When traditional antidepressants are not enough to alleviate your symptoms, SPRAVATO® (esketamine) may offer hope. The FDA has approved the drug for use alongside an oral antidepressant to treat adults with treatment-resistant depression or major depressive disorder with acute suicidal thoughts.
SPRAVATO® is a prescription nasal spray, and it is dispensed by Holiner Psychiatric Group in a safe, supportive clinical environment. If you or a loved one needs help moving forward and reducing depression symptoms, call us to learn more about what SPRAVATO® does and how it could help treat depression.
SPRAVATO® is an intranasal medication that contains esketamine, a form of ketamine that targets different receptors in the brain than most standard antidepressants. SPRAVATO® works by affecting the NMDA receptor, which is a part of the glutamate system in your brain and plays a key role in mood regulation and neuroplasticity. Esketamine’s mechanism is different from most antidepressants, which typically focus on neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, or norepinephrine.
Traditional prescription antidepressant medications may take weeks to build up in your system and begin working. By contrast, SPRAVATO® can begin working within hours or days, offering faster relief when you are living with symptoms of severe depression. However, it is not a daily medication that you can take at home. SPRAVATO® is self-administered under direct medical supervision at our certified treatment center.
By activating the brain’s glutamate system, SPRAVATO® helps restore disrupted neural connections caused by long-term depression. Some people experience relief in as little as 24 hours, making it a potentially life-saving intervention during a mental health crisis.
SPRAVATO® is designed for adults who have tried two or more antidepressant medications without experiencing success. It is recommended when traditional medications or therapy have not provided sufficient relief. Esketamine nasal spray might be appropriate if you struggle with treatment-resistant depression, experience suicidal thoughts, or require faster symptom relief than standard medications can offer.
However, SPRAVATO® is not suitable for everyone. If you have a history of certain medical conditions or substance use, you might not qualify as a candidate. A comprehensive psychiatric evaluation at The Holiner Psychiatric Group will help determine your eligibility.
SPRAVATO® nasal spray for depression is only available at certified treatment centers. At The Holiner Psychiatric Group, your comfort and safety are our top priorities throughout each visit. After your arrival, you will be welcomed and checked in by our clinical team, and then they will complete a pre-treatment assessment.
You will then self-administer the nasal spray under supervision and stay at our office for approximately two hours so we can monitor your vital signs and assess side effects. It is important to note that you cannot drive for 24 hours after the medication is administered, so you must arrange for a ride home.
Side effects can include:
While these typically resolve within the monitored period, you may continue to experience some sedative effects in the 24 hours following your dose, impacting your ability to drive.
Finding the right depression treatment can feel overwhelming, but we want you to know that you do not have to do it alone. The Holiner Psychiatric Group could help you explore every available option for treatment, including helping you understand what advanced interventions such as SPRAVATO® could do.
If you or a loved one has not responded to standard antidepressants, it might be time to explore something different. We will walk you through a full clinical evaluation, develop a personalized plan of care, and provide you with the support needed to feel safe and hopeful again.
At The Holiner Psychiatric Group, we offer treatment in a calm, professional setting that is designed to help you feel at ease. We believe in treating the whole person and not just the symptoms. Whether you have tried multiple medications or you are seeking faster relief, our treatment team is here to guide your next steps.
Call us today to learn more about SPRAVATO® and the new path forward it offers when you are facing depression that does not improve with traditional treatment. Our team of compassionate professionals is ready to help you reclaim your life. We can help answer, “What does SPRAVATO® do?” and determine whether it is right for you.