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Spravato™ Q&A

What is Spravato?

Spravato is a brand name for esketamine, a novel medication used to treat depression. After just one dose of Spravato, you experience a substantial positive impact on brain cells. The Food and Drug Administration approved the use of Spravato on people with treatment-resistant depression in 2019.

 

Unlike traditional antidepressants, which may take 4-8 weeks to show effects, esketamine can have a rapid onset of action, often within the first session of treatment.

What are the advantages of Spravato?

Spravato offers several advantages over traditional antidepressants. It’s not a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), so there is no concern with sexual dysfunction or weight gain, issues that are commonly associated with the SSRI class of medications. 

 

In addition, Spravato promotes processes that allow the nervous system to adapt and reorganize its structures and connections in response to stimuli. This can lead to more significant and lasting improvements in mood and overall well-being.

How does Spravato work to alleviate depressive symptoms?

Spravato targets the glutamate system in the brain, specifically the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Glutamate is the most prevalent chemical messenger in the brain.

 

By increasing glutamate levels and improving brain function, Spravato helps to restore balance and function in the brain circuits that are associated with mood regulation. This leads to improvements in depressive symptoms, often with rapid onset and sustained effects over time.

Am I a candidate for Spravato?

The team at Elevate Medical offers Spravato as a nasal spray. and it’s administered at in-office appointments. If you’ve tried two or more oral antidepressants and haven’t seen at least a 50% improvement in mood or reached remission, you may be a candidate for the nasal spray. 

 

Spravato can show you what it’s like to live without depression and help you stay committed to other treatments, including psychotherapy and lifestyle changes. 

How can I learn more about Spravato?

If you think Spravato may be a good treatment for you, reach out to Elevate Medical. The team sets up an online consultation to review your physical and mental health histories. If you’re a good fit, they bring you in for in-person sessions to administer Spravato. 

 

Spravato is not a stand-alone treatment, however. You continue to work on improving your mental health with other therapies while under the care of the team at Elevate Medical.

 

If you’d like to learn more about Spravato as an option for treatment-resistant depression, call Elevate Medical or use this website to schedule a consultation.