This past March, the FDA approved Spravato, which is a nasal ketamine treatment that has a positive effect on many patients with treatment-resistant depression. It is a stunning breakthrough and certain to help many with depression. But it is important to understand how nasal ketamine works and who it is intended to treat.
Nasal ketamine treatment gives hope to many patients who may not see the results they would like from other forms of depression medication. Thus far, its results are promising.
The following is a complete overview of nasal ketamine treatment, including what it is exactly, the science behind it and how the treatment process works.
Ketamine is a medication used to treat a variety of issues. It is most well-known as an anesthetic due to its ability to put patients in a trance-like state. However, when used appropriately, medical experts discovered ketamine can assist with symptoms of depression. It can also have a positive long-term impact.
There are two different forms of ketamine treatment: IV and nasal ketamine. The effects are essentially the same, although most consider nasal ketamine, which is taken as a “nasal puff,” far more convenient.
The science behind nasal ketamine treatment specifically for depression is highly technical. Many studies are still being conducted to determine exactly why so many patients are seeing such positive benefits.
What we do know, however, is that it works differently than anti-depressants. It works in many instances when antidepressants and other depression medications fail.
Antidepressants typically affect serotonin or norepinephrine inside the body. Ketamine, however, most strongly affects glutamate, which is a prevalent neurotransmitter in the brain.
The first step towards effective treatment for depression is to schedule a time to meet with a mental health professional. They can evaluate your symptoms and discuss the goals for treatment. Many mental health professionals may try other forms of medication first, such as antidepressants. If they fail to work, however, then nasal ketamine is likely to be recommended.
The mental health professional can provide the patient with instructions and ensure she or he takes the nasal ketamine in the most effective and safe way possible.
One of the biggest advantages of nasal ketamine treatment for depression is it sometimes works when other forms of depression treatment do not. Subsequently, it is best to ask about nasal ketamine treatment if other forms of treatment have failed.
Since it has only recently been approved, many studies on side effects are still ongoing. This leads many mental health professionals to still try other treatment options first, despite the success of nasal ketamine with depression.
If you struggle with symptoms of depression and want to find out if nasal ketamine can help you overcome your symptoms, then reach out to us today and schedule a time to come in for your first visit.
Request an appointment here: https://futurepsychsolutions.com or call Future Psych Solutions at (803) 335-5232 for an appointment in our Columbia office.
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