quately to at least two other
medications. There are about 16
million people in the United
States that are living with major
depression. “With the rules for
approval of use by the FDA
means that about 5 million patients
will be eligible to use this
medication”, said Courtney Billington,
President of Janssen
Neuroscience.
There are some drawbacks to
the medication including the
chance at high doses of causing
sedation and out-of-body experiences.
To ensure proper use
even in nasal spray form, it will
only be administered as directed
in approved and certified treatments
centers. It will also be
delivered in small doses that are
unlikely to produce side effects
such as hallucinations one to
two times a week, as needed per
patient. Still, the FDA, according
to its press release, is requiring
a warning label that says
patients "are at risk for sedation
and difficulty with attention,
judgment and thinking
(dissociation), abuse and misuse,
and suicidal thoughts and
behaviors after administration
of the drug,"
Many studies have shown over
the years that ketamine is effective
in treating chronic pain and
depression, with clinics springing
up all over the United States. To
have a new option for depression
patients that is FDA approved is
an exciting advancement for millions.
This approval for a nasal
spray medication for depression
gives me and others hope for approval
with other applications of
this medication down the line.
Barby Ingle suffers from Reflex
Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)
and endometriosis. Barby is a
chronic pain educator, patient
advocate, and president of
the International Pain Foundation.
She is also a motivational
speaker and best-selling author
on pain topics. More information
about Barby Ingle can be found at
www.barbyingle.com.
The information in this article
should not be considered as professional
medical
advice, diagnosis
or treatment. It is for
informational purposes only and
represent the author’s opinions
alone. It does not inherently express
or reflect the views, opinions
and/or positions of International
Pain Foundation or iPain
Living Magazine.
Internaonal Pain Foundaon—5
/www.barbyingle.com