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
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.
Melbourne psychiatrist Professor Malcolm Hopwood said the NMDA-glutamate receptor blocker, while not listed on the PBS, was being made available for free by pharmaceutical company Janssen,
This early access program is for about 150 eligible patients who will also be on a newly prescribed oral antidepressant.
