Spravato for depression treatment has become a more common way to access the benefits of ketamine for mental health. The esketamine nasal spray is a brand-name prescription medication that is prescribed for adults with the following conditions:
Spravato is used together with another antidepressant medication that is taken orally to treat TRD and MDD.
At Axis Integrated Health, we have an established process for using Spravato for depression treatment.
Each visit occurs in a private room. You will have access to noise-canceling headphones, a curated ketamine music playlist, warm blankets, eye masks, and comfortable chairs to relax while receiving Spravato. You are also welcome to bring whatever you need to feel comfortable, including one other support person.
You will stay in the clinic under observation until potential side effects have passed. You will always receive a debrief before and after each treatment session with one of our team members. During the debrief session, our team members will chat with you about the experience and help you make the most of each Spravato nasal spray treatment.
Spravato is a ketamine nasal spray that takes about 10 minutes to take effect. You may experience some dissociative effects. The experience can be a strong catalyst for change.
Call us at (720) 400-7025 to schedule your intake session to see if Spravato for depression treatment is right for you.
When taking Spravato for depression, there are a few things you need to do in order to prepare for the ketamine experience:
For more information about what to do after Spravato treatment, please read our blog. Here are a few tips:
The non-brand name of the drug used in Spravato is Esketamine, which is made from a drug called ketamine. Esketamine is a more potent version of ketamine, which the FDA approved specifically for use as a nasal spray for individuals with TRD and MDD.
Esketamine is derived from part of the ketamine molecule. It is more potent than ketamine, which allows it to be delivered at a lower dosage level and with fewer side effects.
Spravato nasal spray is FDA-approved; therefore, most insurance companies will cover this treatment!
Esketamine works differently than other antidepressants drugs.
Conventional antidepressants increase naturally occurring chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Increasing the amount of these chemicals in the brain allows for more effective communication between brain cells, positively impacting one’s mood.
Esketamine works in a whole new way. Instead of increasing serotonin, norepinephrine, or dopamine in the brain, like other antidepressants, Esketamine increases the levels of glutamate by working at a different receptor called the NMDA receptor. Glutamate is the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in your body. It is important for proper brain function.
By increasing the levels of glutamate, your brain is able to grow new and stronger communication paths that help balance out the communication between different areas of the brain. In depression, we now know that the brain does not communicate between different areas as it should. This causes commonly reported symptoms of depression, such as recurring negative thoughts, brain fog, and hopelessness.
Esketamine does this rapidly, and many patients feel improvement after a few treatments.
The most common side effects of receiving esketamine are dizziness and a temporary increase in blood pressure. Esketamine can also cause an out-of-body experience or sedation.
That is why the drug is administered in a clinical setting under observation. You don’t leave until these side effects have subsided. Side effects are usually the most intense during your first two treatments and become less intense during later treatments.
Other side effects can include
You can take Spravato for depression if you have TRD or MDD and other treatment methods have not worked for you. This form of treatment is best for individuals without a history of alcohol or substance abuse disorders or other major medical conditions.
You should not take Spravato if you have the following conditions:
Before taking Spravato fore depression, please let us know about any medications and supplements you are taking, as well as any health conditions you have. This will help us determine if Spravato is the right treatment for you when considering your whole-health picture.
Spravato is an innovative new treatment for individuals with depression. It offers unique treatment benefits.
Most traditional antidepressant medications are designed to be slow-acting, which means that it can take many weeks for you to notice a difference in how you feel. Esketamine is different, though. It rapidly impacts your brain’s cells, bringing immediate relief from your depression symptoms within hours of treatment.
Many traditional antidepressant medications may increase suicidal thoughts, especially at the start of treatment. Eskatamine is one of the only drugs proven to decrease suicidal thoughts. The only exception is lithium, which is commonly used to treat bipolar disorder.
TRD is tricky to treat. Esketamine has been approved by the U.S. F.D.A. since 2019 for TRD. Multiple studies have shown that it is an effective TRD treatment option.
Research has shown that taking Spravato for depression helps you build new brain connections. A newer understanding of depression has shown us that depression may be caused due to irregular communication paths in the brain.
As your brain continues to follow the negative thought pattern paths, it starts to shut down other pathways. This changes the brain's communication, worsening depression.
