Ketamine Nasal Spray.
Therapy for treatment-resistant depression.
Depression affects tens of millions of Americans — and many, unfortunately, do not get relief from antidepressant drugs alone.
If you are one of those many patients — struggling with treatment-resistant depression — Ketamine therapy offers a new hope.
Ketamine nasal spray is an FDA-approved prescription medication. And we are a certified treatment center for SPRAVATO™ brand S-Ketamine nasal spray.
Indication for Ketamine Nasal Spray Therapy
Ketamine therapy is indicated for the treatment of severe depression in adults (age 18 and over) who have not had success with conventional antidepressant medications.
Clinical trials have shown that Ketamine can make a significant, positive impact on symptoms of depression, including suicidal thoughts, in as little as 2-4 weeks.
Trials have also shown that, after 16 weeks of therapy, patients who stayed on SPRAVATO™ S-Ketamine nasal spray fared better than those who stopped therapy.
How Nasal Ketamine Works
SPRAVATO™ S-Ketamine nasal spray is a prescription medicine, used together with an oral antidepressant, specifically for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) in adults.
Ketamine is an anesthetic that blocks NMDA receptors in the brain. The World Health Organization considers it an “Essential Medicine” due its effectiveness for anesthesia. In lower doses, Ketamine has also been found to be effective as a treatment for Major Depression.
SPRAVATO™ S-Ketamine nasal spray is FDA-approved.
What to Expect from Nasal Ketamine Therapy
The SPRAVATO™ S-Ketamine nasal spray regimen is typically:
Two treatments per week for one month;
Then one treatment per week for one month;
Then one treatment every 1-2 weeks.
However, if you miss a treatment, your schedule may have to change.
Two hours before taking SPRAVATO™, you should stop eating food; 30 minutes prior to treatment, you should stop drinking fluids. If you are using a nasal corticosteroid or decongestant, take them at least one hour before using SPRAVATO™.
You will administer the SPRAVATO™ nasal spray yourself, under our supervision, in our office. We will specify the dose and show you how to use the nasal spray applicator.
We will also monitor you closely during and after each treatment. Typically, you will stay under observation in our office for at least two hours after your nasal Ketamine treatment, so we can check for possible side effects. (See more under Side Effects.)
When we determine you are ready to leave our office after treatment, a caregiver will need to drive you home. For the rest of that day, you should not drive, operate machinery, or do anything that requires alertness.
Nasal Ketamine Safety
When used to treat depression, the low doses of Ketamine are relatively safe. However, Ketamine poses a risk of sedation and dissociation, and can be abused as a recreational drug. SPRAVATO™ is therefore available only through a restricted program, and can be administered only by a certified provider.
In some cases, SPRAVATO™ may worsen depression and cause suicidal thoughts, especially in the first few months of treatment or when doses change. Pay close attention to any changes in your mood, behavior, thoughts, or feelings — and alert a healthcare provider to any such changes right away.
SPRAVATO™ is NOT for use with children.
Do NOT take SPRAVATO™ if you have: vascular disease; vein or artery malformation or aneurysm; a history of bleeding in the brain; or allergies to esketamine, ketamine, or any other SPRAVATO™ ingredients.
Also do NOT take SPRAVATO™ if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
Before you take SPRAVATO™ under our care, be sure to tell us about all of your medical conditions, including: heart or brain problems; high blood pressure; slow or fast heartbeats that cause shortness of breath, chest pain, lightheadedness, or fainting; heart valve disease or heart failure; a history of heart attack, stroke, or brain injury; liver problems; a history of substance abuse or dependency; or a prior diagnosis of psychosis.
Side Effects of Nasal Ketamine Treatments
SPRAVATO™ can cause serious side effects, including: sedation (sleepiness); fainting, dizziness, or a spinning sensation; anxiety; feeling disconnected from your thoughts, feelings, space and time (dissociation); increased blood pressure; problems thinking clearly or remembering; bladder/urination issues; abuse and misuse; and physical and psychological dependence.
The most common side effects of SPRAVATO™ when used with an oral antidepressant are: dissociation, dizziness, nausea, sedation, a spinning sensation, reduced sense of touch and sensation, anxiety, lack of energy, increased blood pressure, vomiting, and feeling drunk.
If these common side effects occur, they usually happen right after taking SPRAVATO™ and go away the same day.