[City, State] – [Date] – Contemporary Care announces the availability of esketamine nasal spray (Spravato) for patients with treatment-resistant depression. This FDA-approved therapy provides rapid relief for people who have not responded adequately to traditional antidepressant medications.

A New Option for Treatment-Resistant Depression

Treatment-resistant depression affects approximately one-third of people with major depression. Despite trying multiple antidepressants, their symptoms persist or return. Esketamine nasal spray offers these individuals a novel treatment approach with a different mechanism of action than conventional antidepressants.

The FDA approved esketamine specifically for treatment-resistant depression in adults. It is used in conjunction with an oral antidepressant, not as a standalone treatment. This combination approach addresses depression through multiple mechanisms simultaneously.

Esketamine works by modulating the glutamate system in the brain, different from how traditional antidepressants function. Glutamate is the most abundant neurotransmitter and plays key roles in mood regulation and neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to form new connections.

How Esketamine Treatment Works

Esketamine nasal spray is self-administered under medical supervision in healthcare settings. Patients cannot take the medication home. Treatment occurs at Contemporary Care offices where medical staff monitor patients for at least two hours after each dose.

Treatment begins with twice-weekly sessions for the first month. Frequency then decreases based on response, typically to weekly or every-other-week sessions. The treatment schedule is individualized according to each patient’s needs and symptom patterns.

During treatment, patients sit comfortably in a quiet room. After self-administering the nasal spray, they rest while staff monitor blood pressure and observe for side effects. Most people experience mild dissociative sensations that resolve within an hour or two.

Each treatment session lasts approximately two hours from arrival to discharge. Patients must arrange transportation home as driving is not permitted on treatment days. The dissociative effects and sedation make operating vehicles unsafe.

Who Qualifies for Esketamine Treatment

Esketamine is FDA-approved for adults with treatment-resistant depression, defined as failure to respond adequately to at least two different antidepressant trials of sufficient dose and duration. Contemporary Care conducts thorough evaluations to determine if patients meet criteria.

The assessment reviews previous antidepressant trials, including medications used, doses reached, duration of treatment, and degree of response. This documentation is necessary for insurance authorization and ensures appropriate patient selection.

People with certain medical conditions may not be candidates for esketamine. Uncontrolled high blood pressure, history of aneurysm or bleeding in the brain, or severe liver problems can preclude treatment. The evaluation includes medical history review and possibly laboratory testing.

Substance use disorders, particularly active alcohol or drug abuse, may affect candidacy. Esketamine has abuse possibility, though risk appears low in supervised medical settings. Contemporary Care carefully screens for substance use history and current use.

Expected Outcomes & Timeline

Many patients notice mood improvement within hours to days of their first esketamine treatment, though full benefits typically develop over several weeks. The initial treatment phase establishes response patterns and determines optimal maintenance schedules.

Research shows that approximately 70% of people with treatment-resistant depression experience significant improvement with esketamine when combined with an oral antidepressant. About one-third achieve remission, meaning their depression resolves completely.

Effects typically last days to weeks after each treatment. Maintenance sessions sustain benefits over time. Some patients eventually transition off esketamine after sustained improvement, while others continue indefinitely.

Response is highly individual. Some people experience dramatic rapid improvement. Others notice gradual changes over weeks. We work with each patient to find the treatment frequency that maintains their improvement while minimizing burden.

Not everyone responds to esketamine. If significant improvement has not occurred after several weeks of treatment at appropriate frequency, discontinuing makes sense. Contemporary Care then explores other treatment options.

Safety & Side Effects

Common side effects include dissociation, dizziness, nausea, sedation, and increased blood pressure. These effects typically resolve within one to two hours after treatment. Blood pressure monitoring during sessions ensures safety.

Dissociative effects involve feeling disconnected from surroundings, altered time perception, or floating sensations. While unusual, most patients do not find these sensations distressing. Knowing what to expect helps reduce anxiety about the experience.

Long-term safety data continues accumulating as more patients receive esketamine. Studies following patients for months to years show most tolerate repeated treatments well. Contemporary Care monitors all patients carefully for any emerging concerns.

Abuse possibility exists, though rates of problematic use in clinical settings remain very low. The supervised administration model prevents diversion and misuse. Patients never have access to take-home doses.

Integration with Ongoing Care

Esketamine treatment at Contemporary Care integrates with existing psychiatric care. Patients continue seeing their psychiatrist for medication management and may receive psychotherapy alongside esketamine treatments.

This integrated approach addresses multiple aspects of depression simultaneously. Esketamine provides rapid symptom relief, oral antidepressants offer sustained support, and therapy teaches skills for managing symptoms and preventing relapse.

Esketamine is not viewed as a standalone intervention. It is part of a full treatment plan that includes medication optimization, therapy when appropriate, and lifestyle interventions.

The practice coordinates scheduling to minimize appointment burden. Some patients complete esketamine treatments on the same days as psychiatry or therapy appointments.

Insurance Coverage & Costs

Most major insurance companies cover esketamine for treatment-resistant depression after prior authorization. Contemporary Care handles the authorization process, submitting required documentation about previous treatment trials and current symptoms.

Authorization typically takes one to three weeks. During this time, the practice optimizes other treatments and prepares patients for what to expect with esketamine therapy.

Coverage specifics vary by insurance plan. Some have higher copayments or coinsurance for esketamine than for standard medications. Contemporary Care explains costs clearly before starting treatment so patients can make informed decisions.

For patients whose insurance does not cover esketamine or who have prohibitive out-of-pocket costs, the practice discusses alternative treatments including IV ketamine or TMS therapy.

Getting Started with Esketamine Treatment

Patients interested in esketamine therapy schedule consultations with Contemporary Care psychiatrists to discuss treatment history and determine candidacy. Existing patients can discuss esketamine with their current providers.

The consultation reviews previous antidepressant trials, current symptoms, medical history, and treatment goals. If esketamine seems appropriate, providers begin the insurance authorization process and schedule initial treatments.

Before the first treatment, patients receive detailed information about what to expect, how to prepare, and what to do after treatment. Having a support person available to provide transportation home is essential.

Staying Committed 

Contemporary Care remains committed to offering advanced treatments for depression. Esketamine is one of several innovative options available at the practice, including TMS therapy and IV ketamine for appropriate candidates.

Expanding treatment options gives hope to people who have not found relief with traditional approaches. Esketamine’s FDA approval and insurance coverage make this innovative treatment accessible to more patients.

The practice monitors research on new depression treatments and implements evidence-based innovations as they become available. This commitment ensures patients have access to the latest advances in psychiatric care.

About Contemporary Care

Contemporary Care provides psychiatric services throughout Connecticut, including medication management, psychotherapy, and advanced treatments for depression. The practice specializes in treatment-resistant conditions and offers multiple evidence-based interventions. With experienced psychiatrists, licensed therapists, and modern facilities, Contemporary Care delivers high-quality mental health services.

For more information about esketamine nasal spray treatment or to schedule a consultation, visit www.contemporarycare.com or contact the practice directly.