Ketamine and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Mor...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 15, 2019

For Pain "I was treated at a ketamine clinic in Feb 2018 for CRPS (chronic regional pain syndrome) with 3-4 hour relatively high dose infusions while monitored every minute. My depression abated after treatment 1. The treatments were 48 hours apart and I felt good going into treatment 2 with only mild anxiety. After sleeping off the treatment for about 18 hours, I was nearly pain-free. After the third infusion, I was pain-free. That remained the case for 4 months when I went for a four-hour booster. Pain-free for several months. Then another booster, and again I was okay. I’ve not been able to afford to go back, and the pain and depression resulting from it have completely trashed my life. It is morally reprehensible that the FDA doesn’t make this treatment easier to obtain with more support to doctors so market factors would lower the prices. Thank you for listening."

• Gra...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 20, 2019

"I researched ketamine treatment for PTSD as I was not having any success with medications or therapy. I was sensitive to taking a daily med as some made me anxious and caused too many side effects. I will say it was an experience that made me face the PTSD and yet put me in a safe place. It’s hard to explain but there was a picture of the ocean in the office and I focused on that during my first IV treatment and it felt like freedom. It was life-changing but we also have to put in our own work to stay away from trauma triggers. It was worth every cent! I wish others knew about this. It’s important that you go to an office that has a relaxing room to do the IV treatment as it’s extremely beneficial to focus on safe imagery during the treatment."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• Bul...
• September 10, 2019

"I’ve tried 3 infusions so far for depression with anxiety, and I think I’ve had enough to realize this is total rubbish! The first infusion I had seemed to help some, I did feel a little better, so I had a second one. But after the second one, I started to feel more anxious and a little back to my same depression! I tried for a third time hoping it would level me out and bring me relief. The third infusion was so strong I was having some intense memories I was reliving, it was so amazing, actually. These memories were from when I was around 10 years old and very clear, it was unreal! There kept being this recurring thought to myself: “You worry too much, try living in the moment, life is great, and you have so much to be grateful for.” It was quite pleasant! And then the infusion ended! I was so hungover all day after the third infusion it was unbearable, and now it’s been a week since I’ve had it, and I’m more depressed than I’ve ever been!"

• TKA...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 5, 2021

"I had opted for Ketamine infusions after years of antidepressants no longer helping. I have treatment-resistant depression and had high hopes to finally get relief for my immense suffering. Every single treatment was terrifying. I could barely walk and was extremely dizzy and took forever to snap out of it. I should have had 6 treatments in total, but after my 5th and no relief, I wondered if I should continue. Did show up for my 6th and last treatment, however, I had so much anxiety I couldn’t go through with it. I ended up spending so much money for treatments that didn’t help me at all. It actually made me worse. As a teen, I had crippling panic attacks that eventually went away on their own until immediately after my second infusion, I almost ended up at the ER with a terrifying panic attack. And now I am again plagued with panic attacks. So I’m terribly disappointed that Ketamine infusions didn’t help me at all. It was my last hope of at least taking the edge off my depression."

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 19, 2021

"This was one of the most intense and depleting experiences I have ever had with IM ketamine. It was one nightmare of a trip, but really I gained very little from it. I was completely aware of the therapist with me, and I saw a lot of colors and kaleidoscopes that people are describing. The therapist I barely knew, and she talked me into doing it and wanted me to do more, but no way. I feel so down and drained and not better or relieved at all. I cried and felt vibrations in my body, but I wasn't able to really get to anything deeper that I was hoping for. I see people say do it more times, but I am scared. Also, does anyone know if this can cause changes in the brain? I hope I feel better soon because I did not feel bad until I took this medicine. Do not take it lightly, it is a hallucinogen and an anesthetic, and I have never felt good after anesthesia. It's the same bad depression you get after a procedure. I was on it for anxiety and depression."

• Ces...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 20, 2021

For Anesthesia "I was having a lot of anxiety prior to having a c-section. I had already been given an epidural. The anesthesiologist gave me something that he said would “calm my nerves,” and everything instantly went black. I remember it all. It felt like I was falling down a pitch-black hole, and I can remember fighting to get back to my c-section. I thought I had died. I remember having stopped breathing and fighting to get a breath. When I finally came to, I was being stitched up from my tubal and c-section, so I have no idea how long I was actually out. I kept trying to ask the nurse if I was alive and okay and where my baby was, but I kept going right back out. My fiancé said my eyes were open the whole time, but I was unresponsive and just kept saying ahh. He said the baby came out blue and had to be put on oxygen. It was the most terrifying thing I’ve ever experienced. It’s 16 months later and I’m just now finding out that that’s what I was put on because it’s in my child’s doctor notes."

• Kat...
• May 14, 2022

For Pain "I had experienced a terrible headache and anxiety and went to the emergency room. The doctor ordered this drug and gave it to me through an IV. It was the most terrible experience of my life. The hallucinations were so scary I thought I was going to die. It was horrible and lasted 20 minutes, everything in the room was moving. I was flying in the air and then went down into a deep black hole. The hallucinations were really so scary. It didn't do me any good except to scare me to death. I thought I was actually dying."

• Ove...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 2, 2019

"Terrible experience with ketamine infusions for depression. I had three infusions, and not only did they not work on the depression, I was left with insomnia, numbness in my extremities, and increased anxiety. Beyond that, it is very expensive. I do not recommend these infusions, and I think all these ketamine clinics should be shut down. There is no evidence of any long-term help for depression with these infusions."

• Kev...
• October 3, 2024

For Anesthesia "I had a primary pneumothorax, and they were about to insert a tube in my chest. The doctor explained he was giving me ketamine for sedation and then Ativan to avoid a possible bad trip and anxiety as I come out of it. I think I overheard 50 mg of ketamine. Once it hit, I pushed out an 'OMG, whoaa' to let them know I was going under. Within seconds, my world folded over and dissolved into an absolute high-speed ride through changing colored dimensions, which looked like broad, morphing ribbons of yarn passing in front of me. Not much for detail, but I felt like I was gradually tumbling and changing random directions every few seconds. Quickly, I forgot what I was there for and could hear their voices but couldn't understand most of it. I was awake but felt nothing. It felt like a long few minutes, and I was happy to finally come back out and see the room. I muttered, 'That was crazy,' and was trying to shrug off the effect. I feel this doctor's strategy made it bearable."

• Kay...
• February 25, 2021

For Anesthesia "Used in ER to put radius bone back in place. Horrifying, I get anxiety symptoms just thinking about it. I came out of it screaming, “Never give that to me again.” Absolutely terrifying."