Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed) inaugurated its Esketamine Care Center to underscore the hospital’s commitment to addressing the profound challenges posed by depression, particularly the complexities of Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) and Major Depressive Disorder with Imminent Suicide Intent.
Esketamine is a derivative of ketamine known for its rapid-acting antidepressant effects. However, the treatment requires careful administration due to its initial side effects. The patient might experience impaired attention, judgment, thinking, reaction speed and motor skills, or mild to moderate dizziness, nausea, vomiting, sedation, vertigo, or anxiety. There may also be elevations in blood pressure that might compromise their safety, deeming it necessary to acquire treatment in a clinical setting provided by MakatiMed’s Esketamine Care Center.
During the launch of the Center, Carmina Charmaine G. Bernardo, MD, MakatiMed Section of Psychiatry Mood Disorder expressed her pride in being part of a hospital that was trailblazing in mental health care, stating, “I am proud of MakatiMed Section of Psychiatry to be the first in offering this to the Filipinos – and the second in Southeast Asia.” Makati Medical Center is the first private healthcare institution in the Philippines to establish a dedicated center for Esketamine Care.
MakatiMed Esketamine Care Center aims to provide individuals battling depression with a secure and effective avenue for treatment. Patients shall receive esketamine via nasal spray. During the treatment, while being closely monitored by a medical professional, patients self-administer two doses of esketamine, spaced five minutes apart. They remain in the clinic until any potential side effects have subsided, ensuring their safety throughout the process.
MakatiMed’s Esketamine Care Center launch not only signifies a milestone for the hospital but also for the broader mental health community in the Philippines. The event highlighted the hospital’s unwavering dedication to advancing mental health care, making cutting-edge treatments like esketamine accessible to those in need.
Esketamine Care Center is located at the Neuropsychiatry Unit, Basement, Tower 1. To know more about the Center, contact MakatiMed On-Call at +632.88888 999.
