Nasal Spray Is A New Antidepressant Option For People At High Risk of Suicide

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In 2019, the FDA approved Spravato for patients with major depressive disorder who hadn’t responded to other treatments. Now, the agency is adding patients who are having suicidal thoughts or have recently attempted to harm themselves or take their own lives.

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Esketamine Nasal Spray Eases Depression Symptoms In Suicidal Patients

«Most patients describe it as feeling weird, Sanacora says, «similar to what you would get either waking up or going under anesthesia.

The patients who are candidates for esketamine will probably have been brought to an emergency room or psychiatric facility because of suicidal thoughts or behavior, Conway says. And those who get the drug will also most likely be admitted to a psychiatric unit.

Even though esketamine is not intended to prevent hospital stays, it might be able to shorten them, Sanacora says. «It is a real possibility if people are starting to feel better quickly, he says.

The studies that led to Spravato’s approval were highly unusual because they included people at high risk of suicide.

«It really is the first large scale clinical trial like this to be done in a population of patients that not only have severe depression, but are also expressing acute suicidal ideation, Sanacora says. Until now, he says, antidepressant studies have usually «excluded this patient population.

Spravato’s approval comes as many people are experiencing stress and anxiety related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

«The COVID environment is sort of the perfect cauldron of stress, Conway says, because it is leaving many people isolated, without jobs, and uncertain about the future. And those are factors that can contribute to depression and suicidal thoughts, he says.