Intranasal antidepressant is the latest offering of CMI’s mental health program
In its effort to provide a calming, secure venue for patients undergoing treatment for their mental health and well-being, urgent care clinic Centre Medicale Internationale (CMI) offers the antidepressant esketamine in nasal spray form.
Made from ketamine, a drug long recognized and used to relieve symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD), intranasal esketamine is prescribed to patients diagnosed with MDD who have become treatment-resistant to at least two oral antidepressants. While esketamine can be given intravenously, the less invasive nasal spray formula allows a doctor to administer the drug easily, and in a clinic setup.
A patient who is prescribed intranasal esketamine is closely monitored from start to finish. “Before we administer the medicine, we use a checklist to screen the patient,” says Kim Jayea S. Ploteña, doctor of internal medicine and assistant medical affairs manager of CMI. “A psychiatrist determines the appropriate dosage for the patient, but typically, intranasal esketamine is given twice weekly.”
After receiving the medication, the patient will be asked to stay for observation for at least two hours in one of CMI’s private consultation rooms. Internal Medicine doctors check the blood pressure, which tends to rise temporarily following a dose of esketamine, as well as possible side effects like vertigo, lethargy, anxiety, and sedation. Once a patient’s vital signs are stable and exhibits no side effects, he or she will be cleared to go home.
“In the Philippines, people tend to think of general health in terms of physical health only,” says Ploteña. “But it’s important to address mental health too because it affects our relationships, our productivity, and the overall quality of our life. We’ve seen an increase in patients prioritizing their mental health, and for that, CMI makes sure that patients feel at peace and are willing to open up once they come in for their consultation. We’re not just a clinic. We’re a safe, comfortable space.”
Centre Medicale Internationale, 2/F Ore Central Building, 31st Street corner 9th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. Tel. (02) 8812-1264
