Anyone know anything about ketamine or TMS for treating depression?

[Terabith]

Not in crisis or anything, just trying to do research to have thoughts for the next time things go sideways.  

[Melissa Louise]

@maizeknows about TMS, iirc

[Mrs Tiggywinkle]

I was close to ketamine, but then I found results with a new modality(Accelerated Resolution Therapy).  If my depression returns as bad as it was I will consider ketamine. The research is solid.

[Amy in NH]

Anything in particular that you want to know?  My sister runs a ketamine clinic for the VA, and I could shoot her specific questions.

[sandwind]

Lurker here- 

I have not used either Ketamine or TMS for my depression yet, however I have an intake with our local TMS center pretty soon to start the process of getting the treatment. I considered Ketamine but my insurance didn't cover it and I know you have to get pretty frequent infusions to really get the full effect. I chose TMS because I have severe treatment resistant depression and ended up inpatient several times over the last year. Antidepressants had no effect whatsoever on me- I know that TMS has pretty good outcomes and it is so much less invasive than ECT. I was told that I will probably have to get the treatment 5 days a week for 4-6 weeks which is a small price to pay if it ends up working. I know that relapse can happen usually around 6mo to a year from your treatments but I know that some insurances will cover retreatment if needed. 

[scholastica]

Someone close to me got TMS and it was helpful to them. It is every day for 4-6 weeks and then they taper down. You can go back for longer or even later additional sessions.

[Terabith]

43 minutes ago, sandwind said:

Lurker here- 

I have not used either Ketamine or TMS for my depression yet, however I have an intake with our local TMS center pretty soon to start the process of getting the treatment. I considered Ketamine but my insurance didn't cover it and I know you have to get pretty frequent infusions to really get the full effect. I chose TMS because I have severe treatment resistant depression and ended up inpatient several times over the last year. Antidepressants had no effect whatsoever on me- I know that TMS has pretty good outcomes and it is so much less invasive than ECT. I was told that I will probably have to get the treatment 5 days a week for 4-6 weeks which is a small price to pay if it ends up working. I know that relapse can happen usually around 6mo to a year from your treatments but I know that some insurances will cover retreatment if needed. 

Thank you!  That's very helpful.  I think our area doesn't do ketamine infusions; they do the nasal spray.