Ketamine was invented in 1960s as an anesthetic and was approved by the FDA for this purpose in 1970. Over the years, doctors began to notice psychiatric effects on their patients that were given ketamine. In the 1990s, researchers from Yale began to explore the antidepressant effects of Ketamine that had been noticed when it was used as an anesthetic.
The researchers from Yale found that Ketamine triggers glutamate production in the brain, which in turn prompts the brain to form new neural connections. These make the brain more adaptable and helps develop more positive thoughts and behaviors.
Spravato is a type of Ketamine that is administered in the form of a nasal spray. It is easily and painlessly administered, has few side effects, and is as effective as injected forms of Ketamine.
Spravato is the only FDA approved nasal spray for adults with treatment resistant depression that can be taken with or without an oral antidepressant, giving you more options and flexibility. In a 4-week clinical trial, patients given Spravato in combination with an oral antidepressant showed a rapid and superior reduction in depression symptoms compared with those given a placebo with oral antidepressants. Most of the reduction in depression symptoms were seen at 24 hours.
Spravato can also be used alone, without an oral antidepressant. Studies show it to be effective alone — improvement in depression symptoms by 24 hours, and at 4 weeks.
Spravato may cause side effects during the treatment, including increased blood pressure, dizziness, feeling sleepy or feeling disconnected from your surrounding. We will monitor you during you treatment to ensure your comfort and safety.
Spravato is a self-administered nasal spray. A typical course of treatment is two times per week for four weeks, followed by one time per week for four weeks. Additional maintenance treatments may be administered weekly or biweekly thereafter.
Upon arrival at our office, you will have your vital signs assessed (heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygenation) to ensure everything is in a normal range.
You will be seated comfortably, and then you will administer the nasal spray (Spravato) yourself. You will have your heart rate, blood pressure and respiration monitored by our staff during treatment.
You will sit quietly while the active effects of the Spravato take place. You will likely feel mildly sedated, a possible experience dissociation for an hour or so. For the second hour you will slowly return to your baseline functioning, and after a quick check by our staff, you will leave our office. You will need to arrange for a ride home following treatment.
Consider these questions and contact our office if you are interested in Ketamine:
I have tried many antidepressants and have not achieved the results I’d like.
I need to be more resilient and cope better with daily life.
Transform – 2: Spravato Short Term and Long Term Effectiveness
Ketamine treatment for depression: a review
Ketamine for the treatment of major depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis
A Consensus Statement on the Use of Ketamine in the Treatment of Mood Disorders
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