SPRAVATO® (esketamine)
SPRAVATO® is a prescription medicine, used along with an antidepressant taken by mouth to treat:
Adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD)
Depressive symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) with suicidal thoughts or actions
Spravato is used for our patients who have tried two or more antidepressant medications without positive results. Spravato is used to treat chronic depression and suicidal thoughts or actions. The couse of treatment is typically 9-20 weeks and most people report results within the first four weeks. Our providers will tailor a treatment plan for you that may include individual therapy, TMS, or other modalities to support your Spravato treatment. Your oral medication will be managed and adjusted as needed to achieve the best possible outcomes. All depression treatments work best when coupled with individual therapy designed to meet your specific goals.
In a clinical study of adults with treatment-resistant depression:
“Those who took SPRAVATO® and an oral antidepressant experienced greater reductions of depressive symptoms at four weeks compared to those who received a placebo plus an oral antidepressant.”
In clinical studies of adults with MDD with suicidal thoughts or actions:
“Those who took SPRAVATO® and an oral antidepressant experienced a greater reduction of depressive symptoms at 24 hours compared to those who took a placebo plus an oral antidepressant.”
It’s never too late…
Spravato is a great treatment option for adults who have suffered with depression for many years without relief. Spravato works differently than other medications to target treatment-resistant depression and suicidal thoughts or actions and is taken with an oral antidepressant. Spravato targets the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor and is believed to work differently than currently available oral antidepressants.
Preparing for Treatment
You'll need to plan for rides to and from treatment because of possible side effects affecting mental alertness and motor coordination. You won't be able to drive, operate machinery or do anything where you need to be completely alert until the day after a treatment session, following a restful sleep.
You may want to bring a book, a relaxing playlist or another form of entertainment for the session because we will monitor you for at least two hours after treatment.
Some patients taking SPRAVATO® may experience nausea or vomiting. You should avoid eating two hours before, and drinking liquids 30 minutes before, taking SPRAVATO®.
If you take a nasal corticosteroid or nasal decongestant medicine, take these medicines at least one hour before taking SPRAVATO®.
How will I take SPRAVATO®?
You will take SPRAVATO® nasal spray yourself, under the supervision of a healthcare provider in a healthcare setting. Your healthcare provider will show you how to use the SPRAVATO® nasal spray device.
Your healthcare provider will tell you how much SPRAVATO® you will take and when you will take it.
Follow your SPRAVATO® treatment schedule exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to.
During and after each use of the SPRAVATO® nasal spray device, you will be checked by a healthcare provider who will decide when you are ready to leave the healthcare setting.
You will need to plan for a caregiver or family member to drive you home after taking SPRAVATO®.
If you miss a SPRAVATO® treatment, your healthcare provider may change your dose and treatment schedule.