Esketamine Treatment for Depression & Mental Health Conditions

If you’ve been living with treatment-resistant depression or other difficult-to-manage mood disorders, esketamine may offer new hope. At Hirondelle Private Hospital, we provide evidence-based esketamine therapy in a safe, medically supervised environment to support your recovery.

What Is Esketamine?

Esketamine is a fast-acting antidepressant delivered as a nasal spray. It is derived from ketamine and works differently from traditional antidepressants, targeting glutamate (a key neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation). This can lead to rapid improvements in depressive symptoms, especially for individuals who haven’t responded well to other treatments.

Esketamine is approved for use in Australia under strict prescribing guidelines and is typically used alongside an oral antidepressant.

Who Might Benefit?

Esketamine may be suitable for patients who:

• Have treatment-resistant depression (failed at least two antidepressants)
• Experience suicidal thoughts or severe mood symptoms
• Are under the care of a psychiatrist
• Are seeking an alternative to ECT or inpatient admission

A comprehensive psychiatric assessment is required before starting treatment.

Benefits of Esketamine

• Rapid onset Some patients feel an improvement within hours to days
• Improved mood and reduced suicidal thoughts
• Can break through long-standing depression that hasn’t responded to medication or therapy
• Administered in a supervised clinical setting for safety and support

Potential Risks & Side Effects 

While esketamine is generally well tolerated, it does come with some risks. Common side effects include:

• Dizziness or light-headedness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Drowsiness or sedation
• Feeling disconnected or “out of body” (dissociation)
• Temporary increases in blood pressure

These effects usually resolve within a few hours post-treatment. All sessions are monitored by our trained clinical staff.

Esketamine is not recommended for individuals with a history of psychosis, substance misuse, or uncontrolled hypertension.

What to Expect – Treatment Timeline

Esketamine treatment typically follows this structure:

Initial Phase (Induction)

• Twice-weekly sessions for 4 weeks
• Each session lasts approx. 2 hours
• Nasal spray administered under medical supervision

Maintenance Phase

• Frequency reduces to once weekly, then fortnightly or monthly
• Duration depends on individual response
• Ongoing review by your psychiatrist

Patients cannot drive or return to work immediately post-treatment. You will need someone to accompany you home.

Getting Started

Esketamine treatment is by referral only from your GP or psychiatrist. If you're interested in exploring this option:

• Call us on 9411 1466
• Email us at hdl.reception@imh.com.au
• Or speak with your treating doctor about referring you to Hirondelle Private Hospital