FDA Approves New Depression Treatment, Questions Remain About Safety

For the first time in years, the FDA has approved a new anti-depressant — a nasal spray called esketamine. Esketamine contains a component of ketamine, which is used to treat pain, and has also been used as a party drug. The nasal spray will carry the FDA's most stringent safety warning. Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson speaks with Dennis Charney, dean of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. He has researched ketamine and used it to treat depression.

If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (En Español: 1-888-628-9454; Deaf and Hard of Hearing: 1-800-799-4889) or the Crisis Text Line by texting 741741.