SPRAVATO® Treatment
SPRAVATO® (esketamine) is an FDA-approved prescription nasal spray for adults experiencing treatment-resistant depression. It is related to ketamine and works through a different pathway than most traditional antidepressant medications.
For some people, depression persists despite trying multiple medications, psychotherapy or other treatments. SPRAVATO® offers another evidence-based option for people who have not found enough relief through conventional approaches.
At Center for New Growth, treatment is provided in our office within a supportive, medically supervised environment. We can also help you understand how SPRAVATO® may fit into the larger picture of your mental health care.
SPRAVATO® Treatment
SPRAVATO® (esketamine) is an FDA-approved prescription nasal spray for adults experiencing treatment-resistant depression. It is related to ketamine and works through a different pathway than most traditional antidepressant medications.
For some people, depression persists despite trying multiple medications, psychotherapy or other treatments. SPRAVATO® offers another evidence-based option for people who have not found enough relief through conventional approaches.
At Center for New Growth, treatment is provided in our office within a supportive, medically supervised environment. We can also help you understand how SPRAVATO® may fit into the larger picture of your mental health care.
SPRAVATO® vs. ketamine
SPRAVATO® vs. ketamine
SPRAVATO® contains esketamine, one part of the ketamine molecule. Traditional ketamine contains both forms of the molecule and may be administered intravenously, intramuscularly or sublingually in clinical practice.
Both medications affect the brain’s glutamate system and are increasingly used in the treatment of depression, but they are regulated differently.
SPRAVATO® is specifically FDA-approved for certain forms of depression and is administered only through certified treatment centers under a required safety and monitoring program.
Ketamine has been FDA-approved as an anesthetic for decades and is also used off-label in psychiatric care.
At Center for New Growth, we offer both SPRAVATO® and several forms of ketamine treatment, allowing us to help patients consider which approach may best fit their clinical needs, treatment goals and insurance coverage.
SPRAVATO® contains esketamine, one part of the ketamine molecule. Traditional ketamine contains both forms of the molecule and may be administered intravenously, intramuscularly or sublingually in clinical practice.
Both medications affect the brain’s glutamate system and are increasingly used in the treatment of depression, but they are regulated differently.
SPRAVATO® is specifically FDA-approved for certain forms of depression and is administered only through certified treatment centers under a required safety and monitoring program.
Ketamine has been FDA-approved as an anesthetic for decades and is also used off-label in psychiatric care.
At Center for New Growth, we offer both SPRAVATO® and several forms of ketamine treatment, allowing us to help patients consider which approach may best fit their clinical needs, treatment goals and insurance coverage.
The Flow of Your Treatment Plan:
What To Expect
1. Initial Assessment
Your care begins with an assessment to determine whether SPRAVATO® is medically and clinically appropriate for you.
Our team may:
– review your medical and psychiatric history
– obtain relevant records from current or previous providers
– review previous depression treatments
– assess your current medications and health conditions
2. Insurance Approval
If SPRAVATO® appears appropriate:
– We verify your insurance and pharmacy benefits.
– We may request records documenting treatment-resistant depression and/or major depressive disorder with acute suicidal thoughts or behavior.
– We complete the required SPRAVATO® REMS enrollment.
– We work through any required insurance authorization.
Being medically cleared does not guarantee insurance approval.
3. Your Treatment Schedule
SPRAVATO treatment begins with a required 8-week induction period, followed by ongoing weekly or bi-weekly dosing. SPRAVATO® sessions are two hours and require a ride home.
Weeks 1–4
Twice weekly SPRAVATO® + weekly therapeutic integration
Weeks 5–8
Once weekly SPRAVATO® + weekly therapeutic integration
Week 9 and beyond
Once weekly or every two weeks + ongoing therapeutic integration
Your schedule is individualized based on your response to treatment and the least frequent dosing needed to maintain improvement.
For adults with major depressive disorder and acute suicidal thoughts or behavior, the FDA-recommended course is generally twice weekly for four weeks. Further treatment is based on individual clinical needs.
4. What Happens on Treatment Days?
SPRAVATO® is a nasal spray that you administer yourself while directly supervised by our clinical team. Before treatment, we will check your blood pressure and other relevant health information. After administering SPRAVATO®, you will remain at Center for New Growth for at least two hours while our team monitors your blood pressure, respiratory status and overall response to the medication.
Some people experience temporary effects including:
– a dreamlike or altered sense of awareness
– feelings of disconnection or dissociation
– dizziness
– sedation or sleepiness
– nausea
– changes in perception
– temporary increases in blood pressure
Our treatment rooms are designed to allow you to rest comfortably while the medication’s effects gradually resolve.
