Pronounced Regional Variation in Esketamine and Ketamine Prescribing to US Medicaid Patients.

ABSTRACT: Ketamine and esketamine are efficacious for treatment-resistant depression. Unlike other antidepressants, ketamine lacks a therapeutic delay and decreases the risk for suicide. This cross-sectional study geographically characterized ketamine and esketamine prescribing to United States (US) Medicaid patients. Ketamine and esketamine prescription rates and spending per state were obtained. Between 2009 and 2020, ketamine prescribing rates peaked in 2013 followed by a general decline. For ketamine and esketamine in 2019, Montana (967/million enrollees) and Indiana (425) showed significantly higher prescription rates, respectively, relative to the national average. A total of 21 states prescribed neither ketamine nor esketamine in 2019. There was a 121.3% increase in esketamine prescriptions f

SUBMITTER: Aguilar AG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10471778 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan-Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature