4 ms·

They will give Ketamine and benzos together as K can cause anxiety symptoms (or terror with a K-hole).

progmetaldev 3y ago
I actually take a benzo only as needed, and try not to take it if I can absolutely help it. I was told that taking a benzo(diazepine) the day of a Ketamine treatment actually cancels out the positive effect of the Ketamine. I believe it as well. Benzodiazepines definitely have a beneficial effect, but if you are trying to get through a psychedelic crisis, or even a horrible panic attack, taking it will 100% negate any kind of benefit you would get by pushing through the uncomfortable negativity. I'm speaking from personal experience, but I feel Benzos cancel out anything positive from learning in regards to a psychically negative experience. Sometimes your anxiety is so bad you need them, I know I have been in that place where I'm responsible for another person, and can't deal with the anxiety and still help this other person. I'm also terrified as I've heard Benzos increase the odds of getting Alzheimer's by something like >80%. I have Alzheimer's on my dad's grandmother's side, and my mom's father's side. Unless it skips a generation, and favors mother's or father's side, and the side it skips works out, I'm screwed!
- nullindividual 3y ago
  It would be administered in the IV immediately before a Ketamine IV. It does not cancel out the effect, but you might fall asleep during treatment which isn’t as fun.
  - progmetaldev 3y ago
    Benzodiazepines actually affect the recall of the Ketamine experience. My clinician stated that taking benzos with Ketamine reduce the effectiveness by a large margin. I can believe this, because taking a benzo completely changes your feelings about anxiety and your self image, which seem to be important in gaining insight from a Ketamine experience. Of course, I am not a scientist or psychotherapist, so this is just what has been repeated to me.
justatdotin 3y ago
but: * benzos counteract K * I always assumed therapeutic doses would embrace the K-hole (at which point, IME, you're so detatched that terror isn't really an option any more)

I actually take a benzo only as needed, and try not to take it if I can absolutely help it. I was told that taking a benzo(diazepine) the day of a Ketamine treatment actually cancels out the positive effect of the Ketamine. I believe it as well. Benzodiazepines definitely have a beneficial effect, but if you are trying to get through a psychedelic crisis, or even a horrible panic attack, taking it will 100% negate any kind of benefit you would get by pushing through the uncomfortable negativity. I'm speaking from personal experience, but I feel Benzos cancel out anything positive from learning in regards to a psychically negative experience. Sometimes your anxiety is so bad you need them, I know I have been in that place where I'm responsible for another person, and can't deal with the anxiety and still help this other person. I'm also terrified as I've heard Benzos increase the odds of getting Alzheimer's by something like >80%. I have Alzheimer's on my dad's grandmother's side, and my mom's father's side. Unless it skips a generation, and favors mother's or father's side, and the side it skips works out, I'm screwed!

nullindividual 3y ago
It would be administered in the IV immediately before a Ketamine IV. It does not cancel out the effect, but you might fall asleep during treatment which isn’t as fun.
- progmetaldev 3y ago
  Benzodiazepines actually affect the recall of the Ketamine experience. My clinician stated that taking benzos with Ketamine reduce the effectiveness by a large margin. I can believe this, because taking a benzo completely changes your feelings about anxiety and your self image, which seem to be important in gaining insight from a Ketamine experience. Of course, I am not a scientist or psychotherapist, so this is just what has been repeated to me.

justatdotin 3y ago

but: * benzos counteract K * I always assumed therapeutic doses would embrace the K-hole (at which point, IME, you're so detatched that terror isn't really an option any more)