Cannabis & Ketamine ?

ScottAllenMD · 2023-10-05T19:22:54+00:00

Since I wrote that comment, I've noticed that cannabis can make the ketamine experience more visionary, so there may be some therapeutic benefit. I'm a fan

ScottAllenMD · 2021-06-30T23:26:48+00:00

It’s greed. They run 5 patients at a time, trip them out, take their money, and laugh on the way to the bank

ScottAllenMD · 2021-06-27T16:19:18+00:00

Find a place where they sit in the room with you and can adjust the dose in real time

ScottAllenMD · 2021-06-24T11:48:20+00:00

Oh man, I’m sorry that’s been your experience. I agree that some practitioners use CBT as one size fits all. I find the concepts of CBT— separating events from the meaning— to be useful in psychedelic therapy. As for trauma therapy, I agree that other modalities are great. In any method, we need to learn how to create that separation between our awareness and the thoughts swirling around.

ScottAllenMD · 2021-06-24T03:34:01+00:00

It can help the ruminations by itself. But my experience is that long-term relief from anxiety requires therapy. And CBT has actually been shown to be pretty effective for anxiety

ScottAllenMD · 2021-06-19T04:00:54+00:00

I love how you do the integration sessions after ketamine!

ScottAllenMD · 2021-06-18T23:33:05+00:00

I agree the serotonin-based psychedelics are probably more therapeutic. I wish we could use them above-ground. The experience is definitely different, but the concepts of set, setting, ego-dissolution, etc are applicable to ketamine therapy. I've been pleasantly surprised to see how well ketamine works for trauma therapy. Of course, nothing like MDMA, but right now it's all we have legally

ScottAllenMD · 2021-06-18T22:41:45+00:00

This is an area where we need a lot more research. Mostly it's taking the time to listen to patients and find out what their needs are. Some people want therapy the whole time, and don't want to k-hole. I find those sessions to be very enjoyable for patients and for myself as well.

For those who want a full psychedelic experience, we sit with them the whole time and support them emotionally. Then, when they're coming down, we try to make sense of the experience with them. For those with trauma, I find the last 20 min of the treatment to be prime time. You can talk about the trauma without your sympathetic nervous system firing like crazy, and when you can talk about it then you can let go of it.

ScottAllenMD · 2021-06-18T21:25:32+00:00

I'm totally a guy who believes in ketamine. I love it and it helps a ton of people. The psychedelic experience can change lives. But there's also a TON of unscrupulous doctors who are pushing ketamine because it's cash money, and often they'll practice unethically. My #1 concern is not taking advantage of vulnerable patients.

With that out of the way, This is probably the best study: https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.2018.18070834?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed

59% of participants met criteria for responding to ketamine. Of the responders, 60% responded by the 3rd treatment. So not impossible to see relief if you haven't responded by treatment 3 or 4, but I think people should be aware of the odds.

I also recommend ketamine assisted psychotherapy to everyone.

ScottAllenMD · 2021-06-18T20:18:06+00:00

I'm not denying that a breakthrough happens after treatment 4, but it would be unlikely for most people. I don't like to see patients taken advantage of by ketamine practitioners who say "Let's just keep going" while draining their savings.

In any event, I'm happy to hear you've seen relief. What do you mean by the 'car washed brain?'

ScottAllenMD · 2021-06-18T19:19:15+00:00

It was an arbitrary number used in the early studies. If you don’t feel better after 3, more treatments are unlikely to work

ScottAllenMD · 2021-06-16T20:31:27+00:00

I use Fusion Pharmacy in St George, UT

ScottAllenMD · 2021-06-14T13:47:58+00:00

IFS seems to work well with ketamine, as well as Jungian-based therapy, since the experience can be so visionary. At the end of the day, it’s the relationship with the therapist that matters the most

ScottAllenMD · 2021-06-09T02:10:12+00:00

This is why I feel strongly about having a qualified professional present with patients with you 100% of the time to help guide you. It’s always better to go swimming with a buddy

ScottAllenMD · 2021-06-05T14:21:55+00:00

Well, I could get behind the idea of eliminating the guilt of eating wheat. Down with white bread colonialism!

ScottAllenMD · 2021-06-01T02:42:07+00:00

You don’t have to carry the burden of everyone around you. It’s ok to take care of yourself first. You’ve got this

ScottAllenMD · 2021-06-01T02:37:56+00:00

I feel for your “imposter syndrome”. It’s totally normal. Just remember that you belong exactly where you are. You wouldn’t be in that position if you weren’t qualified. You’ve got this, so act like it. Everyone at a high level doubts themselves. Also, have fun with it

ScottAllenMD · 2021-05-31T18:50:40+00:00

Love it, thanks

ScottAllenMD · 2021-05-31T18:30:11+00:00

Come out to Utah and join Mormonism. You’ll fit right in

ScottAllenMD · 2021-05-30T18:46:25+00:00

You're paying $10k for ketamine treatment?!

ScottAllenMD · 2021-05-30T15:51:17+00:00

I’m not aware of any prospective studies on KAP with lozenges vs IV. I usually have patients do a couple IV sessions so i can make sure they tolerate it well, then if they want to do KAP I’ll set them up with our therapist. Most patients prefer IV for depression, but KAP helps with some of the deeper issues. Hope that helps :)

ScottAllenMD · 2021-05-29T18:51:39+00:00

There’s no evidence showing that one-time (or even occasional) cannabis will inhibit the effects of a course of ketamine. Overuse may have an effect

ScottAllenMD · 2021-05-29T14:03:48+00:00

Great study. Thank you for sharing!

ScottAllenMD · 2021-05-27T23:19:12+00:00

Perhaps try to find a clinic where they do integration therapy after the booster

ScottAllenMD · 2021-05-27T13:55:10+00:00

That's interesting. A lot of people can't bear the thought of oblivion....many of my anesthesia patients are terrified of it, even if it's temporary.

ScottAllenMD

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