Living with treatment-resistant depression can feel like a constant uphill battle. For many, standard medications simply do not provide the relief needed to manage daily life. New data from 1,836 participants suggests that adding an intranasal spray called esketamine to a daily oral antidepressant may change how patients experience their treatment.
The study found that people using esketamine saw faster improvements in symptoms as early as two days into treatment. By the fourth week, those on the nasal spray showed greater symptom reduction and higher rates of remission compared to those who only took an oral antidepressant with a placebo spray. The results also suggested that continuing the esketamine helped lower the risk of falling back into a depressive state during maintenance phases.
While the treatment offers faster relief, it does come with some immediate side effects. During the initial phase, patients using esketamine reported more instances of high blood pressure and feelings of dissociation. However, these issues were primarily seen in the early stages of treatment. Because every person reacts differently to medication, talk to your doctor about how this specific combination might fit into your personal care plan.
