| There are a few non-hallucinogenic and non-sedative derivatives of ketamine being studied at the moment as antidepressants. Anecdotes of their use seem to be positive, but of course those should be taken with a grain of salt. See LongeCity's Brain Health forum for some crazy threads relating to this.[0] On another note, this summer I experimented with NSI-189[1] for depression to great effect. It's a hippocampal neurogenic agent currently prepping for phase 2 trials. I found that its antidepressant effects over a one-month cycle were remarkably similar to my single psilocybin experience a few years back. Specifically, they both (or rather, I) exhibited two characteristics: (a) "Illuminating" rather than the "dulling" of traditional antidepressants. A feeling of irrational filters being lifted from all my senses and the cognitive functions directly adjacent to them. It doesn't feel like a band-aid like tricyclics and SSRIs do. It feels like a realization that the depression is a lie, that it doesn't reflect the actual state of the world. (b) Persistence of the effect long after the chemical was no longer in my system. Where "long" was approximately two years for the psilocybin, and I'm coming up on four months after cessation of the NSI-189 with not just steady benefits but continuous improvement. This matches the results found in the Phase 1b trial.[2] Now I haven't gotten an MRI to see if my hippocampus has grown to an abnormal size, like was found in an early mouse study, but my experience has made me extremely optimistic for the next ten years of antidepressant research. I'm fairly certain we'll be able to narrow down the exact mechanisms by which psychedelics alleviate depression and isolate them from the permanent destructive potential of most psychedelics.[3] [0] http://www.longecity.org/forum/forum/169-brain-health/ [1] It is currently not being sold, and its patent-holder Neuralstem is being quite threatening toward would-be vendors. There is nothing illegal about purchasing it, but it would be difficult for anyone in the US without indirect access to a quality Asian synth lab and a domestic third party testing facility. [2] http://smithonstocks.com/neuralstem-phase-1b-results-for-nsi... [3] I should mention that though I'm comparing NSI-189 to traditional psychedelics in this comment, it doesn't actually have any major immediate effects. Common anecdotal effects include heightened taste and smell, back-of-skull pressure/ache and mild parasthesia. A couple instances of major, painful parasthesia in individuals with previous nerve damage. But no headspace, no high, no rush, no immediate feeling that you're taking a drug at all, and the antidepressant effects do not reveal themselves for at least a week. |