Esketamine, the active ingredient in spravato nasal spray, may provide considerable depressive symptom relief in as little as a few hours for people with severe, treatment-resistant depression. For some patients, esketamine therapy is revolutionary because it allows them to finally live a life free of depression.
An overview of Spravato nasal spray treatment
Ketamine, which has long been used to treat depression, is the source of Spravato nasal spray. The FDA has authorized the use of esketamine, a more potent kind of ketamine, as a nasal spray for those with treatment resistant depression delaware.
Esketamine must be delivered under medical supervision since, like ketamine, it might affect perception in the two hours following therapy. Nasal spray with spravato treatment is offered as an outpatient treatment. Patients will normally administer three nasal spray dosages under physician supervision, spaced five minutes apart. Till any probable side effects pass, they will remain in the clinic under the doctor’s care.
Esketamine must be used alongside an established antidepressant. Eketamine is intended to provide instant relief from depression symptoms while awaiting the other medication to take effect.
Candidates for Spravato nasal spray
Esketamine is now approved for the treatment of depression in patients who have not responded to previous forms of therapy. That includes those who have taken two or more antidepressants (for a minimum of six weeks each) and have not experienced any improvement.
The mechanism of action of Spravato in the treatment of depression
Spravato has a different antidepressant impact than other medicines. Traditional antidepressants raise the levels of natural neurochemicals including serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. These substances serve as messengers. It is thought that having more of these neurotransmitters facilitates improved brain cell communication, which might elevate mood.
Esketamine increases glutamate levels, the brain’s most prevalent chemical messenger, in a manner comparable to other antidepressants. This may concurrently have a greater effect on more brain cells.
Quick relief from depression
Antidepressants may take time to work. It may take many weeks before a significant change in how depressed people feel is noticeable. Esketamine affects brain cells right away and can relieve depressive symptoms within hours.
Reduced suicidal thoughts
Traditional antidepressants, especially in teenagers and young adults, may make suicidal thoughts worse at the beginning of therapy. Aside from lithium, which is frequently given to treat bipolar disorder, Spravato is the only medication that has been shown to lessen suicide thoughts. As esketamine is not yet authorised for this use, the FDA is thinking about utilising it.
Effective for treatment-resistant depression
Numerous standard antidepressant classes are ineffective for up to 33% of depressed patients. In clinical studies, esketamine helped majority of these people with their depressive symptoms.