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Created in 2008, Phoenix Rising is the largest and oldest forum dedicated to furthering the understanding of, and finding treatments for, complex chronic illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), fibromyalgia, long COVID, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and allied diseases.
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Dr. Jay Golstein wrote that when treating CFS, "The ultimate goal appears to be (for most patients) to reduce the sensitivity of the NMDA receptor".
Hi, I use a compounded cream that has lidocain and ketamine. I have found it more effective than anything else I've used. Now I'm going to have to talk to the pharmacist and see about this psychosis side effect. Hopefully my dose is small enogh I won't have to worry about it.
kbak
A while ago, I had a severe problems with mental tension and anxiety, which I think is caused from NMDA overstimulation. I have compiled a list of safe supplements that reduce the sensitivity of the NMDA receptor. If you take several of these together, they do work. They act as anxiolytics.
Here is the list of NMDA inhibitors:
Transdermal Magnesium - potent
Taurine
Guaifenesin
Cats claw - possibly
L-Huperzine A
Zinc
Progesterone (transdermal)
Ibogaine
Amantadine, Ketamine, Riluzole, Memantine, Dextromethorphan
Nitrous oxide, xenon gas
Jenny,
I am taking ketamine right now. My brother is a psychiatrist--tho not mine--and he started using ketamine several years ago. I am very cautious and I was too scared to take it for a long time. Plus, my other meds were doing the trick. I am twice blessed with having BipolarII Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The BPII is going on 30 years; the CFS for four. There are major sleep issues with both illnesses. When my current meds weren't up to the CFS, I reconsidered taking ketamine. At that time, my sleep was just a mess. I was waking up 10-12 times a night, maybe more, and not getting deep sleep at all. I was miserable.
I started the ketamine out at 10 mg as a nasal spray. I worked my way up to 40 mg. Then we doubled the dosage. In a CFS moment, I forgot that and jumped straight to 80 mg. In retrospect, that was good, as every time I went up I would get nervous. Now I am at 90 mg and should stay there for awhile. My first sequence of sleep--about 6-7 hours is great, usually with just one awakening. Since I have CFS, I sleep 12 hours, so the second sequence is more problematic, as I still have medicine in my system. I used to take one 10 mg, then 20 mg, spray before going back to bed. The results were sketchy. I think a nasal spray just isn't completely stable. So, now I am doing a 10 mg pill and it is working better.
I will always be careful with ketamine. I alway read the label--for correct dosage--before I take it, but I have read that it is actually a mild drug. My brother is convinced it is the next big drug for depression of the decade. He told me of a woman who had such bad BiPolar II that she had tried everything. After 3 ketamine infusions, she was cured. Obviously, this will not work for everyone, but if I were struggling with BPII the way I used to, I would say, "Sign me up!" I still might.
Bottom line: I used to dread going to bed; with ketamine, I look forward to it.
Betth
I think ME is a immunological disorder causing imbalance in brain neurotransmittors. Most symptoms we experience are coming from the CNS.