Intranasal Esketamine Approved for Treatment-Resistant Depression

FDA Grants Breakthrough Therapy Designation

New Treatment Option Offers Rapid Relief

In a major breakthrough for the treatment of depression, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved intranasal esketamine for the treatment of treatment-resistant depression (TRD). TRD is a debilitating condition that affects millions of Americans and can be extremely difficult to treat with traditional antidepressants.

Esketamine, a nasal spray form of the anesthetic ketamine, has been shown to provide rapid relief from symptoms of depression. In a large clinical trial, patients who took esketamine experienced significant improvements in depression and anxiety symptoms within two weeks of the last dose.