Esketamine Therapy

Esketamine Therapy

Esketamine nasal spray is listed on the ARTG and is a Schedule 8 controlled medicine. It can only be administered at approved treatment centres such as ours, where key training and assessment requirements have been completed.

Esketamine nasal spray is indicated for treatment resistant depression (Major Depressive Disorder in adults who have not responded adequately to at least two different antidepressants of adequate dose and duration to treat the current moderate to severe depressive episode). Esketamine nasal spray is to be initiated in conjunction with a newly initiated oral antidepressant.1

Reference:

1. Esketamine Nasal Spray Approved Product Information.

Efficacy of Esketamine treatment

Esketamine nasal spray’s efficacy has been clinically proven. In one study more than half of the patients treated with esketamine nasal spray were in remission at 28 days.1*

In another study, the rate of relapse was halved for patients who had previously achieved remission by week 16 with esketamine nasal spray.2**

 The majority of adverse events with esketamine nasal spray were mild or moderate in severity and resolved within 24 hours.

*In TRANSFORM 2, 52.5% (53/101) of patients were in remission at Day 28; defined as MADRS score ≤12.

**In SUSTAIN 1, stable remitters continuing esketamine nasal spray achieved a 51% reduced risk of relapse (median time to relapse: NR) vs placebo + oral AD (median time to relapse: 273 days); HR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.29–0.84; p=0.003.

References:

1. Popova V et al. Am J Psychiatry 2019;176(Suppl):428–38).

2. Daly EJ et al. JAMA Psychiatry 2019;76:893-903.

3. Esketamine Nasal Spray Approved Product Information.

How is Esketamine administered?

Esketamine nasal spray is administered twice a week for four weeks, then once a week for four weeks, then once every week or fortnight. The patient is observed for at least an hour after each administration. The treatment is given for at least six months, a total of at least 31 treatments. To assist with costs, patients can consider funding esketamine via the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (DVA), WorkCover, Comcare and other options.

We are accepting referrals

To refer patients for esketamine nasal spray treatment at our approved treatment centre contact 08 9381 1833.

Currently accepting referrals from all healthcare professionals, including

• Psychiatrists
• General Practitioners