If you’ve been dealing with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) symptoms, and it feels like nothing’s helping, trust me—you’re not alone in this struggle.
It’s exhausting waiting weeks, sometimes months, for antidepressants to kick in, or other drugs, only to be left feeling the same. But what if there’s something faster and more effective? That’s where Spravato, a nasal spray for depression, comes in.
In this blog, we’ll discuss the Spravato treatment, what is spravato treatment and how clinical trials show it offers hope for those battling treatment-resistant depression.
What Is Spravato Treatment?
Spravato is a prescription nasal spray containing esketamine, used to treat treatment-resistant depression under medical supervision.
Spravato is an innovative treatment for those battling treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Unlike traditional antidepressants, Spravato offers a faster, potentially life-changing option for patients who haven’t responded to other treatments. But does Spravato treatment involve a nasal spray?
What Makes Spravato Treatment Different?
Spravato works rapidly by targeting NMDA receptors in the brain, offering relief from treatment-resistant depression when other medications have failed.
A Unique Approach To Depression
Spravato (esketamine) is a drug designed for young adults, who with depression symptoms have not found relief with traditional antidepressants. It targets depression in the same brain cells, in a new way by focusing on the brain’s NMDA receptors, a departure in antidepressant, from the brain serotonin and brain dopamine systems brain cells that most antidepressants affect. esketamine immediately impacts brain cells, offering relief from depressive symptoms within hours.
Is It Only For Treatment-Resistant Depression?
Yes, Spravato is primarily prescribed for treatment-resistant depression (TRD).
This means it’s an option when other treatments have failed, giving hope to those who’ve struggled for years with slight improvement.
Does Spravato Involve a Nasal Spray?
Yes, Spravato is administered as a nasal spray under medical supervision in a certified healthcare setting.
How Is Spravato Administered?
Yes, Spravato is administered via a nasal spray. The patient takes the nasal spray while under the supervision of a healthcare provider in a medical setting. This delivery form makes it fast-acting and convenient compared to oral medications that take weeks to show results.
Nasal Spray
Using a nasal spray allows Spravato treatment to bypass the digestive system and enter the bloodstream more rapidly, giving quicker relief from major depressive disorder’ symptoms. This method is especially effective for patients needing immediate intervention.
What Are the Side Effects of Spravato?
Common side effects of Spravato include dizziness, nausea, dissociation, and increased blood pressure, which are monitored during treatment.
Common Side Effects
Some patients report dizziness, nausea, back pain and drowsiness following the first dose of their Spravato and esketamine treatment alone. These are side effects that usually subside within a few hours and are manageable in a controlled environment.
Since esketamine is used in anesthesia, it has many of the same potential side effects as other anesthetics and pain medications.: Increased blood pressure or high blood pressure Anxiety Dissociation Dizziness Nausea.
Any Long-Term Risks
While Spravato is generally considered safe, long-term risks and benefits of antidepressant medicine are still being studied in various clinical trials and studies. Patients may need ongoing monitoring to ensure no lasting side effects or complications from the drug or regular use.
Throughout their treatment journey, patients should continue their oral antidepressant medications as prescribed.
Who Is Eligible For Spravato Treatment?
Approved For Treatment-Resistant Depression
Spravato is approved for adults with TRD who have tried at least two other antidepressants without success. This makes it a last resort option for people unsuccessful with more traditional antidepressant therapies.
Additional Mental Health Conditions
There’s ongoing research into whether Spravato can be effective for other mental health disorders beyond TRD, including bipolar disorder, respiratory depression and PTSD.
What Happens During A Spravato Session?
During a Spravato session, you self-administer the nasal spray under medical supervision, then remain in the clinic for about two hours to monitor for side effects.
Administering The Nasal Spray
During a session, the nasal spray is self-administered under medical supervision. Patients using nasal spray are monitored for any adverse reactions for at least two hours afterward. This ensures that any serious side effects or potential serious side effects themselves of the nasal spray, such as side effects such as dissociation or dizziness, are managed in a controlled environment.
Monitoring And Support
After the nasal spray itself is administered, healthcare professionals observe and respond to patients. The monitoring period ensures that reactions are promptly addressed, offering greater reduction and peace of mind to patients and families.
How Long Does It Take For Spravato To Work?
One of the clinical studies of the most significant benefits of Spravato treatment is its rapid response.
Spravato can start working within hours, with many patients experiencing significant improvement in depression symptoms within the first 24 to 48 hours.
Quick Symptom Relief
Many patients report feeling better within hours starting treatment, especially when compared to traditional antidepressants, which can take weeks to show results in clinical studies.
