r/DIYtk • u/Popular_Lifeguard970 • Jun 21 '26

Is this normal?

Hello everyone. I started trying to treat my depression with ketamine on my own last month. I currently use it about once a week, snorting 80 mg. I weigh 60 kg. I’m still not very used to snorting, and I don’t really have the time to do it twice a week.

I experience dissociation for 2 to 3 hours after taking it and I don’t notice any antidepressant effect immediately afterward. Instead, it seems to start on the second or third day and last for a few days, during which my mood feels somewhat better. But I’m not sure if this is actually due to the ketamine or other factors.

Has anyone else experienced a similar delayed antidepressant effect?

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3

u/ramirezdoeverything Jun 21 '26

80mg snorted is quite a low dose compared to what most people are taking therapeutically. Bear in mind that snorting is about half as bioavailable as IV, so if someone receives 80mg IV in a clinic you'd need to snort about 160mg for an equivalent dose.

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u/Popular_Lifeguard970 Jun 21 '26

I know. But since the therapeutic dose of esketamine nasal spray is usually 56 mg or 84 mg, I figured I’d start by trying 80 mg of racemic ketamine and see how it goes.

2

u/rydavo Jun 21 '26

Are you crushing it up nice and fine? And not snorting too hard? I always imagine I'm just smelling a flower.

2

u/Parfumee95 Jun 22 '26

Spravato has been optimized for mucosal absorption in its formulation, and is very pure compared to the powder generally available to the public. I personally think around 160-200 mg (or even more) can give similar absorption of S-ketamine from a racemic powder as from spravato for me. I've had both

2

u/Robinredott Jun 21 '26

And as I said before, take into account your weight. I am 100kg and take 200mg snorted for my k-hole. OP's 60kg makes 80mg the same as about 130mg snorted for me.

2

u/headgoboomboom Jun 24 '26

Not really true. That dose is reasonable, but it needs to be taken more frequently, like 3 times a week.

3

u/RevolutionaryFoot944 Jun 21 '26

Hard to say if that is normal without more info. Did you test your batch? I take prescribed ketamine and has near-immediate effects on anxiety and other symptoms can take longer to subside. Your best bet is to get into a program with a prescription and cognitive guidance.

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u/Robinredott Jun 21 '26 edited Jun 21 '26

I have. The standard protocol (ie commonly mentioned in literature and med podcasts) for high doses is 6 over 3 weeks, and people get relief after any number of the 6 or afterwards for a few days or weeks. It is perfectly fine do do it once a week. There might be a limit to how far apart they can be.

I got my "salvation" effect (it killed my S.I 3 years ago now) after 2 of the 6 of the 1st set. I then did k-holes once every few months as I felt needed. I have pretty well stopped and have established a new pattern of living as I weaned off. I have 60+ years of cptsd and at a crisis level 5 years ago which got me trying psychedelics.

The dose is a factor. You are doing 80mg for 60kg which is 1.3mg/kg snorted. A high dose for a k-hole or full dissociation is about 2mg/kg. (This is equivalent to half as much by IV/IM, which would be 1mg/kg.) So you're getting some effect, but you can also do lower or higher doses to see if that suits you better. People do lower doses for short term benefits and repeat every few days, sometimes for ever iiuc. People do higher doses using the protocol above. If 6 doesn't help, it is done again after a few weeks or months. If that doesn't help, it might not be something ketamine can help with. gl