What You Should Know About Antidepressant Drugs

  In recent years, the field of mental health treatment has made significant progress, particularly in the field of pharmacotherapy. A notable development was the emergence of Spravato (generic name: esketamine) therapy as a treatment option for certain mental health conditions.  Spravato, a nasal spray formulation of esketamine, has attracted attention for its ability to treat Treatment Resistant Depression and other psychiatric disorders. This article examines the latest research on spravato therapy, including its effectiveness, mechanisms of action, safety profile, and implications for the future of mental health treatment. Introduction to Spravato Therapy Spravato, developed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, was approved in the U.S. in 2019 as a new treatment for depression. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is classified as a dissociative sedative and acts as an NMDA receptor antagonist affecting glutamate signaling in the brain.  This novel mode of a...

  Depression is a chronic mental health condition that affects approximately 1 in 6 adults. An estimated 16 million American adults battle depression each year. The standard of care for depression is treatment with antidepressant medications, such as fluoxetine or citalopram. However, in some cases, the symptoms of depression do not improve with antidepressant treatment. People who continue to experience symptoms of depression after trying at least two separate antidepressant medications at an adequate dose for the recommended period of time may be considered to have Treatment resistant depression (TRD). In many cases, these people will have tried multiple oral antidepressants with little or no relief in their symptoms. What is SPRAVATO®? SPRAVATO® is a ketamine-based prescription nasal spray that is taken along with an oral antidepressant. It works by increasing glutamate, a natural chemical in the brain that helps transmit messages between brain cells. When glutamate is increase...