Intranasal Medication Therapy for Treatment Resistant Depression at Daintree Psychiatry
At Daintree Psychiatry, we offer a range of treatment options for mental health conditions, guided by current clinical evidence and tailored to our patients’ needs.
For patients who have not responded to standard treatments such as medication or psychotherapy, we can offer alternatives for the relief of symptoms related to depression and anxiety.
Intranasal treatment is one such option. It may be considered by your psychiatrist for certain types of depression, particularly where other treatments have not been effective. We offer this treatment at all of our clinic locations in Brisbane, Townsville, Cairns and Mareeba.
How does it work?
Intranasal therapy is a spray that is administered by the patient under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse in one of our clinics. The process is straightforward and will be explained to you in detail during your first session.
You can expect to spend around two hours in the clinic each time you have a treatment. You won’t be able to drive for the remainder of the day and should plan to take it easy as you may feel more tired than normal.
If intranasal therapy is right for you, one of our experienced psychiatrists will explain the therapy in more detail during your initial consultation.
Treatment Options
This treatment is generally provided as a structured course. Your psychiatrist will develop a schedule tailored to you, which may include:
- Ongoing review and adjustment based on how you respond to treatment
- Twice-weekly sessions initially, over approximately one month
- A transition to weekly sessions, as guided by your psychiatrist
Every treatment plan is individualised. Outcomes vary between patients, and your psychiatrist will talk you through suitability, expected benefits, and possible risks as part of your initial assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Intranasal Therapy feel like?
During your session, you may experience some transient effects such as mild sleepiness, altered physical sensation, feeling disconnected from your body, or noticing vivid colours when you close your eyes.
The effects differ for everyone but generally resolve by the end of your monitoring period. You can expect to feel sleepier than normal for the rest of the day.
How does Intranasal treatment work?
Intranasal therapy works by temporarily reducing the activity of certain inhibitory neurons in the brain. This allows an increased release of glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter.
The glutamate activates pathways that promote the formation and strengthening of connections between brain cells – an effect known as neuroplasticity. These changes are thought to improve communication between the brain regions involved in mood regulation and may also influence serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine signalling.
How soon does Intranasal therapy work?
One benefit of intranasal therapy is that it’s mood-regulatory effects may begin to work within a number of hours. Many patients report feeling better than their baseline the morning after their treatment, and this can continue to improve over the whole course of treatment.
Note: before starting treatment, a comprehensive medical assessment is conducted by one of our psychiatrists to ensure it is appropriate and safe for your situation.
Who is eligible for this treatment?
The vast majority of our patients who go on to have Intranasal therapy have trialled and failed traditional antidepressants.
Intranasal therapy works using a different pathway of neuronal excitation and has the added effect of regenerating dormant brain pathways over time. The multifactorial effects of Intranasal therapy can provide relief for depression that has been resistant to treatment in the past.
Note: our psychiatrists will complete an initial assessment to ensure it is appropriate and safe for your situation.
How much does it cost?
Please visit our Costs page.
Where can I get more information?
If you’d like to know more about intranasal treatment or other options for depression, please get in touch with our team.
Considering treatment? Please read what to expect from Daintree Psychiatry
Looking for our Treatment Costs? Please visit our Costs page.
