SPRAVATO (esketamine) Treatment

SPRAVATO® is a prescription medicine, used along with an antidepressant taken by mouth to treat adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and depressive symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) with suicidal thoughts or actions. Learn more on the SPRAVATO website.

SPRAVATO is approved for the treatment of treatment-resistant depression (TRD) in conjunction with an oral antidepressant. It is also FDA approved for major depressive disorder (MDD) with suicidal thoughts and behavior.

SPRAVATO works through a novel mechanism of blocking NMDA type of glutamate receptors. It is the only medication approved with this type of mechanism of action. It has shown to be working much faster than traditional antidepressants and help people with treatment resistant depression.

Yes, SPRAVATO is an adjunctive or add-on treatment which means you add SPRAVATO to your antidepressant(s) for better results.

There are two phases to treatment.

1. Induction Phase
SPRAVATO is administered twice a week for 1-4 weeks.
Dosage is 56 or 84 mg each time.

2. Maintenance Phase I
SPRAVATO is administered once a week from week 5 to Week 9.
Dosage is 56 or 84 mg each time

3. Maintenance Phase II
SPRAVATO is administered every other week after 9 weeks and up to one year.
Dosage is 56 or 84 mg each time.

Treatment is individualized based on response to treatment. Some people may need more or different schedule. And, some people may need only 1-2 months of treatment

1. You arrive to the facility 30 minutes prior after fasting (at least for 6 hours). You get urine drug screen upon arrival prior to every SPRAVATO administration. You can take your regular medications with a sip of water but it's recommended to hold any benzodiazepine medications (Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, Valium etc.) on the day of treatment.

2. You are given SPRAVATO by nasal spray and then monitored for 2 hours. You get your vital signs checked periodically. Prepare to spend 2-3 hours in the medical center each time.

3. You need a friend or family member to take you home after the treatment since you are advised not drive or operate heavy machinery on the day of treatment.

You need to agree and comply with treatment recommendations such as not driving on the day of treatment, getting someone to drive you home and not leaving medical center until released by physician.