Tolerability of intranasal esketamine, a case series of 15 patients

Abstract

Introduction

Intranasal esketamine has recently been approved for the treatment of treatment-resistant depression in adults, with different studies showing its efficacy and tolerability. However, the real-world tolerability of this treatment is still unclear.

Objectives

Evaluate the tolerability of intranasal esketamine in a case series of 15 patients.

Methods

Our case series includes 15 patients, who received treatment with intranasal esketamine during 2022-2023. In order to evaluate the tolerability of intranasal esketamine, patients were asked to complete the TSQM and a side effect questionnaire on different moments of the treatment (one week, six weeks and six months after the beginning of the treatment).

Results

The most common adverse effects were dissociation, dizziness, and somnolence, which resolved within the hours following the administration. All of them were mild or moderate in severity, having a minor impact on the patient, so none of the patients discontinued the treatment due to adverse effects. Other adverse effects noticed were: transitory increment of blood pressure in several patients, and worsening of obsessions in a patient with previous obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

Conclusions

Our data suggests that intranasal esketamine is well tolerated, with transient and mild adverse effects. In all cases the risk-benefit ratio must be evaluated, but until more studies are done, it seems to be a safe treatment for treatment-resistant depression.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared