Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Research into ketamine as a treatment for severe depression

washingtonpost.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

51–58 of 58 posts

Re: Research into ketamine as a treatment for severe depression

#51

Post by ricksplat »

md224 wrote: post #49
pstuart wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thank you for taking the time out to join our conversation. I hope it was worth it.

Some people just don't understand the importance of psychoactive drugs. It's sad.

Hahahahaha - "some people" - I'll have you know I've more experience with psychoactive drugs than you'll ever be able to understand. I've even been "in the K-hole" - TFA presented Ketamine as an erstwhile party drug, which it is, and in that context the saying goes "Only Fools and Horses" which refers to the fact that it is a horse tranquilizer and the level of wisdom involved in its use in a recreational setting. "Only Fools and Horses" is also a popular British sitcom (and turn of phrase) hence the Atlantic reference you humourless self-agrandising twit.

Re: Research into ketamine as a treatment for severe depression

#52

Post by ukoms »

From my point of view - and I've gone through almost each available antidepressants in 10 years battle with depression - every new solution, that will relieve patients from their struggles (even for short part of time) - is a bless. Sure ketamine won't solve problem permanently, but todays 2nd and 3rd generation medicaments dont do it either. There is a moment, when you simply want to feel a relief - from sorrow, stagnation, fear, guilt and hopelessness. If it's true, that ketamine gives you this relief, then sign me up! :) And it don't have to do anything else. Because, there are people who simply cannot remember how it feels to live without depression - if you can somehow remind them how it is not to feel anything depressing, this may be powerfull boost for keep fighting.

Re: Research into ketamine as a treatment for severe depression

#53

Post by dfraser992 »

1024core wrote: post #29

Do you have to take it via an IV? Can taking it orally have similar benefits? I'm just curious why you need an IV.

Oral works as well - no pain in the nose, etc - but it does take more ketamine. As for the IV... these are doctors administrating it. An IV allows for more precision, and a point of the treatment, it seems, is to avoid the K-hole effect - which would seriously disturb a lot of patients.

If I was using opiates for a medical purpose, I would want to be precise - heroin vs making poppy tea.

Re: Research into ketamine as a treatment for severe depression

#55

Post by pstuart »

ricksplat wrote: post #51
md224 wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some people just don't understand the importance of psychoactive drugs. It's sad.

Hahahahaha - "some people" - I'll have you know I've more experience with psychoactive drugs than you'll ever be able to understand. I've even been "in the K-hole" - TFA presented Ketamine as an erstwhile party drug, which it is, and in that context the saying goes "Only Fools and Horses" which refers to the fact that it is a horse tranquilizer and the level of wisdom involved in its use in a recreational setting. "O…

I see that it's done wonders for you.

Edit: don't be so sure of your experience trumping mine.

I think your humor needs needs work, because if you have to explain a joke you've failed.

Re: Research into ketamine as a treatment for severe depression

#56

Post by Igglyboo »

rincebrain wrote: post #45
Igglyboo wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They aren't prescribing recreational doses, he would be perfectly functional and experience no dissociation whatsoever, it's something the drug community has been talking about for a long time. Lookup "microdosing" if you're interested, a lot of people do it with dissociatives or psychedelics and the point of it is to a below threshold dosage and avoid the typical drug high.

You're still in an "altered state" for an hour or so after an IV infusion, according to several practices I've seen offering the service - not necessarily dissociative or hallucinating, but definitely "out of it".

Ah, didn't realize they were doing IV infusion, if they made capsules or something with a time release mechanism they could probably avoid the "altered state".

Re: Research into ketamine as a treatment for severe depression

#57

Post by phkahler »

danharaj wrote: post #40
phkahler wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You write as if it's all past tense for you. How did you end up getting better?

the past tense was because i was talking about being a child. i'm still depressive although today is possibly the best i've felt in months. today is good because i've been working on improving my mental hygiene and it's starting to pay off. it's been a long project. i'd say that the very first step i took towards taking care of my mental health was 2.5 years ago. it's difficult to summarize what's happened since then…

It's not incoherent at all to me, but it may have been a year ago. I think it's like the blub paradox in a psychological context. Wish we could get a beer and chat.

Re: Research into ketamine as a treatment for severe depression

#58

Post by is_it_worth_it_ »

ricksplat wrote: post #51
md224 wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some people just don't understand the importance of psychoactive drugs. It's sad.

Hahahahaha - "some people" - I'll have you know I've more experience with psychoactive drugs than you'll ever be able to understand. I've even been "in the K-hole" - TFA presented Ketamine as an erstwhile party drug, which it is, and in that context the saying goes "Only Fools and Horses" which refers to the fact that it is a horse tranquilizer and the level of wisdom involved in its use in a recreational setting. "O…

Since when is it cool to brag about what drugs you have done? You must still be in college/high school.
Post reply on HN