From Jasper Frost
I am facing treatment-resistant depression myself, and being of a scientific mind, have already tried some of the new approaches you describe (27 July, p 34), including the drug ketamine. I hope to have repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) soon.
Sadly, for me, large or small doses of ketamine bring only half a day or so of release. Unfortunately, it has also been experimentally confirmed that in the longer term, the drug impairs memory and multitasking ability, as I have noticed myself, and this is a heavy price to pay.
When I take what your article calls the “go-to tools for treating depression”, namely the SSRI drugs that boost serotonin, they produce the interesting effect of being supercharged on serotonin without altering mood. So I get the butterfly-stomach feelings and a floaty sensation, but with little to no emotional impact. For me, rTMS may be the only option left.
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
