Chronic depression can be as debilitating and life-threatening as any other medical condition. Esketamine therapy is a promising treatment option for treatment-resistant depression. If you’re a good candidate, this could be the answer you’ve been looking for.
At 2nd Chance Treatment Center, with practice locations in Phoenix and Litchfield Park, Arizona, our team of board-certified psychiatrists provides forward-thinking solutions for difficult-to-manage conditions like treatment-resistant depression. Here’s why we use Spravato® (esketamine) instead of standard IV ketamine.
When major depressive disorder (MDD) doesn’t respond to at least two treatment attempts with different first-line antidepressants, it’s redefined as treatment-resistant depression (TRD). It’s tempting to give up on depression treatment or become discouraged after SSRIs and SNRIs fail to improve your symptoms.
You’re not restricted to standard oral antidepressants, however. Esketamine therapy offers another avenue for mental health treatment, one that can open up new pathways in the brain and alleviate symptoms of MDD or TRD.
Ketamine is a powerful anesthetic used primarily during surgery. It gradually gained notoriety as a party drug, but in recent years, the medical applications of ketamine have been explored more closely.
For years, anecdotal evidence of ketamine’s efficacy on mentally ill patients was observed, but only recently have we begun to receive formal, evidence-based research supporting those claims. Even individuals recovering from suicide attempts report improvement after being given ketamine, demonstrating its potential.
Ketamine has demonstrated potential in treating a range of mental health conditions, including:
Standard ketamine is typically administered directly into the bloodstream through an IV drip at intervals of once or twice a week. Administration of ketamine’s sibling esketamine using the nasal absorption route can allow for easier, everyday dosing.
Typically introduced as an adjunct therapy alongside an oral antidepressant, Spravato (esketamine) is designed to block N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the brain. This increases glutamate activity.
Glutamate is a neurotransmitter responsible for memory and mood; more activity creates new pathways in the brain, allowing you to adapt to changes and begin making them yourself. Unlike other antidepressants, ketamine can encourage proactivity, and better circumstances create better moods.
Spravato is a fast-acting nasal spray that can be taken home and used on a daily basis. This makes it more effective than periodic IV therapy, and it gives you more agency in your own treatment.
Your doctor will evaluate your medical history to determine whether Spravato is right for you. If you decide to move forward with treatment, your first dose will be administered at our office.
This gives your doctor a chance to evaluate your response to the medication, including your blood pressure and any side effects like nausea, dizziness, or disorientation. If you respond well, you’ll be given Spravato to take home and strict instructions for your dosage.
To learn more about Spravato for TRD and MDD, call the 2nd Chance Treatment Center location near you, or make an appointment online.