for Wednesday. As a smoker, I did notice that I didn't want a cigarette for hours after the infusion and into the next day. If I could quit smoking, the ketamine would actually save me money over the year. Will try to do at least 3 infusions and make a more informed decision about the results."

• Rac...
• December 20, 2022

For Depression "Did 6 IV ketamine infusions over the course of 3 weeks. The treatment itself was not unpleasant, only a small groggy feeling that lasted a few hours after. However, no changes in depression symptoms during or after the treatment."

• Min...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 8, 2022

For Depression "I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 15. In my 40+ years of treatment, I have been on every medication available...multiple at the same time. After a traumatic event in my 30s, I also developed PTSD. I got to a point in my life that I stopped taking the meds because they didn't work. I moved to a different place and very recently had another horrible month-long episode of severe depression. My PCP referred me to a psychiatrist. He told me about ketamine infusion treatments to treat my drug-resistant depression. I did my research and decided to try it...what did I have to lose? There are no words to adequately describe the treatment, but I was in total control. The effects were immediate. I felt normal again. I told my doctor I didn't need any more infusions. He explained to me the need for the additional treatments. By day 3 post-1st infusion, I felt my symptoms returning. I just finished my 2nd infusion, and I'm excited about the outcome. I feel normal without a plethora of pills."

• rub...
• July 17, 2011

For Anesthesia "I have M.S. and a syrinx, have had neuropathic pain for 17 years. Neurontin being the only thing that helped, but even it didn't remove much of the pain. I have now had Ketamine twice. The first time was I.V. It removed 90% of my neuropathic pain and lasted for about 8 months. When the pain came back, I was shocked at how bad it was. I have just finished my 2nd dose, this time I was given it subcutaneously. I have only the smallest amount of neuropathic pain left. The whole thing went very well, so now when the pain is back, I will go back and have another infusion. This time I only have a very small amount of pain left. I feel this has been the biggest thing that has helped my quality of life. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to others."

• Hav...
• August 8, 2019

"I recently had six medical infusions of ketamine over two weeks' time for depression. First of all, ketamine is a heavy drug, you get so high you hallucinate to the extreme, you see colors, you fly through other worlds, and you are generally high as a kite. There is merit to the experience in that it is a special journey, and you have great insights. I, for one, remembered long-forgotten abuse during one session, and I did have extreme anxiety during several infusions. I am five days since my last infusion, and I am as depressed as ever. I feel like I am worse, possibly, and I hope I level off soon. In the end, I did meet a patient who thought it was life-changing for the better, so do not let my experience dissuade you. I just wanted to point out that it is a very heavy drug trip, which I did not realize until I did it."

• Ste...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 19, 2022

For Depression "If you’re on the fence about whether or not to try ketamine, please just give it a try! I have read so many reviews on so many different drugs over the last 10 years that I’ve been majorly depressed constantly, having panic attacks, dealing with horrible intrusive thoughts, and wanting nothing but to stay in bed. I got a text message this morning, two days after my ketamine treatment, that would normally have pushed me into a complete horrible mind space. A picture of a girl that my daughter's father is dating, like a week out of jail. And I had really no reaction to it, I felt calm and peaceful and was able to decide the best way to react to it. I have not felt any depression symptoms over the last two days. It’s like all of the bad stuff has just gone. This has been a godsend to me. I felt better immediately. I feel like a different person, I can’t even explain how dramatic these results are and how fast! The treatment itself is very pleasant! Feels like you’re giving God a hug!"

• bit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 30, 2015

For Anesthesia "I was given ketamine for outpatient surgery. Never again will I agree to this anesthesia. I had the worst experience, I am positive I died and made myself come back! I was paralyzed, body and voice. I finally let out an awful scream, hoping the doctors and nurses would hear, but I could tell they didn't. I am so mad-furious is the word-that they used it without letting me know the side effects. I am home now, but I still have nightmares from that terrible experience!"

