More than 2,000 Spravato Sessions Conducted Since 2023
Traditional Oral Antidepressants not Enough?
Consider Spravato® — A Game Changer for Treatment Resistant Depression
What is Spravato®?
Spravato® is an FDA-approved medication for treatment resistant depression (“TRD”). Generally, TRD is defined as inadequate success with two or more oral antidepressants. Spravato® is self-administered as a nasal spray in a controlled setting. Spravato® contains a form of ketamine called esketamine. Inspired Psychiatric Care (IPC) is an FDA-approved site for the administration of Spravato®.
Why should I choose Inspired Psychiatric Care for my Spravato treatments?
Since 2023, IPC has conducted about 2,000 Spravato treatments. Because Spravato is designed to treat severe depression, we provide you with a peaceful, relaxing setting. This was a deliberate choice at IPC, with the intention of avoiding the cold, sterile feeling of many clinical settings.
Although you have the option of either individual or group sessions at IPC, we are among the pioneers in offering Spravato combined with group therapy sessions. To learn more about the differences between individual and group sessions, please read on among these frequently asked questions.
Win your battle against severe depression. Start by completing the Spravato Screening Questionnaire.
Inspiring Patient Stories
These are real patients or caregivers of patients with treatment-resistant depression, finding hope and healing.
How do individual Spravato
sessions work?
In a dimly-lit room, you will relax quietly in a comfortable recliner. You are free to listen to any kind of music you like, played over your own device with earphones. Some patients bring an iPad or a coloring book. Most prefer to wear a soft eye mask.
Spravato is self-administered as a nasal spray done with 2-3 separate inhalations 5 minutes apart. We monitor your blood pressure, before, during and after the treatment. A feeling of sedation is common, which is why you must have a ride home afterwards.
About 45-60 minutes into the session, you are likely to experience a range of dissociative reactions such a mild detachment from your immediate surroundings to a deeper disconnection from physical and emotional experiences such as trauma. The major characteristic of all dissociative reactions involves a detachment from reality, rather than a false perception of reality as in psychosis.
Take charge of your depression now. Start by completing the Spravato Screening Questionnaire.
How does Spravato group
therapy work?
Groups generally comprise 3-6 patients. Their initial experience is like the individual sessions as described above. The key differences are that all patients in a group listen to the same soothing sounds of nature and music over a blue tooth headset.
Group therapy during a Spravato session typically occurs for about 10-20 minutes after each participant has completed the process of self-administering the medication. Then, about 90 minutes into the group session – after the medication’s effects have dissipated – group therapy is resumed.
It is not unusual for group participants to develop a bond with each other and to offer encouragement to each other during group therapy. Because patients are likely to share personal and sensitive information during group sessions, they must sign an agreement which acknowledges this and their commitment to protecting the confidentiality of all participants.
Whether you use individual or group sessions, start by completing the Spravato Screening Questionnaire.
Can I try both group and individual Spravato sessions?
Although individual and private Spravato sessions are equally popular among IPC’s patients, the group sessions often fill up quickly. It is not unusual for IPC’s Spravato patients to alternate occasionally between group and individual sessions.
IPC offers both group and individual sessions because some patients simply prefer one over the other. Group sessions are conducted several times per week, while individual sessions can be more convenient because they are available more often.
Start by completing the Spravato Screening Questionnaire.
How much does Spravato cost?
Because of a special arrangement with the manufacturer of Spravato® (Janssen), the most anyone on a commercial insurance plan will pay for the Spravato® medication is $10 per treatment. However, this is contingent on an approved prior authorization from your insurance company. The treatment sessions themselves are standard appointment types covered by insurance. Your cost for the sessions depends on your insurance plan and deductible.
And it’s affordable! To get started, complete the Spravato Screening Questionnaire.
Is Spravato covered by insurance?
Yes, but IPC must open a prior authorization (PA) request with your insurance company. Each company has specific criteria for approval. Most require that you have tried at least two different antidepressants from two different drug classes for a minimum of 8 weeks. Some require that at least one antidepressant was augmented with a 2nd generation antipsychotic medication.
