Louin’s Ketamine Infusion for Treatment-Resistant Major Depressive Disorder

Hello there! First of all, thank you for swinging by my page. I'm Louin T. Adayo from Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. Since 2004, my life has been ravaged by a Treatment-Resistant Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). MDD in more common terms: Severe/Major Depression.

Years of Unsuccessful Treatments
Since starting medical treatment for this disease in 2012, I have not responded to any current-market options. I have been on dozens of anti-depressants, anti-psychosis drugs, psycho-stimulants, mood stabilizers on different dosages, etc. Also, I've gone on different forms of therapies too - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Talk Therapies, among others to no avail. I have exhausted all options, but I am still living in a painful existence. I have found out that current-market options are only targeting one system of receptors: the Monoamine neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, etc.). I needed immediate relief, my brain was a ticking time bomb.

Ketamine Infusion Therapy
Recently, my family and I have discovered a novel treatment for Treatment-Resistant Major Depression: Ketamine Infusion Therapy. Ketamine, which is a powerful anesthetic and pain management drug, is administered intravenously and it works by targeting another receptor system in the brain: the NMDA Glutamate receptors. It helps create new neural pathways that has disappeared due to the disease. I have tried 3 infusions already and I need sustained 10 more infusions or further to significantly reduce the symptoms. However, the costs for the treatment is more than our middle-class income could bear. While I am not fully-recovered yet, Ketamine Treatment has been the best one I've tried. It has reduced the tension and inflammation in my brain. There's no guarantee if this is 100% effective, but I don't have a lot of options anymore.

High Costs for this Treatment
This treatment does not come without a cost. It is very expensive for my family’s level of income. We are doing it off-label with my doctors (a multidisciplinary team of psychiatrist & anesthesiologist) since this treatment is not FDA-approved yet for use in the psychiatric field. Each infusion ranges from PHP 18,690 - 38,201 (358 to 732 USD). There is no standard dosing for each infusion as my doctors have to weigh the intense side effects on me, hence, hospital stays vary. I have to do it every 2-3 weeks.

Totally Disabling Symptoms
This brain disorder has literally deteriorated my brain making me slowly lose my memory, cognitive abilities, and daily functionality. While it looks like I can write these paragraphs, my daily functioning is impaired more than words can say. Even natural therapies and regular workouts are not providing relief anymore. I stopped school and could not maintain gainful employment since 2016, hence, I could not afford medical insurance. My family is doing out-of-pocket financing for everything. I want to be able to help my family defray the high costs for this treatment. They have spent for my medical care & living expenses (being disabled) for 8 years already. I want to help out through this fundraising, promising to be totally transparent with all my medical expenses and provide updates for each treatment.

Every little donation to sustain this life-saving treatment, a share of this fundraising page to your communities and friends, and most especially every small prayer not only for me but for everyone ravaged by severe mental illnesses (one of the most invalidated & stigmatized diseases – these are serious physical injuries to the brain, not emotional disturbances) will really help tremendously. I'd appreciate any form of help. Thank you. Love & light. 💕

-Louin