Ketamine is an anesthetic used to sedate both humans and pets, and it’s a favorite of partygoers seeking a psychedelic high. Now it’s also the subject of an enormous amount of interest as a fast-acting treatment for depression and other serious mental health conditions.
What Is The Difference Between Bipolar 1 & 2?
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by intense mood swings, ranging from extreme highs, known as manic episodes, to severe lows, known as depressive episodes. While bipolar disorder as a whole is well-known, there are different types of bipolar disorder that individuals can experience. In this article, we will delve into the differences between bipolar 1 and bipolar 2, two commonly diagnosed subtypes of the disorder. (more…)
Learn More
Do Depression Rates Rise During The Holidays?
The holiday season is often portrayed as a time of joy and celebration. However, for many individuals, it can also be a period of increased stress, anxiety, and even depression. In this article, we will explore the question: do depression rates rise during the holidays? (more…)
Learn More
Can Depression Be Caused by a Lack of Sleep?
Many people struggle with depression, a complex mental health condition that affects hundreds of millions of individuals worldwide. While there are various factors that contribute to the development of depression, one potential cause that has gained significant attention is sleep deprivation. Understanding the relationship between sleep and depression is crucial for effective prevention and treatment strategies. (more…)
Learn More
How Common is Ketamine Therapy in Houston, Texas?
Ketamine therapy is a novel treatment option for various mental health conditions, and its prevalence has been steadily increasing in recent years. Understanding the science behind ketamine therapy and its therapeutic uses can shed light on its popularity among individuals seeking alternative treatment options for their mental health concerns. This article explores the prevalence, legal status, and future prospects of ketamine therapy in Houston, Texas. (more…)
Learn More
Anxiety Nausea: Why It Happens and How to Stop It
Anxiety nausea can be a distressing symptom that many individuals experience when they are feeling anxious or stressed. The connection between anxiety and nausea is well-established, and understanding the physiological and psychological mechanisms behind it can help us find ways to alleviate this uncomfortable sensation. (more…)
Learn More
PTSD & Insomnia
PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. It is a common condition, affecting millions of people worldwide. (more…)
Learn More
The FDA approves the first pill specifically intended to treat postpartum depression
Federal health officials have approved the first pill specifically intended to treat severe depression after childbirth, a condition that affects thousands of new mothers in the U.S. each year.
The Food and Drug Administration on Friday granted approval of the drug, Zurzuvae, for adults experiencing severe depression related to childbirth or pregnancy. The pill is taken once a day for 14 days.
“Having access to an oral medication will be a beneficial option for many of these women coping with extreme, and sometimes life-threatening, feelings,” said Dr. Tiffany Farchione, FDA’s director of psychiatric drugs, in a statement.
Postpartum depression affects an estimated 400,000 people a year, and while it often ends on its own within a couple weeks, it can continue for months or even years. Standard treatment includes counseling or antidepressants, which can take weeks to work and don’t help everyone.
The new pill is from Sage Therapeutics, which has a similar infused drug that’s given intravenously over three days in a medical facility. The FDA approved that drug in 2019, though it isn’t widely used because of its $34,000 price tag and the logistics of administering it.
The FDA’s pill approval is based on two company studies that showed women who took Zurzuvae had fewer signs of depression over a four- to six-week period when compared with those who received a dummy pill. The benefits, measured using a psychiatric test, appeared within three days for many patients.
Sahar McMahon, 39, had never experienced depression until after the birth of her second daughter in late 2021. She agreed to enroll in a study of the drug, known chemically as zuranolone, after realizing she no longer wanted to spend time with her children.
“I planned my pregnancies, I knew I wanted those kids but I didn’t want to interact with them,” said McMahon, who lives in New York City. She says her mood and outlook started improving within days of taking the first pills.
“It was a quick transition for me just waking up and starting to feel like myself again,” she said.
Dr. Kimberly Yonkers of Yale University said the Zurzuvae effect is “strong” and the drug likely will be prescribed for women who haven’t responded to antidepressants. She wasn’t involved in testing the drug.
Still, she said, the FDA should have required Sage to submit more follow-up data on how women fared after additional months.
“The problem is we don’t know what happens after 45 days,” said Yonkers, a psychiatrist who specializes in postpartum depression. “It could be that people are well or it could be that they relapse.”
Sage did not immediately announce how it would price the pill, and Yonkers said that’ll be a key factor in how widely its prescribed.
