Esketamine Nasal Spray
Using esketamine nasal spray may cause sedation, fainting, dizziness, anxiety, a spinning sensation, or feeling disconnected from your body, thoughts, emotions, space and time. You will use esketamine nasal spray by yourself in a medical facility, but your doctor will monitor you before, during, and for at least 2 hours after your treatment. You will need to plan for a caregiver or family member to drive you home after using esketamine. After you use esketamine nasal spray, do not drive a car, operate machinery, or do anything where you need to be completely alert until the next day after a restful night’s sleep. Tell your doctor right away if you have extreme tiredness, fainting, chest pain, shortness of breath, a sudden severe headache, vision changes, uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body, or a seizure.
Esketamine may be habit-forming. Tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family drinks or has ever drunk large amounts of alcohol, uses or has ever used street drugs, or has overused prescription medications.
A small number of children, teenagers, and young adults (up to 24 years of age) who took antidepressants (‘mood elevators’) during clinical studies became suicidal (thinking about harming or killing oneself or planning or trying to do so). Children, teenagers, and young adults who take antidepressants to treat depression or other mental illnesses may be more likely to become suicidal than children, teenagers, and young adults who do not take antidepressants to treat these conditions. However, experts are not sure about how great this risk is and how much it should be considered in deciding whether a child or teenager should take an antidepressant. Children should not use esketamine.
You should know that your mental health may change in unexpected ways when you use esketamine or other antidepressants even if you are an adult over age 24. You may become suicidal, especially at the beginning of your treatment and any time that your dose is changed. You, your family, or your caregiver should call your doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms: new or worsening depression; thinking about harming or killing yourself, or planning or trying to do so; extreme worry; agitation; panic attacks; difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep; aggressive behavior; irritability; acting without thinking; severe restlessness; and frenzied abnormal excitement. Be sure that your family or caregiver knows which symptoms may be serious so they can call the doctor if you are unable to seek treatment on your own.
Because of the risks with this medication, esketamine is available only through a special restricted distribution program. A program called Spravato Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) program. You, your doctor, and your pharmacy must be enrolled in the Spravato REMS program before you can receive this medication. You will use esketamine nasal spray in a medical facility under the observation of a doctor or other healthcare professional.
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will check your blood pressure before and at least 2 hours after you use esketamine each time.
The last 20 years have seen the cost of medical care increase about 70% faster than the rate of general inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the Research Division of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Healthcare inflation dropped to a historical low after 2010 but is again on the rise as of 2018, according to Bloomberg.
Your doctor or pharmacist will give you the manufacturer’s patient information sheet (Medication Guide) when you begin treatment with esketamine and each time you refill your prescription. Read the information carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. You can also visit the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website or the manufacturer’s website to obtain the Medication Guide.
🔔 Why is this medication prescribed?
Esketamine nasal spray is used along with another antidepressant, taken by mouth, to manage treatment-resistant depression (TRD; depression that does not improve with treatment) in adults. It is also used along with another antidepressant, taken by mouth, to treat depressive symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) and suicidal thoughts or actions. Esketamine is in a class of medications called NMDA receptor antagonists. It works by changing the activity of certain natural substances in the brain.
🔔 How should this medicine be used?
Esketamine comes as a solution (liquid) to spray into the nose. For the management of treatment-resistant depression, it is usually sprayed into the nose twice a week during weeks 1–4, once weekly during weeks 5–8, and then once a week or once every 2 weeks during week 9 and beyond. For the treatment of depressive symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder and suicidal thoughts or actions, it is usually sprayed into the nose twice a week for up to 4 weeks. Esketamine must be used in a medical facility.
Do not eat for at least 2 hours or drink liquids for at least 30 minutes before using esketamine nasal spray.
Each nasal spray device provides 2 sprays (one spray for each nostril). Two green dots on the device tells you that the nasal spray is full, one green dot tells you that one spray was used, and no green dots indicates that the full dose of 2 sprays was used.
🔔 Other uses for this medicine
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
