Niki’s seizures are a unique form of functional neurological disorder (FND) that occurs when the nervous system and brain signaling misfire. However, her life took a positive turn when she discovered experimental ketamine therapy.
Niki, a 52-year-old woman from Canada, had been struggling with “drug resistant” depression. Conventional treatment methods failed to alleviate her persistent low mood, leading to feelings of desperation and even suicidal thoughts. Alongside her depression, Niki also experienced seizures, which she was incorrectly told were caused by anxiety and were untreatable.
In 2018, Niki’s seizures worsened, with her experiencing two full-body seizures per day, lasting up to eight hours. She described the strange sensations that overwhelmed her body, making it impossible to control her movements. Facial distortions further added to her confusion and concern.
The root cause of Niki’s seizures was identified as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), stemming from traumatic experiences during her childhood and adulthood. Unfamiliar with ketamine, she was introduced to it by Dr. Evan Lewis, a neurologist at Numinus, a Canadian company specializing in psychedelic treatments.
Following Dr. Lewis’s recommendation, Niki and her husband traveled two hours to Toronto to begin her ketamine therapy in October 2022. The treatment involved taking a ketamine pill and receiving an intranasal dose, with the entire therapy session lasting approximately 90 minutes. Niki laid on a couch with her eyes covered, listening to relaxing music.
The use of ketamine in therapy is not without controversy. In both Canada and the United States, it is regulated under controlled substances acts. However, the FDA’s approval of ketamine as an anesthetic in the 1970s allowed healthcare providers to prescribe it off-label for other conditions, including depression. This led to the establishment of ketamine clinics where patients could undergo ketamine therapy.
Before discovering ketamine therapy, Niki’s seizures would leave her debilitated for up to 48 hours. She repeatedly visited emergency rooms, but doctors could not identify the cause, attributing it to anxiety. As a result, Niki felt dismissed and began to lose hope of finding relief.
Ketamine therapy changed her life after just one session. She experienced a seizure-free period of nine days, which had not occurred before. The therapy allowed her to enter a different state of consciousness, where she felt safe and comfortable, free from the burden of her thoughts.
Niki continued with ketamine treatment once a week for three weeks, then transitioned to bi-weekly sessions. After ten months, she now only requires one maintenance dose every two months. She has seen a significant reduction in seizures, allowing her to resume her job full-time and take care of her children while running her business.
Reflecting on her journey, Niki credits ketamine therapy and Dr. Lewis for giving her life back. Although she is not completely seizure-free, she is grateful for the immense progress she has made and the quality of life she has regained.
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