Intranasal esketamine use in bipolar disorder: A case report

Summary

Intranasal esketamine has been FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder with suicidal ideation, but it has not been studied in bipolar disorder patients. This case report suggests that intranasal esketamine may be safely used alongside mood stabilizers in a bipolar disorder patient who has not experienced recent manic or hypomanic episodes.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract Over the past few years, intranasal esketamine has been FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression as well as MDD with suicidal ideation. In the clinical trials leading to the recent FDA approvals, subjects with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder were excluded from participation in the trial. The manufacturer of intranasal esketamine states that it “has not been studied, and is not indicated, for patients with bipolar disorder.” Antidepressants are commonly associated with having the potential to induce rapid cycling in patients with bipolar disorder, though the mechanism is not fully understood. This case report demonstrates the potential safety of intranasal esketamine in combination with mood stabilizer therapy in a patient diagnosed with bipolar disorder without recent history of manic or hypomanic episodes.