2019-06-15 00:44:01
■ In March, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that its providers may now prescribe a new treatment for patients who have treatment-resistant depression.
The VA announcement came after the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of Spravato nasal spray, in conjunction with an oral antidepressant, for the treatment of depression in adults who have tried other antidepressant medicines but have not benefited from them—otherwise known as treatment-resistant depression.
According to the VA, Spravato will be made available to veterans based on their individual medical needs combined with providers’ clinical assessments.
Veterans will stay under the care of VA health care providers who will monitor their patients closely for any adverse effects or potential abuse. Some risks, according to the FDA, include sedation and difficulty with attention, judgment and thinking (dissociation); abuse and misuse; worsening of depression; and suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
Veterans in immediate crisis may call the Veterans Crisis Line at 800-273-8255 and press 1, text 838255 or chat online at veteranscrisisline.net/get-help/chat. For more information on the VA’s mental health program, visit mentalhealth.va.gov.
Published by Disabled American Veterans. View All Articles.
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