Ketamine nose spray that ‘may be able to RELIEVE suicidal thoughts’ approved by the FDA

A KETAMINE nose spray that "might be able to relieve suicidal thoughts" has been approved by the FDA.

Spravato is the "first and only" medicine to help relieve patients after only one dosage and is expected to provide relief within 24 hours.

The spray is made with esketamin – which is a stronger version of the party drug ketamine.

The Belgian manufacturers said that the drug provides "significant symptom relief" for suicidal adults while they wait for other anti-depressants to work.

Theresa Nguyen from Mental Health America told Metro: "Many people who live with depression know all too well the feeling of desperation.

"If that major depression progresses to active suicidal thoughts, it’s crushing, and they need options to help change the trajectory of their acute depressive episode.

"Traditional oral antidepressants need weeks or more to take effect, so the availability of a medicine that can begin providing relief within a day is potentially life changing."

The treatment was initially approved by the FDA in 2019 as a treatment for "major depression that hadn't responded to other treatments," John Hamilton, an NPR science correspondent said.

However, "what the FDA has done now is add an approval for depressed patients who are at high risk of suicide."

More than 40 percent of the patients that took the drug saw their symptoms decrease within one day, and some even saw results in four hours.

Spravata clinical trial researcher Dr Gerard Sanacora told the outlet: "That remission means they're having minimal symptoms at the end of the month after coming into the emergency room with acute suicidal ideation."

While the drug cannot prevent the thoughts or stop people from committing suicide, it can relieve symptoms.

The side-effects experienced by patients included feeling disconnected, dizziness, tiredness, high blood pressure and vertigo.

Sanacora added: "What we have to be careful of is not to interpret that this is a medication.

"Part of the reason that these studies showed such a big effect was that there was a very comprehensive follow-up plan built into this."

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or text Crisis Text Line at 741741.

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