FDA-approved ketamine fights depression better than decades on Prozac: patients
New York Post • • health
Key Points:
- Mather Hospital on Long Island is using the esketamine nasal spray Spravato to treat severe clinical depression, with 62% of nearly 40 patients reporting symptom improvements.
- Patient Ellen Talmage described the treatment as life-changing and faster-acting than traditional antidepressants like Prozac, enabling her to engage in activities she previously avoided due to anxiety and depression.
- The multiweek treatment program involves gradually increasing doses administered twice weekly, with patients monitored for safety due to potential vivid reactions during sessions.
- Esketamine targets NMDA receptors in the brain, differing from conventional antidepressants that affect serotonin and norepinephrine, and is seen by doctors as a potential game changer for treatment-resistant depression.
- Medical staff emphasize strict regulations to ensure safety and efficacy, distancing the clinical use of esketamine from recreational ketamine abuse, while patients report renewed purpose and improved quality of life.
