Hope for the Hopeless: The Revolution for Treatment-resistant Depression (TRD)
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Forward Counseling understands that even in the darkest of times, there's always a glimmer of hope on the horizon. We've seen the resilience of the human spirit, and that's why we believe better days are ahead. Depression might have cast a shadow, but we're here to bring the light. As a holistic mental health provider, we want you to know that even in the face of the most challenging, treatment-resistant depression, there's hope.
Depression is something many people experience at several points in their lives. Even though it remains a common mental health condition, several individuals still struggle to find an effective treatment option. The good news is that there are novel treatments like Spravato that hold the promise of relief.
Spravato, also known as esketamine, is a medication that utilizes a unique approach that allows for faster healing from depression than traditional antidepressants. It is an S-enantiomer of ketamine and has recently been approved by the FDA as a fast-acting antidepressant for people who have not achieved adequate results after attempting at least two other antidepressants.
The most commonly prescribed antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). While these medications can be effective for some people, they’re not effective for everyone. In fact, research has shown that up to 10–30% of people with depression do not respond to traditional antidepressants.
Spravato can offer new hope to those who suffer from depression, particularly treatment-resistant depression (TRD). TRD is a common and burdensome condition with poor outcomes and few treatment options. The addition of Spravato intranasally to a new antidepressant increases the chances of response and remission in TRD.
Spravato works differently than other antidepressant drugs. Conventional antidepressants increase naturally occurring chemicals in the brain like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Increasing the amount of these chemicals in the brain allows for more effective treatment of depression symptoms. Esketamine, the active ingredient in Spravato, blocks the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor and increases glutamate's production. Glutamate is a neurotransmitter that regulates brain activity to alleviate symptoms of depression.
Spravato is administered as a nasal spray and must be administered in a certified medical facility by a healthcare professional. It’s approved for use in adults, but not in children. In a clinical study lasting four weeks for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), Spravato reduced the symptoms of depression in people taking the drug.
Spravato’s approval is considered controversial by some people because it is similar to ketamine, which is sometimes used as a party drug. Due to the risks associated with Spravato, patients can only receive it under the supervision of a healthcare professional and only in specialized clinics with controlled administration. Spravato also has the potential for misuse and dependence.
Patients with depression need safe and effective treatments to find relief. With Spravato, there is hope that those who suffer from this condition can finally have an effective treatment option. Other notable benefits of the medication include the creation of new connections in the brain, which directly helps patients deal with the negative thoughts that contribute to depression.
In conclusion, the approval of Spravato by the FDA marked a significant milestone in the treatment of depression. It showed the potential new treatments hold for overcoming this condition when all else seems to fail. We believe that evidence-based and individualized treatments are the key to achieving lasting wellness.
If you're wrestling with depression, remember, you don't have to walk this path alone. Reach out to us, consult with our dedicated team at Forward Counseling, and explore the myriad of treatment options available. Hope is a sunrise away, and we're here to help you embrace it.
