A nasal spray that contains esketamine — a potent derivative of ketamine — can now be taken on its own to treat adults with severe depression, the FDA says. Here's what that means.

Johnson & Johnson's ketamine-derived nasal spray has been approved as a standalone treatment to fight depression for those who had an inadequate response to oral antidepressants.

Fact checked by Nick Blackmer The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded its approval of a ketamine nasal spray, Spravato (esketamine), as a standalone therapy for adults with treatment-resistant depression.

CIII allows people who have tried at least two oral antidepressants to use the spray on its own – without the need for more medication.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the nasal spray Spravato for the treatment of major depression in people who have not responded to at least two oral antidepressants.