New hope for patients with resistant depression
The results of the administration of esketamine to patients with resistant depression who have been treated at the Bellvitge University Hospital are very encouraging. According to the hospital, the administration of this drug means a significant improvement in those patients who have had a serious decompensation of the disease for a long time and have failed previous treatments.
Esketamine: a promising drug
Esketamine is a derivative of ketamine, a chemical compound used in general anesthesia. This drug has been shown to generate positive changes in the brains of people with depression.
A safe and effective administration
Patients self-administer esketamine using a nasal spray, always in hospital and with the help and supervision of medical and nursing professionals. According to the hospital, this route of administration allows a faster onset of antidepressant action than with traditional drugs, as it avoids hepatic metabolism and gastrointestinal absorption.
Promising results, but with caution
Despite the good results obtained so far, the professionals at the Bellvitge University Hospital are cautious and admit that they still do not have long-term data on the evolution of esketamine treatment. Longer follow-up of patients is needed to assess long-term benefits and potential side effects.
Another option in the treatment of resistant depression
Esketamine is incorporated into the Bellvitge Hospital’s complete therapeutic program to address resistant depression, along with other techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). This combination of treatments offers new hope for patients who have not responded to conventional drug treatments.
Depression: a serious and frequent disease
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression affects more than 180 million people worldwide. Approximately 4% to 5% of the population suffers or will suffer from a depressive episode, and a third of these patients do not respond to conventional treatments. Depression is the leading cause of disability today.
Approval of the use of esketamine
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved the use of esketamine at the end of 2022 for the treatment of resistant depression in patients who have not responded to at least two lines of adequate antidepressant treatment.
