How Does Spravato Work?

Spravato® (esketamine) is an FDA-approved medication that’s effective at managing symptoms of treatment-resistant depression, a mental health condition that doesn’t respond well to traditional antidepressants.

Klarity Clinic specializes in innovative therapies for adults, including ketamine infusions to better manage depression, anxiety, addiction, and other psychiatric disorders.

Our physicians may recommend Spravato when other medications aren’t working. They also supervise your treatment to ensure your health and safety.

The Benefits of Spravato

Traditional antidepressants boost dopamine, serotonin, and other neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that play a role in controlling moods. When these messengers are weak or damaged, mental illness can result.

How Spravato is Different

Spravato works differently than traditional antidepressants. This prescription nasal spray targets glutamate, a brain chemical that regulates memory and learning. Treatment with Spravato stimulates brain cells to help your brain adapt to an elevated mood and calm intrusive and suicidal thoughts that are common with depression.

Mechanism of Action

Spravato treatments also:

Repair damaged neurotransmitters
Support the development of new neural pathways in the brain
Regulate moods in the long term
Provide rapid relief from severe symptoms
Work on different brain receptors than SSRIs or SNRIs

This unique mechanism makes Spravato especially effective for people who haven’t responded to multiple traditional antidepressants.

What to Expect During Spravato Treatment

Klarity Clinic offers medically supervised Spravato treatments in-office. Treatment typically consists of several doses of the nasal spray spaced a few minutes apart.

Treatment Protocol

Although the therapy itself is quick, you need to remain in the office for a period of observation. Many people experience a distortion in their perception for an hour or two after treatment, so we continue to monitor your vital signs and comfort level until these side effects stop.

Important note: You still need to keep taking your regular antidepressant to keep depression well-controlled. Spravato is used in combination with oral antidepressants, not as a replacement.

Treatment Schedule

Typically, you can expect to undergo Spravato treatments:

Weeks 1-4: Two times per week
Weeks 5-8: Once per week
Week 9+: Once weekly or every other week for maintenance

If you find the medication works well, our providers create a treatment plan for additional Spravato sessions over the course of several weeks or months. We continue to monitor your success with treatment during follow-up visits.

Rapid Results

A benefit of Spravato is that the intense symptoms of severe depression can go away rapidly, so you can find relief from suicidal thoughts often within hours or days rather than the weeks it takes for traditional antidepressants to work.

When to Consider Spravato

Spravato is approved for individuals with treatment-resistant depression who don’t respond to at least two other antidepressant medications.

Goals of Spravato Therapy

The goal of Spravato therapy is to:

Let people experience what life is like without persistent depression symptoms
Keep patients engaged and on track with treatment
Support the formation of new neural pathways
Help your brain heal at a cellular level
Improve overall mental health and functioning
Reduce risk of suicide

Alternative: Ketamine Infusion Therapy

If you aren’t a candidate for Spravato, you might still qualify for ketamine infusion therapy. We deliver precise doses of ketamine directly into your bloodstream to quickly reduce the severity of depression symptoms.

We can also include nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) into your infusion to:

Enhance your stress response
Boost your energy levels
Support cellular repair and healing
Optimize the effects of ketamine

Safety and Side Effects

Spravato is administered under medical supervision due to potential side effects, which may include:

Dissociation or feeling disconnected
Dizziness
Nausea
Increased blood pressure
Feeling sedated or drowsy
Altered perception

These effects typically resolve within a few hours after treatment, which is why observation in our office is required.

The Path Forward

With Spravato or ketamine infusion therapy combined with ongoing psychotherapy, you can overcome the challenges of treatment-resistant depression and live a happier, healthier life.

Call the Klarity Clinic in Las Vegas, Nevada, or Upland, California, today to find out if Spravato is a treatment option for you. Our online booking feature is also available for scheduling your appointment.

If you or someone you love is experiencing suicidal thoughts, please call 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) immediately for support.