5. Going Home
You must arrange transportation home after every treatment.
After receiving SPRAVATO®, you should not drive, operate machinery, or do anything requiring full alertness until the following day after a restful night’s sleep.
SPRAVATO® cannot be taken home or self-administered outside an authorized treatment setting.
More Frequently Asked Questions
More Frequently Asked Questions
SPRAVATO® is FDA-approved for:
- Adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) who have not responded adequately to at least two antidepressant treatments. For treatment-resistant depression, SPRAVATO® may be used on its own or together with an oral antidepressant.
- Adults with major depressive disorder experiencing acute suicidal thoughts or behavior. For this indication, SPRAVATO® is used together with an oral antidepressant.
SPRAVATO® has not been shown to prevent suicide or eliminate the need for hospitalization when hospitalization is clinically appropriate.
SPRAVATO® is often covered by Medicare and Medi-Cal, but coverage depends on your individual plan, diagnosis, treatment history, and pharmacy benefits.
Center for New Growth currently accepts Medicare and Medi-Cal through Carelon Behavioral Health with participating providers.
Because SPRAVATO® requires both medical eligibility and pharmacy authorization:
- We review your benefits.
- Additional medical records or forms may be needed.
- Insurance authorization may take several weeks.
- Medical clearance does not guarantee insurance approval.
We do not currently bill private or commercial insurance directly.
Contact our team if you have questions about your specific coverage.
Everyone experiences SPRAVATO® differently.
You may temporarily experience:
- An altered or dreamlike state
- Changes in your sense of your body or surroundings
- Changes in your perception of time
- Changes in your thoughts or awareness
- Sleepiness or dizziness
- A feeling of being somewhat disconnected
Some people find the experience relaxing or expansive. Others mainly feel sleepy, dizzy, or disconnected.
The strongest effects usually occur during the required monitoring period and gradually wear off.
At Center for New Growth, we want the treatment experience itself to feel calm, respectful, and supportive. Our goal is to make the monitoring period a comfortable part of your care.
No. SPRAVATO® is not appropriate for everyone.
It is contraindicated for people with certain conditions that could make temporary increases in blood pressure or pressure inside the skull particularly dangerous, including:
- Aneurysmal vascular disease
- Arteriovenous malformations
- A history of intracerebral hemorrhage
- Known allergy or hypersensitivity to esketamine, ketamine, or ingredients in SPRAVATO®
Other conditions may require additional evaluation, including:
- Significantly elevated blood pressure
- Certain cardiovascular conditions
- Pregnancy
- Substance-use concerns
- Certain psychiatric symptoms
Your prescribing clinician will review your complete medical and psychiatric history before recommending treatment.
SPRAVATO® can be one part of a larger treatment plan.
You may continue working with your existing therapist, psychiatrist, or other healthcare providers while receiving SPRAVATO®. You can also work with the Center for New Growth team for:
- Psychotherapy
- Medication management
- Therapeutic integration support
We welcome collaboration with outside therapists, psychiatrists and other healthcare providers and believe that thoughtful communication between members of your care team can make treatment safer and more meaningful.
Throughout your Spravato treatment, you may meet with different facilitators along the way. Each facilitator brings their own presence, perspective, and unique way of holding healing space.
While the person supporting you may change from session to session, our intention remains consistent: to provide you with a safe, compassionate, and supportive environment as you move through your treatment.
You may find that different facilitators offer different kinds of connection or support, and that can be a meaningful part of the process. There is no one “right” way to experience healing. We invite you to remain curious about what each person and each session may offer you.
We’re honored to accompany you on this journey, and we trust that you will find support in the different ways each facilitator holds space for your healing.
Read More About Them Below ↓
Our SPRAVATO® Facilitators
Get to know the people guiding your SPRAVATO® experience. Click on their photo to learn a bit more about them.
Our SPRAVATO® Facilitators
Get to know the people guiding your SPRAVATO® experience. Click on their photo to learn a bit more about them.
Interested in SPRAVATO® Treatment?
Interested in SPRAVATO® Treament?
You do not need to know whether SPRAVATO® is right for you before contacting us.
Our team is here to walk you through it — we’ll help you understand how treatment works, review your insurance eligibility, answer any questions you have, and figure out the right next step together.
You do not need to know whether SPRAVATO® is right for you before contacting us.
Our team is here to walk you through it — we’ll help you understand how treatment works, review your insurance eligibility, answer any questions you have, and figure out the right next step together.