Ongoing Sessions For Lasting Results
Spravato isn’t a one-time treatment to treat depression symptoms. It’s typically administered over several weeks, with follow-up sessions to maintain results and reduce the risk of depressive symptoms or episodes returning.
Spravato Right for You
Consider Your medical History
If you’ve tried multiple antidepressants with no success, Spravato might be worth discussing with your doctor. Since it’s designed explicitly for TRD, it offers hope for people who have exhausted their options.
Talk To A Healthcare Provider
Before starting Spravato treatment, you must have an in-depth conversation with your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks. Blood pressure is measured before administration of medicine, as elevated blood pressure is a potential risk associated with Spravato.
Can Spravato Help Where Other Antidepressants Have Failed?
Yes, Spravato is designed to assist individuals suffering from treatment-resistant depression, offering a new mechanism of action different from traditional antidepressants.
A New Hope For TRD Patients
For many people with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), traditional antidepressants fall short. The drug Spravato offers a new approach, using esketamine, an oral antidepressant which directly targets different pathways in the brain.
This treatment is tailored to individuals who have tried multiple antidepressant medications without experiencing significant improvement. If your prescribed current antidepressant medications haven’t worked, Spravato might be your breakthrough.
Treatment Frequency And Duration
The typical Spravato treatment plan involves two weekly sessions for the first month, followed by a maintenance phase of four weeks with reduced frequency based on how well you respond. This regular schedule helps maintain the antidepressant effects while also allowing for careful monitoring of your progress.
Each session requires supervision, ensuring a safe environment for managing potential side effects afterwards.
Immediate After-Effects
After your first Spravato session, you might feel a sense of relief or even slight feelings of disorientation due to the nature of esketamine therapy. Patients commonly report symptoms of dizziness or feelings of lightheadedness, so you must stay under supervision for at least two hours.
However, many individuals also notice an improvement in their mood within hours—something that sets Spravato apart from traditional treatments for anxiety and depression.
Can Spravato Be Combined With Other Treatments?
In some cases, Spravato medication is used alongside other antidepressant drugs or medications.
This combination of antidepressant drugs or medication can enhance its effectiveness, especially for individuals who haven’t found relief with a single drug or form of treatment.
Your healthcare provider will assess whether it’s safe to continue your other antidepressant drug or medication or if adjustments are needed during Spravato treatment.
How Does Spravato Impact Your Daily Life?
Spravato medication can make a significant difference in your day-to-day life by alleviating the depressive symptoms of depression.
However, the treatment requires you to plan your schedule around regular medical appointments and different medication, especially in the beginning stages.
While the treatment doesn’t disrupt your life, the recovery period after each treatment session still means setting aside time for rest and observation.
Clinical trials reveal that esketamine (marketed as Spravato) can have a positive effect on depressive symptoms, of depression by lowering the frequency of suicidal thoughts, and strengthening or repairing damaged or weakened neurotransmitters
FAQs About Spravato Treatment
What Is Spravato?
Spravato is a nasal spray treatment for adults with treatment-resistant depression, made from ketamine, a derivative of ketamine.
Does Spravato work immediately?
Spravato can begin to show side effects and relieve depressive symptoms within hours, unlike other drugs and traditional antidepressants that take weeks to show any side effects.
How Is SPRAVATO taken?
The FDA approved esketamine SPRAVATO for use in conjunction with another oral antidepressant.
Are There Side Effects From Spravato?
Common side effects include dizziness, nausea, and dissociation, which usually resolve within hours of treatment.
Can Anyone Take Spravato?
Spravato is a drug specifically approved for people with TRD who have not responded to at least one dose of two other antidepressants.
Take The Next Step Toward Relief With Spravato At Contemporary Care Centers
If you’ve been struggling with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and haven’t found success with traditional antidepressants, there’s new hope. At Contemporary Care Centers, we offer Spravato treatment—an FDA-approved nasal spray designed to provide fast-acting relief for those battling depression.
While we continue to provide essential treatments such as medication management and psychotherapy, we’ve also achieved national recognition for our expertise in two innovative and cutting-edge therapies: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Spravato (esketamine) therapy. These advanced treatments have been particularly successful for patients who haven’t responded to more conventional approaches, and we are proud to be at the forefront of their implementation.
Our compassionate team is here to guide you through every step of the treatment process, ensuring that you receive personalized care in a safe, supportive environment.
Don’t wait any longer to find relief. Contact Contemporary Care Centers today to learn more about how personalized mental health treatments could help you regain control of your life and start feeling better, faster. Your path to better mental health starts here.
Call us now or visit our website to schedule a consultation!
