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For the past 50 years or so, depression treatment has been limited to just a couple of standard options. Esketamine nasal spray, sold under the brand name Spravato®, is one of the newest innovations changing depression treatment as we know it. The mechanism of action, the delivery method and the applications are different from any other treatment option. Even people with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and suicidal ideation have seen rapid improvement with esketamine.
Esketamine can be taken on its own or in combination with other treatment methods as part of a personalized care plan. In this article, we’ll share five ways esketamine nasal spray is changing depression care.
5 ways esketamine nasal spray is changing depression care
The first-line treatment for depression is a combination of daily medication and psychotherapy. There are several reasons why these treatments may not be helpful for everyone. When symptoms don’t improve over time, people may feel discouraged, making the condition worse. Esketamine is a new solution helping to interrupt this cycle and provide new hope.
Here are five ways esketamine nasal spray is changing depression care for the better:
- Breaking through treatment resistance
About 30% of people with depression have treatment-resistant depression (TRD). This means they’ve tried two different treatments without seeing significant improvement. Each new generation of antidepressants works a bit differently. Some people may try three or four different options and find that their brain doesn’t respond to them. Esketamine is one of a few groundbreaking depression treatments that are proving effective for people with TRD.
In one clinical trial, 27% of people with TRD achieved remission after eight weeks of Spravato® treatment. Of these, 21% stayed in remission after 32 weeks.
- Redefining the speed of psychiatric intervention
Typical oral antidepressants may take six to eight weeks to start working. It’s also common to experience mild side effects during this adjustment period. People who respond to esketamine usually see results within four weeks, and some notice an improvement within hours or days. Starting esketamine treatment can make a big difference as a crisis intervention for people who have severe depression with suicidal ideation. It also has the potential to help people stick with their treatment with a sense of renewed hope.
- Expanding monotherapy options
Most of the other recent innovations in depression medication are add-ons. These are meant to be taken with a traditional antidepressant. Esketamine can be taken without a daily oral antidepressant. This simplifies treatment for people with complex conditions. It also makes it a good alternative for people who have trouble taking medication on their own and those who can’t tolerate combination therapies.
- Addressing acute suicidal ideation
Esketamine has FDA approval as a treatment for acute suicidal ideation or behavior. There are few treatments that provide relief from suicidality as quickly as esketamine. The available treatments may not work for everyone, so it’s helpful to have new options. For some people, esketamine treatment may be the first step that takes them from a mental health crisis to long-term treatment and remission.
- Reshaping provider-patient relationships
Esketamine treatments require more frequent sessions with providers than other medications. Patients need to stay for about two hours after treatment for observation. However, one clinic can provide an intimate experience for several patients at once. The speed and effectiveness of esketamine treatment may help create better patient-provider relationships. Clinics like PTC Med can pair esketamine with psychotherapy and other treatments for more comprehensive care under one roof.
PTC Med is here to help you find out if esketamine nasal spray is right for you
The approval of esketamine nasal spray for hard-to-treat varieties of depression marks the beginning of a new era in mental health care. It’s part of a new wave of innovation along with other treatments that provide fast and effective relief, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Esketamine treatment could be a bridge that helps you out of a tough time. It should be considered as part of a larger overall mental health care plan.
PTC Med clinics are making esketamine treatments more affordable and accessible to people in California. We accept most insurance plans. We also offer other services so you can work with a care team at one practice instead of seeing specialists from multiple clinics. Our providers have experience treating TRD and depression with other co-occurring conditions.
Are you exploring esketamine nasal spray as an option for your treatment-resistant depression? We can help. Reach out to our team by phone today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment. You can also book your initial appointment online now.
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