About 30% of Americans with a major depressive disorder (MDD) also have treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Those with TRD have tried at least two different antidepressants without seeing a noticeable improvement in their symptoms.
If you’re one of these folks, an improved mood and outlook can seem like an unobtainable goal, but you shouldn’t give up hope. Thanks to new drugs like Spravato®, it’s possible to address TRD and prevent it from worsening. Here, we explain what Spravato is and how it differs from traditional antidepressants.
Spravato (esketamine) is a brand-name prescription antidepressant made from the drug ketamine. Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic used to alleviate pain and induce unconsciousness. It’s been used in surgery for decades but received FDA approval for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) in 2019.
Esketamine is stronger than traditional ketamine. It’s administered via a nasal spray and used alongside a traditional antidepressant for maximum effect. Since esketamine is more potent than regular ketamine, it can be taken in smaller dosages and has fewer side effects.
Spravato is considered safe and is usually well-tolerated. However, since it can distort your perception, The Labyrinth Psychiatry Group team administers it onsite during in-patient visits. This lets your provider monitor you for adverse side effects, ensuring your safety and comfort.
The Labyrinth Psychiatry Group team tailors Spravato treatment to your symptoms and needs. Often, the initial treatment involves administering three separate doses, five minutes apart.
Afterward, your provider monitors your reaction and checks for any potential side effects. Since Spravato affects your perception, you need someone to pick you up and drive you home.
If you respond well to Spravato, the team schedules treatment twice weekly for the first month. They also prescribe a traditional antidepressant, like a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) to enhance the benefits.
As your depressive symptoms improve, Spravato is administered less and less frequently until you wean off of it completely. This process typically takes 6-12 months.*
Spravato is different from traditional antidepressants in several ways, including:
Traditional antidepressants, like SSRIs, increase the availability of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine“feel-good” chemicals that facilitate communication between brain cells. Spravato is different in that it targets N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) and glutamate receptors. These receptors are more abundant in the brain, causing Spravato to work more quickly than other drugs.
Traditional antidepressants typically take weeks or even months to start working. Spravato works much quicker. Some patients report depression relief after a single treatment. This means you don’t have to wait as long to start feeling better.
Spravato quickly increases the amount of glutamate receptors in the brain. This facilitates improved connections between brain cells, resulting in quicker and more effective symptom relief.
Traditional antidepressants are usually prescribed for people with mild and moderate major depressive disorders. Spravato, on the other hand, is specifically recommended for folks with treatment-resistant depression who haven’t responded to other, more traditional treatments.
Most people with TRD respond well to Spravato treatment, but the drug can present side effects, including:
These symptoms are most noticeable during the first few treatments and typically subside afterward. However, if they continue or make you feel uncomfortable, tell your Labyrinth Psychiatry Group provider. They can adjust your dosages to ensure a satisfactory treatment outcome.
Contact Labyrinth Psychiatry Group if you have treatment-resistant depression and want to try Spravato. Call the office in Cranford, New Jersey, today, or book your appointment online.
*Individual results may vary.
