Depression is a serious mental health condition that affects millions of people around the world. While many treatments exist, some people do not find relief with traditional antidepressants or therapy. For these individuals, a new treatment option called Spravato offers hope. This medication comes in the form of a nasal spray and has shown promising results for people with severe depression.
In this article, we will explore what Spravato is, how it works, who can benefit from it, and what makes it different from other depression treatments. If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, understanding this breakthrough treatment could be an important step toward finding relief.
What is Spravato?
Spravato is a nasal spray medication used to treat adults with treatment-resistant depression. The active ingredient in Spravato is esketamine, which is related to a medication called ketamine. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Spravato in 2019, making it one of the first truly new depression treatments in many years.
Unlike traditional antidepressants that can take weeks to work, Spravato may provide relief much faster. This medication works differently in the brain compared to other depression treatments, which is why it can help people who have not found success with other options.
Esketamine treatment is administered under medical supervision in a healthcare setting. Patients cannot take this medication home because it requires monitoring by trained professionals. This careful approach helps ensure safety and effectiveness.
How Does Spravato Work?
Spravato works uniquely compared to traditional antidepressants. Most common antidepressants affect chemicals in the brain called serotonin, norepinephrine, or dopamine. Spravato, however, targets a different chemical messenger called glutamate.
Glutamate is the most abundant neurotransmitter in the brain and plays a key role in learning, memory, and mood regulation. When someone has depression, the connections between brain cells can become weakened. Spravato helps restore these connections by blocking certain glutamate receptors, which triggers the brain to form new neural pathways.
This process can lead to improvements in mood and thinking patterns. Because it works through a different mechanism, esketamine treatment can be effective even when other medications have failed. The medication begins working within hours or days, which is much faster than the weeks or months required for traditional antidepressants to take effect.
Who Can Benefit from Spravato?
Spravato is not for everyone with depression. The FDA has approved it specifically for adults with treatment-resistant depression. This means the medication is intended for people who have tried at least two different antidepressants without experiencing adequate relief from their symptoms.
Treatment-resistant depression is more common than many people realize. About one-third of people with depression do not respond well to standard treatments. For these individuals, Spravato represents a valuable new option that could make a real difference in their lives.
The medication is also approved for treating depressive symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder who have acute suicidal thoughts or behaviors. In these emergencies, the fast-acting nature of Spravato can be particularly important.
Before starting esketamine treatment, patients must have a thorough evaluation by a qualified healthcare provider. The doctor will review the patient’s medical history, previous treatments, and current symptoms to determine if Spravato is appropriate.
What to Expect During Treatment
The process of receiving Spravato treatment follows a specific protocol designed to maximize safety and effectiveness. Patients visit a certified healthcare facility where trained medical staff administer the nasal spray. The treatment cannot be taken at home.
During a treatment session, the patient sits in a comfortable chair in a monitored area. The healthcare provider gives the patient the nasal spray device, and the patient self-administers the medication into each nostril following specific instructions. The entire administration process takes only a few minutes.
After taking the medication, patients must remain at the healthcare facility for at least two hours. During this observation period, medical staff monitor vital signs and watch for any side effects. Patients may experience feelings of dissociation, dizziness, sedation, or changes in blood pressure. These effects are temporary and usually resolve within a few hours.
Because of these potential side effects, patients cannot drive themselves home after treatment. They must arrange for someone to take them home and should not drive or operate heavy machinery for the rest of the day.
The typical treatment schedule starts with twice-weekly sessions for the first month. If the medication is helping, the frequency may be reduced to once weekly, then eventually to once every two weeks or less. Esketamine treatment is used alongside an oral antidepressant medication for the best results.
Benefits and Considerations
One of the biggest advantages of Spravato is its rapid action. Many patients notice improvements in their mood within hours or days, unlike traditional antidepressants that require weeks to work. This quick response can be life-changing for people who have been suffering from severe depression.
Another benefit is that Spravato offers hope to people who have not found relief with other treatments. When multiple antidepressants have failed to work, it can feel discouraging. Having another option available provides renewed hope and possibility.
However, there are important considerations to keep in mind. The treatment requires a significant time commitment because patients must travel to a healthcare facility twice a week initially and remain there for observation. This schedule can be challenging for people with work or family obligations.
The medication can also cause side effects, although most are temporary. Common side effects include dissociation (feeling disconnected from thoughts or surroundings), dizziness, nausea, sedation, and increased blood pressure. Serious side effects are rare but can include abuse and misuse potential.
Esketamine treatment is only available through a restricted distribution program because of the risk of serious side effects and potential for abuse. This program ensures that the medication is used safely and appropriately.
Final Thoughts
Spravato represents an important advancement in the treatment of severe depression. For people who have not found relief with traditional antidepressants, this nasal spray medication offers a new path forward. Its unique mechanism of action and rapid effects make it a valuable option for treatment-resistant depression.
If you or someone you care about is struggling with depression that has not improved with other treatments, it may be worth discussing Spravato with a healthcare provider. While it is not right for everyone, this medication has helped many people find relief when nothing else worked.
