Aroga Medical Associates is now offering Intranasal Ketamine for the treatment of Severe Depression.

May, 11, 2016

Depression is the second-most common cause of disability in the country. Adult lifetime prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) is 13–16% in the United States.  MDD symptoms can be multifctorials and can be associated with deficits in three main domains. The mood symptoms, which include depressed mood and loss of interest or pleasure. The physical symptoms, lack of energy, changes in appetite and disturbances in the sleep. The third dmoin includes cognitive deficits, such as lack of attention, poor concentration and impaired memory. The longer a patient has been depressed, the likelihood of spontaneous recovery of depression decreases. Approximately one-third of major depressive episodes do not resolve, and about 15% of patients with severe MDD successfully commit suicide.

Currently, there is an important unmet need for additional antidepressant options. “Many patients fail to respond to many medication treatments and even if partial response is achieved, there often tolerability issues with the medication. For patients which current medications are not enough to improve the depression, we are offering alternative therapies such as TMS and Intranasal Ketamine. NeuroStar TMS Therapy is an FDA-cleared safe and effective non-drug depression treatment for patients who are not satisfied with the results of standard drug therapy. This novel treatment option provides benefits without the side effects often associated with antidepressant medication.

Ketamine, an FDA-approved anesthetic which is an NMDA receptor antagonist, has been used in animals and humans for many decades. Ketamine has already shown promise in providing rapid relief of depression, with tolerable side effects. In specific, Intranasal Ketamine is another available treatment for severe depression. Published data, suggest that intranasal ketamine is safe and effective for rapid reduction of depressive symptoms in patients with treatment-resistant depression. Often, improvement in symptoms can be observed within the first few treatments. The intranasal route for drug delivery has been of interest to investigators because it is non-invasive, and may offer rapid absorption and delivery. In addition, the ease of administration may potentially improve compliance. The response to Ketamine is individualized, some can used every other day, or every week. Contact your Team at Aroga Medical Associates for further details.