Experience the Revitalizing Power of Spravato Treatment
Spravato is the brand name for esketamine, a medication used to treat treatment-resistant depression. It is administered as a nasal spray and can be effective in reducing symptoms of depression, even in patients who have not responded to other forms of treatment.
What is Spravato?
Spravato (generic name esketamine), is a medication used by those with a depressive disorder who have not responded sufficiently to other forms of depression treatment. Molecularly, it is half of the molecular composition of ketamine, the s-isomer, hence the name s-ketamine or esketamine. Ketamine itself is a 60-year-old FDA-approved anesthetic. In the early 2000s, researchers began demonstrating ketamine’s rapid-acting antidepressant effects when provided intravenously in small doses.
Spravato, on the other hand, is administered as a nasal spray and must be provided with an oral antidepressant. It is self-administered but only under the direct supervision of a licensed medical professional in a clinical setting. Spravato is typically given two times per week for the first month, followed by once a week ongoingly for maintenance treatment.
What Conditions Can Spravato Treat?
Spravato (Esketamine) Nasal Spray is FDA Approved for those who have been diagnosed with the following conditions:
Suicidal ideation or behaviors
How Does Spravato Treatment Work?
The exact mechanism by which esketamine produces its antidepressant effects is not fully understood. However, research suggests it may work by increasing neurotransmitters (chemicals that transmit signals in the brain), such as glutamate and GABA. It may also increase the formation of new connections between neurons, a process known as neuroplasticity.
The rapid onset of its antidepressant effects is one of the key reasons esketamine treatment has garnered attention as an option for those with depression. Many traditional antidepressants can take 4-6 weeks to produce a noticeable improvement in symptoms. Research has shown that esketamine for depression can produce a rapid and significant reduction in symptoms within hours of administration and results are seen in approximately 40% of cases.
Potential Benefits of Spravato
One of the main benefits of ketamine nasal spray for depression is that it can be covered by insurance depending on your carrier and policy.
Additionally, it can rapidly improve symptoms, even in individuals who have not responded to other forms of treatment. Spravato may also be a useful option for individuals unable to take traditional antidepressants due to side effects or other contraindications. Spravato is effective approximately 40% of the time.
