[ESKETAMINE FOR TREATMENT RESISTANT DEPRESSION: RESEARCH AND RISK MANAGEMENT].

INTRODUCTION About 15-18% of the population will experience depression in their lifetime. One third among them will suffer from treatment resistant depression (TRD) which does not respond to two accepted treatment protocols. There is a pressing need for effective TRD treatments and especially for a rapid-acting drug for patients with suicidal ideation. Nasal spray esketamine, the S-enantiomer of the anesthetic agent and dissociative drug ketamine, was approved by the FDA to treat TRD in 2019 and was included in the 2020 Israeli Healthcare Basket. Clinical research suggests that esketamine, combined with an oral antidepressant, has a sustainable antidepressant effect as well as a manageable safety profile. However, ketamine has abuse potential and may cause adverse effects that require medical attention. The risk management plan includes administration under direct medical supervision in ambulatory care, and monitoring of blood pressure, awareness changes, dissociation, and dependence symptoms.