Side effects with the new drug are milder than the IV version, and include drowsiness and dizziness. The drug was co-developed with fellow Massachusetts pharmaceutical company Biogen.
Both the pill and IV forms mimic a derivative of progesterone, the naturally occurring female hormone needed to maintain a pregnancy. Levels of the hormone can plunge after childbirth.
Sage’s drugs are part of an emerging class of medications dubbed neurosteroids. These stimulate a different brain pathway than older antidepressants that target serotonin, the chemical linked to mood and emotions.
Learn More
What Does Spravato Feel Like?
In recent years, ketamine has taken the stage as a powerful alternative to most mood and pain disorder treatments. With great success comes new innovations and derivatives.
Spravato is a prescription drug used to treat:
- Treatment-resistant depression
- Depression involves active suicidal behaviors.
Spravato is a nasal spray that can only be used under the strict guidance and instructions of a doctor at a medical facility. Spravato is made with an active ingredient called esketamine. Like other drugs, Spravato has side effects that could be mild or severe.
Side Effects Of Spravato
Spravato can cause some mild effects, most of which are transient and resolve before the end of the treatment. Side effects include:
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Fatigue (low energy)
- Feeling anxious
- Feeling as if you’re drunk
- Headache
- Discomfort or irritation in your nose or throat
- Nausea and vomiting
- Numbness, including in your nose or mouth
- Extreme sleepiness
- Vertigo
How Does Spravato Work?
Antidepressants help to offer relief from depression symptoms. However, oral antidepressants don’t work for everyone and about one-third of patients will not respond to antidepressants at all. Spravato is made to assist those with treatment-resistant depression and improves and helps them live a better life. Treatment-resistant depression is defined as not responding to two or more oral antidepressants.
When Spravato is administered, it begins its work immediately, increasing glutamate. Glutamate is a neurotransmitter in the brain. Traditional oral antidepressants do not work on glutamate. Glutamate helps stimulate other neurotransmitters in the brain, including the parts connected to depression symptoms. This process has been effective in reducing suicidal thoughts and creating new neuronal connections in the brain. This is very important for those struggling with depression because untreated depression has many negative, long term consequences.
What Does Spravato Feel Like:
Spravato can distort your perception within the first two hours of use, and it must be administered to you in a medical center and by a certified doctor. The doctor administers two or three doses with five-minute intervals in between, and you have to stay in the clinic under the close watch of the doctor. The doctor observes you until there’s no sign of any potential side effect.
Spravato is recommended for people with treatment-resistant depression. For people who haven’t experienced relief with other antidepressants, Spravato gives them a chance to experience what it feels like not to have depression. Spravato is an FDA approved treatment for treatment-resistant depression for several reasons:
1. People with Depression Get Rapid Relief
Conventional antidepressants are slow in taking effects. It takes several weeks before the patient notices any changes in their depression symptoms. However, Spravato immediately takes effect and offers instant relief from the depression symptoms within two hours of treatment.
2. Spravato Decreases Suicidal Thoughts
Conventional antidepressants can potentially increase suicidal thoughts, especially in children and young adults at the beginning of treatment. Spravato improves symptoms of depression and reduces suicidal thoughts. Spravato is indicated as a first line treatment in those with depression who are at imminent risk of attempting suicide.
3. It’s Effective for Treatment-Resistant Depression
Spravato is an approved treatment for depression, and it’s highly effective than other conventional antidepressant drugs. Spravato reduces depression symptoms and causes immediate relief.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spravato
1. Can Spravato be used to treat pregnant women with treatment-resistant depression?
Spravato is not recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. If a person becomes pregnant while undergoing treatment with Spravato, they may need to speak with their doctor for alternative treatment options.
2. What happens when Spravato isn’t working as it should?
Spravato may be an effective treatment for treatment-resistant depression, but not all patients experience the immediate effects and improvement of their symptoms. Anyone sharing this should speak with their doctor to discuss other treatment options.
Conclusion
Spravato can function as an antidepressant. Though its means of administration differ from ketamine, both work effectively in stimulating new neural growth. Spravato can often be a more affordable treatment for those with commercial health insurance. Contact us today to learn more.
Learn More
TMS For Treatment-Resistant Depression
40% of males and 20% of females use talk therapy or antidepressants to deal with depression. However, there are five classes of antidepressants, and among those over seventy options, finding the right fit can take months, and each pill has the potential to both not work and come with unwanted side effects. Roughly one-third of all patients that seek treatment for depression find no relief with these more standard treatments.
