Ketamine nasal spray for depression restricted to trained providers

More than 20 clinics around Australia are offering the therapy to patients with treatment-resistant depression
Professor Malcolm Hopwood
Professor Malcolm Hopwood.

GPs can refer patients with refractory depression to an early access program using a ketamine variant formulated as a nasal spray, psychiatrists say. 

The esketamine spray, branded Spravato, was approved by the TGA in March as an S8 drug for adults with treatment-resistant depression who had already tried at least two other antidepressants without success.