Currently, we work with Blue Cross, Aetna, United, Cigna, Humana and Medicare
The easiest way to see if you are likely to get your prior authorization approved is to complete our Spravato® Screening Questionnaire. It provides the criteria for each insurance company, and a list of about 30 antidepressants and other augmenting medications. If you have taken any of these in the past, you will probably recognize the names.
The sooner you start, the sooner you know. Start by completing the Spravato Screening Questionnaire.
Frequently Asked Questions about Spravato as a Medication
Is Spravato considered a psychedelic medication?
Spravato is a form of ketamine, which has been used as an anesthesia for surgeries, medical procedures, and pain management. Both ketamine and Spravato are considered psychedelics which should not be used without medical supervision.
What is a psychedelic?
A psychedelic is a type of psychoactive substance that alters perception, mood, and cognitive processes. These substances can induce hallucinations, changes in thought patterns, and heightened sensory experiences. Some psychedelics occur naturally, like psilocybin (found in magic mushrooms) and mescaline (from peyote cacti), while others, like LSD, ketamine and Spravato , are synthesized.
Psychedelics have been used in various cultural and religious ceremonies for centuries. More recently, they have gained attention for their potential therapeutic benefits, particularly in treating mental health conditions like depression, PTSD, and anxiety.
Why is Spravato used as a psychiatric medication?
Psychedelics open a window of neuroplasticity. This allows the brain to “rewire” negative beliefs and behavior patterns. In 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Spravato for treatment resistant depression.
Spravato is one of the few FDA-approved psychedelic-related treatments, but it is not the only one. Ketamine itself is FDA-approved as an anesthetic, and esketamine (Spravato ) is approved for treatment-resistant depression.
Other psychedelics, like psilocybin and MDMA, are being studied for potential FDA approval, but they have not yet received full approval for medical use.
Is Spravato addictive?
Spravato is not considered physically addictive when used as prescribed under medical supervision. However, because it is related to ketamine—a substance known for its potential misuse—there are concerns about psychological dependence.
Spravato is administered in a controlled healthcare setting, meaning patients cannot take it home. This reduces the risk of misuse. While it does not typically lead to physical dependence like opioids, some individuals may develop a reliance on its effects for emotional relief.
How is Spravato different from traditional oral antidepressants?
Traditional antidepressants can take weeks to show effects, whereas Spravato may provide relief within hours or days. Unlike traditional antidepressants, Spravato is unlikely to cause weight gain, sexual dysfunction, and drowsiness (except during the session or shortly thereafter).
Traditional antidepressants are prescribed for mild to moderate depression, while Spravato is used for more severe treatment resistant depression (TRD). On a more technical level, traditional antidepressants such as SSRIs and SNRIS target serotonin and norepinephrine, while Spravato works on the glutamate system, which plays a crucial role in mood regulation.
Does Spravato cause a loss of appetite, weight gain, sexual dysfunction or drowsiness?
Loss of appetite, weight gain, sexual dysfunction and drowsiness are not officially listed as common side effects of Spravato. However, drowsiness is likely to occur during Spravato treatments but not afterwards. If you experience any of these conditions while using Spravato, it might be worth discussing with your healthcare provider.
What are the most common side-effects of Spravato?
Spravato is a nasal spray used to treat depression, but it comes with some common side effects. The side effects occur during treatment and generally dissipate that day. These include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, sedation (excessive sleepiness), vertigo (a spinning sensation), and dissociation (feeling detached from reality). Some people also experience altered taste, dry mouth, headache, anxiety, and nose or throat irritation.
Are there health conditions in which Spravato should NOT be used?
Spravato has certain FDA-label contraindications which means that we cannot prescribe Spravato for you if you have a health history which includes certain conditions.
These conditions include:
- Aneurysmal vascular disease (thoracic and abdominal aorta, intracranial, and/or peripheral arterial vessels).
- History of intracerebral hemorrhage Arteriovenous malformation
- Hypersensitivity to esketamine, ketamine or any of the excipients.
If you are uncertain about any of these conditions, please make your provider at IPC aware of this.
Details like these are covered in the Spravato Screening Questionnaire, your first step toward getting treated.
