This is a retrospective case series of ten consecutive outpatients with treatment-resistant depression who all had a clinically meaningful response when treated with intravenous racemic ketamine and were then switched to intranasal esketamine for maintenance therapy. Efficacy and adverse effects were assessed at each treatment All patients underwent an extensive consenting process with a detailed discussion about the off-label use of IV racemic ketamine for TRD and known risks of the treatment. Other available approved therapies were offered including alternative medication, TMS, ECT, and VNS. All patients signed an informed consent form prior to treatment and a consent form allowing their data to be used for retrospective research reporting. All patients had baseline lab work and an electrocardiogram to determine medical stability. Patients were encouraged to undergo a series of six ketamine infusions over 14 to 21 days. If a response (>50% improvement) or partial response (25-50% improvement) occurred as determined by a reduction of Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ9), and/or a Clinical Global Impressions - Improvement (CGI-I) rating of 3 or more and infusions were well tolerated, patients were offered weekly infusions for four weeks. Patients then had the option of receiving successive maintenance infusions with variable frequency depending on individual patient response and preference. Vital sign and clinical monitoring, dosing, and frequency of IV ketamine treatment were based on the published available data in this area.Treatment with IV ketamine was initiated at subanesthetic doses of 0.5mg/kg with flexible dosing based on response and tolerability up to 1.0mg/kg. Patient's oxygen saturation, blood pressure, and pulse were monitored continuously with pulse oximetry and Caretaker ® finger sensor. Patients that transitioned to IN esketamine received an initial dose of 28mg (n=1) or 56mg (n=9) of IN esketamine and all patients were eventually titrated up to a target dose of 84mg for the remainder of treatments. All patients were monitored as required by the REMS protocol for IN esketamine. Prior to treatment at the beginning of each clinic visit, MADRS and PHQ-9 were completed. CGI ratings were obtained by the treating physician at each treatment. All treatments were administered on-site at the clinic and any adverse effects related to treatment with IV ketamine or IN esketamine were captured through spontaneous reporting and rated as mild, moderate, and severe at the discretion of the treating psychiatrist.
This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of intranasal esketamine as maintenance antidepressant therapy in patients who have demonstrated clinical improvement with off-label intravenous racemic ketamine for treatment-resistant depression.