Esketamine: A Breakthrough Treatment for Treatment-Resistant Depression
Esketamine is a promising new treatment option for people with severe depression that have not responded to other medications. Delivered as a nasal spray, Esketamine works quickly to alleviate depression symptoms, often within hours. It does this by boosting the levels of a brain chemical called glutamate, which improves communication between brain cells.
If you’ve struggled to find relief from depression after trying at least two other antidepressants, esketamine may be an option for you. It can provide:
- Rapid symptom relief: Often within hours, not weeks
- Improvement in mood and energy levels
- Reduced thoughts of self-harm
Esketamine Treatment
Esketamine is administered in a medical clinic under the supervision of trained professionals. You’ll receive the following treatment:
- Nasal spray: You’ll receive three doses, spaced five minutes apart.
- Monitoring: After the treatment, you’ll stay in the clinic for about two hours to make sure you’re feeling OK and to watch for side effects.
- Treatment schedule: In the beginning, you’ll receive treatment twice a week, and this may reduce as you improve.
Benefits of Esketamine
Esketamine offers several significant advantages for those battling treatment-resistant depression:
- Fast results: You may feel better much sooner compared to traditional antidepressants.
- Helps with brain health: Esketamine may even help undo some of the damage caused by depression.
- Reduces suicidal thoughts: This treatment has shown to lower thoughts of self-harm in those who are struggling.
Side Effects
Like all treatments, Esketamine can have side effects, though they are usually temporary. You may experience:
- Feeling detached or having unusual thoughts (this usually passes within two hours)
- Dizziness, nausea, or drowsiness
- Headaches or a feeling of being drunk
These side effects are mild and improve after a few treatments.
If other antidepressants haven’t worked, Esketamine could be the next step. Talk to your health care provider to see if this treatment is right for you.
Referral Information
To send your referrals, request a self-referral form or for more questions, send to: [email protected] or call 989-667-6231.