HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Can someone living with clinical depression also experience the "winter blues"?
Kami Harris, PA-C: The quick and simple answer is yes. "Winter blues" and MDD can be worsened by one another. That is why it is imperative for people to take note of when their symptoms began and to consult with their healthcare providers to determine if what they are experiencing is more than just "feeling down" or the "winter blues." The good news is, if it is something more serious like MDD or some form of depression that is more challenging to treat, there are a variety of available treatment options to help those who are struggling.
What is treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and what treatment options are available?
Chet Robachinski, MD: Like Kami shared, there are different forms of clinical depression, some of which can be more challenging to treat compared to others. We call a form of clinical depression that occurs when someone has not responded adequately to two or more antidepressant medications during the same depressive episode treatment-resistant depression (TRD).2 With each medication taking weeks and sometimes months to provide potential relief, this pattern of starting over with a new medication only to find that the treatment does not work for them can be extremely frustrating.
For people living with TRD, one treatment option I've seen success with in my clinical practice is SPRAVATO® (esketamine) CIII nasal spray taken in combination with an oral antidepressant.
Of course, as with any medication,
SPRAVATO® has risks and benefits with some of the most serious side effects of this treatment including sleepiness (sedation), fainting, dizziness, spinning sensation, anxiety, or feeling disconnected from yourself, your thoughts, feelings, space and time (dissociation), breathing problems (respiratory depression and respiratory arrest), the risk of abuse and misuse, and increased risk of suicidal thoughts and actions. Additionally, each patient must be enrolled in the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program to track any serious side effects they may experience, and follow the necessary administration and dosing requirements under the observation of their healthcare provider, which include going into a certified treatment center for each treatment session.
Please see the Important Safety Information, including BOXED WARNINGS, and a list of side effects below. Click here to access the full prescribing information and medication guide.
"Additionally, each patient must be enrolled in the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program ...."