This is the first antidepressant approved by the FDA in 30 years.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new anti-depression medication to be marketed under the Spravato brand. This is stated in a press release in a press release in a press release.
Just less than a month ago, the journal Nature published & 16 members of the FDA's advisory panel approved the use of the drug. The final decision has now been issued.
The drug is manufactured by Johnson & Johnson. It is based on esketamine, an enantiomer of ketamine (a substance of the same composition but with a different structure). This form has an enhanced analgesic and anesthetic effect. To use it, it is enough to spray the spray into the nose, and the effect (mood improvement) will occur within a few hours, while other antidepressants require weeks.
Modern antidepressants, such as Prozac, work by inhibiting serotonin reuptake. An increase in the amount of this neurotransmitter leads to an improvement in mood, but Spravato works differently. Esketamine is an antagonist of NMDA receptors that interact with glutamate. Thus, it inhibits neuronal function, but reduces the tendency to suicide during clinical depression.
There are several significant drawbacks to esketamine. First, it can cause serious side effects: temporary hallucinations, impaired consciousness, dizziness, decreased sensitivity, lethargy, intoxication, increased blood pressure, and vomiting. However, in short-term experiments, the spray "demonstrated a statistically significant effect against placebo." Secondly, one session in the United States will cost almost $900. Because of these factors, the FDA has indicated that its use is approved only in certified clinics. It should be taken twice a week for a month, and experts do not rule out combinations with other medications.
The Kyiv Experio Center is the first and only medical institution to provide ketamine therapy in Ukraine.
