Ketamine Therapy Alternative: Esketamine with an Antidepressant

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 20% of adults in the United States experience symptoms of depression regularly. A psychiatrist can help people manage these symptoms effectively, resulting in a better quality of life over time. Many treatment options exist, including:

• Individual talk therapy
• Group or family counseling
• Lifestyle changes
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Prescription antidepressant medication

Ketamine is another option that is becoming more and more popular in the realm of mental health. In a medically controlled environment, this hallucinogenic drug has been shown to improve depressive symptoms in some people, especially those with severe depression and suicidal thoughts or tendencies. It can also help some people whose depression does not respond to antidepressants alone. In recent years, the FDA has approved a medication known as esketamine, an alternative to intravenous ketamine therapy, which is designed to help patients with severe or chronic depression.

Understanding esketamine therapy

Esketamine is technically a version of ketamine and has similar properties and effects but in a much more potent form. As a result, a lower dose can be used to achieve the desired effect. This drug can give patients a feeling of euphoria and results in what is often referred to as an enlightening or out-of-body experience. Esketamine is administered in the form of a nasal spray under the supervision of a psychiatrist and trained medical professional until the effects wear off, which may last anywhere from one to two hours and beyond. When using esketamine, people with persistent or severe depression are able to experience feelings of increased happiness, less stress, and for the time being, a depression-free existence.

While the benefits are instant, they are also temporary. However, esketamine has shown to provide long-term positive effects, including improving motivation and mood while giving patients a better perspective on their depression after experiencing the possibility of little to no symptoms. Some studies have shown that it can also help improve overall brain function in some patients.

Partnering esketamine with antidepressants

While esketamine can have long-term benefits, it is more often used for its immediate ones. It can be a very effective treatment for suicidal patients who need quick symptom relief. Esketamine can also be a temporary treatment until a person's body adjusts to new antidepressants; sometimes, it can take weeks before there are noticeable improvements from prescription medication, so esketamine therapy helps in the meantime.

Much of the time, esketamine is reserved for patients who have tried several weeks or more of other types of therapy and medication for depression, but with little to no success. In these situations, stopping antidepressants can cause more harm than good, but adding esketamine therapy to them can help give patients relief while restoring balance to the body's production of mood-boosting hormones, including dopamine and serotonin.