Esketamine (Spravato) Treatment
Adding esketamine (Spravato) for Treatment Resistant Depression is Proven to Reduce Symptoms.
If you’ve taken two or more oral antidepressants and you’re still experiencing the symptoms of depression, it’s likely that you have treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Spravato is the only ketamine treatment approved by the FDA for treatment resistant depression. Camden Interventional Psychiatry is a REMS certified treatment center for Spravato therapy.
Ready to learn more?
If you would like to learn more about esketamine (Spravato) treatments at Camden Interventional Psychiatry, please complete our contact form to start the intake process. At your initial appointment, we will explain the process, benefits and possible side effects of the treatment.
Most major health insurance providers cover Spravato, including MaineCare. For patients with high deductibles and copays, Johnson and Johnson offers a Patient Assistance Program. We are here to guide you through the enrollment process.
What to expect: Planning for your first treatment
Spravato is a nasal spray which you will administer to yourself, under the supervision of the Camden Interventional Psychiatry team.
After you’ve taken the initial treatment, you’ll be observed for two hours. We will monitor you for possible side effects during this time and you will be relaxing in a comfortable environment.
Because of the possible side effects affecting coordination, you won’t be able to drive or operate heavy machinery until the next day. You will need to plan for rides on your treatment days.
Spravato is generally taken 1-2 times per week for the first four weeks and once a week for the next four weeks.
After the first eight weeks, many people find that coming every 2 weeks is sufficient to maintain the benefits.
Spravato treatment allows people to experience relief from depressive symptoms that have been resistant to multiple oral antidepressants.
Contact our office here to learn more.
What happens at your first visit?
The first visit consists of a consultation, where we will cover the following:
Camden Interventional Psychiatry will ensure that we’ve received all necessary medical information from your healthcare provider.
We will conduct our own assessment to determine if Spravato treatment is right for you.
We’ll verify your insurance information to make sure that you’re eligible for treatments.
If we move forward with Spravato treatment, we will build a plan with you, enrolling you in the Spravato Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program.
Your regular healthcare provider will continue to be involved with your care and will continue to manage your oral medications if you are taking any. We will provide updates to your team on your progress.
What to know about ongoing treatment center visits:
You may start treatment as soon as your second visit.
Be sure to bring headphones, a playlist of relaxing music, a blanket, eye covering if you prefer, and a journal for recording important insights. You will be monitored for two hours after your initial treatment.
Please arrange for someone to drop you off at the time of your appointment and pick you up 2 hours later. If you prefer to have a support person or therapist sit with you during your treatment, please notify staff ahead of time.
Avoid eating for two hours before, and drinking liquids 1 hour prior to the treatment session. Some patients may experience nausea or vomiting. We can provide you with anti-nausea medication to take prior to your appointment if you would like.
If you take a nasal corticosteroid or nasal decongestant medicine, take these medicines at least one hour before taking Spravato.
FAQs
Can Spravato benefit depressive symptoms of MDD with suicidal thoughts or actions?
SPRAVATO is proven effective for depressive symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) with suicidal thoughts or actions (MDSI).
In clinical studies of adults with MDD with suicidal thoughts or actions, those who took SPRAVATO and an oral antidepressant experienced a greater reduction of depressive symptoms at 24 hours compared to those who received a placebo plus an oral antidepressant.*
*Based on an overall score on a standardized rating scale.
What are the possible side effects of Spravato?
SPRAVATO® can cause serious side effects, including:
Sedation and dissociation. SPRAVATO may cause sleepiness (sedation), fainting, dizziness, spinning sensation, anxiety, or feeling disconnected from yourself, your thoughts, feelings, space and time (dissociation).
We will monitor you for serious side effects for at least 2 hours after taking SPRAVATO and decide when you are safe to leave the office.
Abuse and misuse. There is a risk for abuse and physical and psychological dependence with SPRAVATO treatment. We will monitor you for any signs of abuse and dependence.
SPRAVATO Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS).
Because of the risks for sedation, dissociation, respiratory depression, and abuse and misuse, SPRAVATO is only available through a restricted program called the SPRAVATO Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) Program. SPRAVATO can only be administered at healthcare settings certified in the SPRAVATO REMS Program. Patients treated in outpatient healthcare settings (e.g., medical offices and clinics) must be enrolled in the program.
How long until I’m back to normal?
If any of the common side effects do occur, they usually happen right after taking Spravato and go away the same day.