Clinical studies have shown that taking Spravato for depression helps the brain make new connections and helps the brain heal from the damage resulting from long-term depression.
Esketamine (the active drug in Spravato) and ketamine are not the same thing.
Ketamine is comprised of two mirror-image molecules: R-ketamine and 5-ketamine (which is known as esketamine). Therefore, Esketamine is one-half of the molecular compound within ketamine.
When the molecule is split in two, each molecule is now called an enantiomer. Each one interacts differently with the receptors in your brain.
Spravato, when used in combination with another antidepressant medication, is approved for use by the U.S. F.D.A. for treating adults with TRD and MDD.
Ketamine isn’t FDA-approved to treat depression due to the fact that it is already FDA-approved and has been around so long it's now considered a generic drug. However, it is legal to prescribe for off-label uses and hundreds of studies have shown amazing results when appropriately trained medical providers offer ketamine as a treatment for depression.
Read more about the differences between IV Ketamine infusions vs. Spravato in our blog.
If you suffer from treatment-resistant depression or major depressive disorder, Spravato may be the treatment you need. Qualifying for Spravato treatment is relatively simple. If you have tried two or more antidepressants in the past and you haven't gotten results, it's likely that your insurance will cover Spravato treatment.
Press the "schedule now" button above to book your initial intake. After you discuss with your medical history with your provider and are deemed eligible for treatment, we will manage the entire prior-authorization process for you, which can happen as quickly as within the week to as long as a year (this is a true story. We do not give up on our patients and will advocate on their behalf for this long if necessary). Most prior-authorizations are usually approved within 2 weeks.
Spravato is an intranasal spray that contains the active ingredient esketamine hydrochloride. It is an FDA-approved treatment for individuals with treatment-resistant depression (TRD).
Spravato is for individuals with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) who also take an oral antidepressant.
Spravato must be taken alongside an oral antidepressant.
Common oral antidepressants that can be used with Spravato include:
No, Spravato is currently not approved for use in children. It is intended to be used by adults.
No, you cannot get Spravato at your local pharmacy. The medication must be administered at your doctor’s office under the direct supervision of a healthcare provider who is certified to dispense and prescribe Spravato.
In FDA studies, effects were noted from Spravato within two days, although you may feel relief within hours of your treatment.
Yes, Spravato is an FDA-approved drug for treatment-resistant depression and is safe to use. However, the way it works on your body during a treatment session needs to be monitored closely, which is why Spravato is administered at the doctor’s office. You will continue to be monitored for at least two hours after each treatment session.
Yes, there are several drug interactions with Spravato that one should be aware of, which is why it is always important to discuss all drugs you are taking with your medical provider before combining them with Spravato.
Spravato may increase sedation when mixed with CNS depressants such as benzodiazepines, opioids, and alcohol. It interacts with stimulants such as amphetamines and other drugs that may increase blood pressure. It also is known to interact with Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
Spravato is an FDA-approved drug for treatment-resistant depression and is safe to use. However, the way it works on your body during a treatment session needs to be monitored closely, which is why Spravato is administered at the doctor’s office. You will continue to be monitored for at least two hours after each treatment session.
No. You should not drive until a day after your treatment session after you have had a good night’s sleep. Please remember to arrange a ride to and from your Spravato treatment session.
Don’t eat four hours before your treatment session. Don’t drink liquids 30 minutes before your treatment session. Avoid greasy or heavy foods on the day of treatment. Be sure to arrange a ride to and from treatment.
The first 2 months of Spravato start with 2 treatments per week in the first month, and 1 treatment per week for the second month. As individual responses vary, patients will need to talk to their provider about the appropriate cadence and duration of treatment for the patient. Depending on the severity of the depression, some patients may continue to come once a week for several months, while others will titrate down to once a month. Individual response may vary and we monitor patients for results to ensure that the treatment is appropriate for the patient and their mental health goals.
Disassociative effects have been observed in most of our patients. However, this is considered a negative side-effect and not the mechanism by which the brain heals from depression and anxiety. Many patients feel that as they build tolerance for the medication, it is no longer working because they are no longer "disassociating." However, this would be akin to feeling as though the medication is no longer working because the patient is no longer vomiting. The disassociation, while pleasant for many, is not proof of the medication's efficacy.
