spravato esketamine
Esketamine - Spravato Clinic
Many people with severe depression who do not respond to or are not appropriate for medications or TMS, sometimes respond to Ketamine. The previously available Ketamine needed to be used multiple times during the day and posed a risk of addiction. Now there is an easier way that is covered by insurance. It is called EsKetamine and is available because it is controlled thru REMS system to avoid problems with abuse and dependence. Eligible patients will be able to get this treatment at our Everett facility.
Testimonial:
I’m extremely grateful to have found Spravato through Shifa Health. I’ve been in treatment for major depression for two decades, and have been prescribed over 20 different psychiatric medications over the years. This past summer, my depression got much worse. I didn’t care about living anymore. I was so close to giving up.
Trying Spravato was a little scary, but no scarier than the dark place I was already in. During my first session, I laughed hard and cried hard – for me it was a huge flood of emotions. Later that night I had a jarring new thought. Maybe a brighter future was actually possible?!? I would NEVER have thought that before. I was skeptical but curious.
My treatments sometimes posed questions or brought up old issues that needed addressing. Every time is at least somewhat unique, and it’s been best trying not to have expectations.
As the weeks went on, my mood improved and stabilized. I smile and laugh much more. After 3-1/2 months, I’m at a good baseline. Overall my improvement has been dramatic and seems pretty stable. My spouse, parents, and friends say I look and sound happier. Most importantly, I no longer wish to leave this life. My future is 100% brighter than before Spravato.
I feel especially supported during my treatments by Amanda, my Spravato Tech, who stays with me to be sure everything goes safely and smoothly. Everyone at Shifa is caring. I know many of them worked hard with my insurance to get this treatment approved. Thank you!
~Anonymous for privacy-3/1/2021
Spravato FAQ’s
Ketamine is made up of a 50:50 mixture of two differently oriented versions of the same molecule, known as enantiomers (or optical isomers). The two enantiomers of ketamine are known as S-ketamine (Esketamine and Rketamine (arketamine). Ketamine has been approved by the FDA for use in anesthesia and as a pain reliever during medical procedures. Studies have shown that ketamine may be helpful in the treatment of depression.
Esketamine, the molecule found in ketamine. Studies have shown that Esketamine is more potent than ketamine. Because it’s more potent, it can be used at a lower dose and may have fewer side effects. While other antidepressants modulate a group of chemicals in the brain called monoamines, esketamine targets glutamate, which is found to be in abundance in the brains of people with depression.
Esketamine is working on the glutamatergic system, and that’s thought to create synapses in the brain. When we have depression, sometimes we don’t have as many connections or synapses within the brain cells, so those synapses go away. Esketamine is thought to create these synapses, or connections, between our brain cells again.
SPRAVATO is a very safe depression medication in the hands of properly trained healthcare professionals. SPRAVATO is used along with an antidepressant taken by mouth to treat Adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and depressive symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) with suicidal thoughts or actions. The appropriate dosage is determined by your physician and is below those necessary to induce general anesthesia.
SPRAVATO is esketamine, however, Ketamine has been abused as a recreational drug. Street drug use is in doses vastly higher than the sub-anesthetic doses used for the treatment of depression and other mental health conditions. As mentioned above, SPRAVATO is used legally and safely and is a very safe medication in experienced hands. Incidentally, many of the drugs used in anesthesia practice have the potential for abuse, so SPRAVATO is not unique in this respect. The key is administering the right dose to the right patient in the right setting.
SPRAVATO is only administered intranasally. Unfortunately, the effectiveness and predictability of response and the overwhelming majority of scientific studies of SPRAVATO for depression and mental health conditions have been performed using intranasal SPRAVATO. In short, intranasal SPRAVATO is the gold standard route for SPRAVATO administration.
Research over the last 5-10 years has shown that the Intranasal administration of SPRAVATO in sub-anesthetic doses remarkably benefits 70% of people suffering from severe depression. While the benefits can truly be remarkable, they often occur in ways that differ from some patients’ expectations. That is, the changes produced by SPRAVATO can be subtle, and while they occur quickly, they do not always manifest themselves immediately. This phenomenon stands in contrast to some patients’ expectations of a benevolent “thunderbolt” response from SPRAVATO treatment. With this in mind, we will work closely with you to identify and evaluate the benefits of SPRAVATO as a depression medication.
The standard SPRAVATO protocol for depression that has resulted from scientific trials and clinical experience around the U.S. is about 2 times per week for the first 4 weeks, and then weekly for 2-4 weeks and then maintenance (usually once every 2 weeks). It has been shown that serial Intranasal administrations are more effective than single Intranasal administrations, and many patients who respond to SPRAVATO treatment require maintenance of Intranasal administrations on an ongoing basis following the initial series. The frequency of these maintenance Intranasal administrations varies greatly from person to person. It is important to note that SPRAVATO Intranasal administrations should not be viewed as a cure for depression, but rather a depression treatment that is a piece of a multi-modal approach that may include ongoing mental health therapy or other depression medication.
Yes, you should not stop your antidepressant medications in order to receive SPRAVATO. It is essential that we review your current medication list prior to beginning SPRAVATO treatments.
SPRAVATO is not physically addicting but it could be psychologically addicting in those using it recreationally at much higher doses and in far greater frequencies than we will use. There is potential for abuse and misuse. All patients will be monitored for signs and symptoms of abuse and misuse.
SPRAVATO™(esketamine) is the s-enantiomer of racemic ketamine. There are no head-to-head studies comparing esketamine and ketamine infusion. SPRAVATO™ (esketamine) is delivered in a nasal spray form and ketamine is delivered intravenously.
The cost of SPRAVATO™ to you is dependent on your insurance plan. Janssen CarePath offers access and affordability options for you, depending on your plan.
SPRAVATO™ should be administered in conjunction with an oral antidepressant (AD). The new open-label oral AD initiated during Study 1 (short-term) was an SSRI in 32% of patients and an SNRI in 68% of patients.
If you miss a treatment session, and depression symptoms worsen, your provider will consider returning you to your previous dosing schedule (ie, every 2 weeks to once weekly, once or twice per week), per clinical judgment.
No, under the REMS, SPRAVATO™ must be administered in a certified healthcare setting. Due to the possibility of delayed or prolonged sedation or dissociation in some cases, you will be monitored by a Spravato technician for at least 2 hours following each treatment session, or until the provider determines the patient is safe to leave.
SPRAVATO™ may impair your ability to drive or operate machinery. We instruct you not to engage in potentially hazardous activities requiring complete mental alertness and motor coordination, such as driving a motor vehicle or operating machinery, until the next day after a restful sleep.
This assessment is a two-part process that involves a review of your medical history and then a second visit for your initial treatment. Your first appointment will last about an hour. The initial assessment, or consultation, will be used to evaluate the appropriateness of Spravato/esketamine in treating your depression. Your Spravato prescribing provider will use the assessment to determine a diagnosis and the risks and benefits of Spravato compared to other available treatments for your diagnosis. The doctor will also want details about previous treatment for your depression including counseling history, names of medications and maximum dosage, duration of treatment, and reason why treatment was discontinued, such as lack of benefit or side effects. You should be prepared to complete formal medical history evaluations and sign consent forms. There is also a chance that Dr. Rozina Lakhani will request a physical examination from your primary care physician. This is not always the case, though, and will vary from patient to patient. If a physical examination is requested, it will most likely be used to carefully screen patients for the presence of medical conditions that are contraindicated with Spravato. At the end of the assessment, Dr. Rozina Lakhani will decide if you are a candidate for Spravato. If Spravato is right for you, she will create a treatment plan for you. Your next appointment will be your first treatment.
Your first evaluation will be about 1 hour long. Your intake with a staff member will take about 15 minutes followed by a 45 minute to an hour meeting with your provider. Prior to administering SPRAVATO, your blood pressure will be recorded to ensure SPRAVATO can be safely administered. Then we will begin the intranasal administration while you are seated with your head at a 45-degree incline. Afterward, we will monitor you for approximately 120 minutes (2 hours) before you are released with a friend or relative who can drive you safely home. During the treatment, occasionally people experience nausea, mild non-threatening hallucinations, or dizziness. You will be awake during the treatment and able to interact with those around you. It is best to relax quietly or listen to relaxing music during the session. Please feel free to bring a blanket or anything else that makes you feel comfortable. Although the effects of SPRAVATO wear off quickly, we ask that you refrain from driving until the day after the treatment. Please do not eat solid foods, milk, pulp-filled juices, or soup for 4-hours prior to your appointment. You may have clear liquids such as water, Gatorade, apple juice, black coffee, or tea up to two hours prior to your appointment