• Obs...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 10, 2022

For Depression "I have been using ketamine sublingual troches, at-home treatments for a few months now, and have seen really positive results with minimal side effects once the treatment time is over. I am on 200 mg and currently am prescribed to take it every 3 days due to anxiety, but know it’s weekly for depression. My depressed mood was immediately noticeably better with treatment, and my anxiety has been improving over time. I take mine with Zofran because I’m prone to nausea, and this form of ketamine can often cause nausea, and I’ve thus not had issues getting sick to my stomach. During treatment, I feel very sedated, and afterwards cannot go back to normal functioning until several hours later. Ketamine has reduced my appetite, and I subsequently have been slowly losing weight. It’s easy to take in sublingual form."

• Cou...
• August 31, 2019

For Anesthesia "I was given this for an EGD. I was hallucinating, felt weighed down like I was in cement, couldn't move my limbs, couldn't talk, very nauseous. Horrible experience, it lasted for almost an hour. It was the next day before I really felt over it. Never again!!!!!"

• CRP...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 20, 2016

For Pain "I have taken oral ketamine for 17 days. For me, it is a miracle drug for neuropathic pain. I started at 10 mg daily with 2.5 mg caps compounded by the pharmacy. Side effects are wet mouth or excessive salivation, dizziness that my body adjusted to quickly, a feeling of having had two beers or a slight intoxication, and mild anxiety. The reward of a 3-point drop in my neuropathic pain level is worth it. I feel my old arthritic pain again, much stronger. An 8, as the CRPS-specific pain is a 4-5! Oral ketamine metabolizes into norketamine and hydro norketamine, which are 5 times stronger than ketamine. The IV dosing at high levels does not get this first-pass metabolism, and the levels are higher mg than 15 mg. I am going to 20 mg after okay from my doctor. I recommend it for patients with severe nerve pain."

• Joa...
• October 27, 2019

"After spending thousands on therapy and meds in attempts to function with my debilitating Complex PTSD, the doctor recommended the standard 6 treatments but said some of her patients only need 4, and we would know by 4 if I was responding. I did mine very close together, within a week, and it changed my life. I stopped having nightmares, fatigue, disassociation. I was able to retain new information again and be more productive at work and school. I got a booster at 3 months (which we expected since I didn’t need all 6 initially), and she feels I may not need another for 6 months because I’ve responded so well. I don’t love the trip during the infusion as I tend to get a little motion sick, but she administers zofran before starting the ketamine. I know it doesn’t work for everyone, but literally nothing else worked for me, so I’m glad I found what did. If I had stopped after 1 or 2, I would not think it had worked. For me, stopping after 1 or 2 would have been a waste of money."

• Arc...
• August 6, 2020

Ketamine for Anesthesia "I was given ketamine as a general anesthetic for a surgical procedure, but the recovery from the ketamine was truly horrendous. I had abdominal hallucinations that I was about to die and called aloud to God to save me from imminent death. So bad and terrifying was the experience that I had a Medi-bracelet made with ketamine clearly listed as 'never to be given.'"

• Lau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 20, 2022

For Depression "I started with 6 sessions of intramuscular ketamine. The first two sessions I felt absolutely awful but thankfully decided to persevere. 3rd and 4th sessions were okay. 5th and 6th sessions I experienced a lift and could finally get out of bed and had the will to do things again. I found myself taking a walk to the beach with my camera, easily doing chores around the house. I started substitute teaching as I had quit my job because my depression was so debilitating. I am on maintenance therapy now, so will go for my 9th infusion two weeks apart. I do feel it starts to wear off after ten days, but it’s put me on an upward trajectory and taken me out of a very dark space. It definitely works. How my maintenance plan is going to continue, I am unsure of, but for now, it gave me the relief I so desperately needed."

