Not all treatment methods recommended for depression are antidepressants. A psychiatrist may prescribe esketamine for those with treatment-resistant depression or major depression. Combined with an oral antidepressant, this type of ketamine therapy works differently than traditional depression medication and can be extremely effective. It also works more quickly than antidepressants alone.
Researchers are still figuring out exactly how esketamine works. However, they know that one thing it does is target the neurotransmitter glutamate, which is responsible for various connections and communications in the brain.
That is possibly why this drug is particularly effective when combined with an antidepressant. That is because antidepressants work on improving the levels and effectiveness of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine, so various aspects of the brain associated with mood disorders are being treated.
Esketamine is a relatively new way to treat depression, so it is common to have questions about it. These are some queries that many patients have.
Yes, esketamine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2019 for use as a depression treatment when used in conjunction with an oral antidepressant. The approval is for treatment-resistant depression and not as a first-line treatment on its own.
Esketamine is an intranasal spray, and it is self-administered by the patient. However, this only occurs while in a clinic and in front of a trained healthcare provider or psychiatrist. This professional observes the patient while administering the spray and afterward to monitor any side effects that the patient may experience. Each session takes around two hours.
Some patients experience a reduction in symptoms during the first session, while others may notice improvements after the second or third session. The typical treatment duration is four weeks with two sessions each week. After this period, the psychiatrist will recommend either weekly or bi-weekly sessions to maintain results.
One of the benefits of esketamine is that it acts much faster than antidepressants. Some antidepressants take weeks to work, while others may take months.
As with any medication, there is a potential for side effects with esketamine. Common side effects may include:
If side effects do occur, they typically only last for a couple of hours after the administration of the medication, which is why a healthcare professional is there to monitor. However, unlike side effects associated with antidepressants, they do not last long-term. The provider determines when the patient is ready to leave a session, and the patient should not operate a vehicle for the remainder of the day.
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People who have tried at least two antidepressants and have not seen a reduction in depression symptoms may benefit from esketamine combined with an antidepressant. A psychiatrist can decide if this treatment is a good option for a patient.
Contact our office immediately if you are looking for a treatment solution for your depression symptoms. A psychiatrist will see if you are a good candidate for ketamine therapy.
Request an appointment or call Future Psych Ketamine Clinics at 843-788-9718 for an appointment in our Myrtle Beach office.
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