Understanding the signs and symptoms of depression will help you know if you or a loved one should be considering treatment options. And among those treatment options, it is crucial to understand that there are other methods out there that have been highly effective.
What Is Treatment-Resistant Depression?
Treatment-resistant depression is exactly what it sounds like. “If you’ve been treated for depression but your symptoms haven’t improved, you may have treatment-resistant depression.” Those who have not responded to two oral antidepressants are considered to have treatment-resistant depression. Psychotherapy or particular medicine may reduce depression symptoms for most people. Still, when standard treatment fails, warning signs return, and your quality of life is affected, you may be suffering from a more severe form of depression. Ketamine and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) may help ease symptoms.
What Are The Symptoms?
Symptoms of treatment-resistant depression are the same as other kinds of depression, except they come back day after day, never responding to standard treatment like psychotherapy or antidepressant medications. Symptoms may include:
- You feel sad, tearful, empty, or hopeless
- You’re easily angered, irritated, or frustrated, even over trivial matters
- You’re not interested in something you used to enjoy doing
- You have trouble sleeping
- You’re fatigued and have low energy
- Significant changes in appetite and weight
What To Know About Treatment-Resistant Depression?
According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, up to 30 percent of people diagnosed with major depression show little to no improvement following standard treatment. What else to know?
- A person’s age, gender, and health may boost the risk for treatment-resistant depression.
- The exact cause of depression isn’t fully understood, which may explain my certain antidepressants aren’t effective for everyone.
- There are recognized strategies for managing treatment-resistant depression.
- Research into treatment-resistant depression is ongoing.
What Causes Treatment-Resistant Depression?
- Studies show that people with depression appear to have physical changes in their brains, which could help find the source of the illness.
- Faulty neurotransmitters or chemical messengers in the brain affect mood stability and significantly affect depression and its treatment.
- Changes in hormone levels may cause or trigger depression, including during and after pregnancy. It may also be caused by thyroid problems, menopause, or several other conditions.
- Inherited traits.
TMS For Treatment-Resistant Depression
“Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression. TMS is typically used when other depression treatments haven’t been effective.
“This treatment for depression involves delivering repetitive magnetic pulses, so it’s called repetitive TMS or rTMS.” It’s a kind of procedure that may be recommended if medicine or psychotherapy hasn’t lowered depression symptoms in some people.
Are there side effects?
TMS is considered safe, but there are potential side effects. Most are transient and occur during the treatment only:
- Headache
- Scalp irritation where the stimulation takes place
- Jerking of facial muscles
- Lightheadedness
TMS involves placing an electromagnetic coil against your head and repeatedly turning it off and on to create stimulating pulses. This generates a tapping or clicking noise that usually persists for several seconds and is followed by a pause. You may also perceive a tapping sensation on the forehead. This part of the procedure is known as mapping.
“Existing evidence to date suggests that less treatment-resistant patients respond better to rTMS than those who are highly treatment-resistant. However, there is much yet to be learned about particular variables that may impact response to rTMS. Researchers are presently conducting clinical studies to evaluate who will benefit most from rTMS therapy.” Research into whether rTMS with antidepressant medications is more effective than rTMS alone is ongoing.
In addition, in a comparison trial, deep TMS (Brainsway) was shown to be significantly more effective than superficial TMS.
Diagnosis & Treatment
Diagnosing treatment-resistant depression normally involves:
- A physical examination by your doctor. You’ll be expected to talk about personal and family medical history and may undergo tests to find a medical problem for your depression symptoms. If there isn’t a medical reason, you may be referred for a psychiatric assessment by a mental health professional.
- At a psychiatric assessment, you’ll talk about thoughts, feelings, and behaviors as possible triggers, as well as whether you have a personal or family history of mental illness.
- Comparing your depression symptoms to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria.
TMS or ketamine may be recommended for treatment.
Final Thoughts
Depression can wreak havoc on your sense of self, your daily life, and your relationships. But there are ways to stop it from getting to this point. Among those, ketamine and TMS have been highly successful treatments.
Researchers have found that ketamine, when given in an appropriate non-sedative dose, as well as TMS, can help patients that are not receiving benefits from traditional treatment. Our clinic is here to help. Contact us today.
Learn More