• GdG...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 7, 2017

For Anesthesia "I was taken to the ER with a dislocated shoulder... severe pain. I was given this drug so they could put the shoulder back into place, and had some of the same reactions described as others as having horrific hallucinations, trying to wake myself up, moving my head and talking and yelling. Nurses holding me still and saying it is almost over. Why is this still being used as an anesthetic when there are so many others out there? This is going on my list of allergies right next to the iodine allergy."

• Fas...
• April 16, 2016

For Pain "I was given this after surgery for pain, as I can't have morphine, and they tried 5 other drugs to sort me out before this. Omg, I went on a wild trip, I went through dimensions of color and walls. I couldn't get back into my body, I thought I had died. Scary, scary stuff. When I came out of the trip, I was dizzy and seeing double. My pain was gone, but I didn't enjoy the experience at all."

• lup...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 1, 2017

For Pain "I had the 6 IV infusions done for pain and depression. It made me so much worse. My head stays foggy now, and I feel lightheaded. It increased my anxiety and made my insomnia worse. I had an ANA test and found out I was positive for lupus. I think the extra stress from the ketamine may have triggered the lupus. I wish I had never done it. It was a huge waste of 3k, and I feel so much worse. It has been 5 months since I had the treatment. I told them I wanted to stop after the third infusion, but they refused to give me a refund for the last 3 treatments that I was made to pay for up front. I was told prior to treatment that I could stop after the third treatment if I was not feeling better. But after they got the money, they refused."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 3, 2017

For Pain "Self-administration of intramuscular injection three times weekly for major depression. Improvement to major depression has resulted in obvious improvements after 5+ years of unsuccessful treatments by multiple medical professionals. Undesirable requirement is giving a self-injection!"

• Mar...
• March 20, 2025

For Depression "Ketamine has given me my life back. I’ve been using compounded ketamine from a reputable compounding pharmacy. Cost is $50 for a round of treatment of 3 weeks. The branded esketamine is $1000 for the same round. Yes. Ketamine works wonderfully for depression. The key is to get the dosing correct. In my case, it didn’t work being overdosed and didn’t work at a lower dose. Once the psychiatrist found the right dose, the depression vanished. Don’t let anyone tell you ketamine doesn’t work. Pharmaceutical studies are biased toward branded drugs. The outcome is very dose dependent, and studies are often done with the intention of a failure. Get a psychiatrist that isn’t a shill for big medicine. Use compounded ketamine, you will save thousands. Find the right dose with your psychiatrist. It may take 3-4 rounds until the sweet spot is found."

• aih...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 14, 2021

For Pain "I have neuropathy in my feet. At times, it's so painful I could barely walk. It felt like I was walking on glass shards other times, sharp rocks. I have tried everything from gabapentin to Lyrica. While Lyrica works wonders, I had side effects. My doctor suggested the ketamine cream. It works wonders. My feet went from a pain of an 8.5 down to a 3. While I do still have pain if I walk too much, my daily life has improved significantly. It's given me my life back."

• Rey...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 6, 2016

"Extremely effective in the short term. Immediately extinguished suicidal thoughts and took away the heavy, burdensome feeling of depression. Currently working on sustaining this response more than the 3-4 days it lasts."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 13, 2023

For Depression "Not as effective as I had hoped. It worked somewhat and provided some improvement, but over time that improvement decreased. Overall, I did not find it worked that much better than other common, less expensive meds."

• Unh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 8, 2020

For Anesthesia "I had an extremely adverse reaction to ketamine, so I asked the anesthesiologist what drug it was this morning when I saw him, so I NEVER get it again. I was actually supposed to go home yesterday after a routine arthroscopy of the knee. I woke up from the procedure with hallucinations and screaming, 'I AM DYING, I AM DYING.' They then had to give me Ativan to calm me down, and it caused my vitals to go crazy. Horrendous experience - can't believe this drug is still being used."

• Bil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 30, 2022

For Depression "After 20+ years of depression, I decided to pay for the treatment myself, hoping for some relief. I had 5 treatments over the course of 5 days. At the end of day 5, nothing had changed at all… no effect."