How TMS Can Rewire Your Brain
If you or a loved one is suffering from treatment-resistant depression, or a mental health issue such as PTSD, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) could help.
How SPRAVATO® Differs from Other Antidepressants
Treatment for depression typically means a lot of trial and error as you and your doctor work your way down the list of antidepressants on offer, trying to find one that works for you. What happens when you get to the bottom of the list?
At 2nd Chance Treatment Center, with practice locations in Phoenix and Litchfield Park, Arizona, our team of board-certified psychiatrists offers SPRAVATO®, a form of ketamine administered via a simple nasal spray under medical direction to help arrest depression symptoms and help you get back to feeling like you again.
SPRAVATO basics
SPRAVATO is an FDA-approved nasal spray containing esketamine, a ketamine derivative. It’s typically used for adults who have already tried two or more forms of traditional antidepressants and haven’t had significant improvement in their symptoms, or adults who have major depression along with suicidal thoughts or ideation.
SPRAVATO works very differently than traditional antidepressants and can bring relief from symptoms of major depressive disorder even after other treatments have failed. It’s not a first-choice antidepressant, but it may work for you if you’re not responding to other types of intervention.
How SPRAVATO differs from other antidepressants
SPRAVATO differs from other antidepressants in several ways.
Mechanism of action
The traditional approach to major depressive disorder is to prescribe selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SRRIs. SSRIs stop your brain receptors from naturally reabsorbing serotonin, leaving more serotonin in your brain to uplift your mood. Unfortunately, this doesn’t work for everyone, especially those under 25 and/or those experiencing suicidal thoughts.
In contrast, esketamine goes directly to work on what are called N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, releasing glutamate and dopamine and stimulating the areas of your brain responsible for regulating motivation and reward cycles. As a result, you can feel better faster as your symptoms of depression recede.
Method of administration
SSRIs are taken orally, at home, without the direct supervision of a doctor. You’ll usually have to take a new antidepressant for at least six weeks to determine if it’s working at all.
Esketamine is a nasal spray you administer to yourself in your doctor’s office. Your healthcare provider will explain how to use the SPRAVATO spray, watch as you administer it, and check on you several times afterward before you go home.
Speed of efficacy
Traditional antidepressants can take weeks or months to work, and may require tweaking or switching from one to another as your doctor tries to find the medication that works for you. It can be months before you feel better.
In contrast, SPRAVATO can start to make you feel better in as little as 24 hours after your first dose. Everyone is different, so your level of relief and how fast it works on you may not be the same as it is for other people.
If you’re struggling with severe depression, with or without suicidal thoughts, and/or you’ve proven resistant to traditional antidepressants, call the 2nd Chance Treatment Center location near you, or make an appointment online today.
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