If you have not found relief from depression symptoms with standard treatments such as psychotherapy and antidepressants, consider SPRAVATO. This esketamine-based nasal spray has clinical proof of being highly effective for treatment-resistant depression.
SPRAVATO works quickly to help you regain emotional balance and improve your mental health. At Arkansas Psychiatric Clinic, we follow evidence-based dosing schedules for optimal results. You may be wondering, “How long can you stay on SPRAVATO?” Our dedicated team will help you understand what to expect from your treatment, including how long you can use this medication.
We administer your SPRAVATO sessions in structured phases to promote lasting results. Each session takes about two hours. Celeste Lee, our board-certified nurse practitioner, will support you throughout your sessions, monitor your mental and physical health, and ensure your safety and comfort.
Your mental health is unique, so your full treatment course will be specific to your needs. Typically, you will receive the medication in phases, and the frequency of your sessions will gradually decrease over time. We will determine your esketamine dosing and length of treatment at your initial consultation, and adjust it as necessary depending on your individual progress. Here is what your treatment may look like:
In the initial phase of SPRAVATO treatments, you will receive sessions at our office twice a week for one month. This schedule acts as a loading dose. After this period, we decrease the frequency of sessions. This approach provides rapid symptom relief, making SPRAVATO a vital choice if you experience suicidal thoughts. Clinical data shows that 88 percent of patients report significant relief within 24 hours of their first dose.
In this initial phase, your body starts adjusting to the medication. You may experience dizziness or increased blood pressure, but these side effects usually resolve quickly and decrease as you continue sessions. Tell Celeste if you experience any negative mental or physical side effects.
After you complete your first month of SPRAVATO treatment, you should notice sustained improvement in your depression symptoms and can transition to the maintenance phase. In this phase, you receive weekly sessions at our office for an additional month.
If you feel consistently balanced and notice a significant improvement in your quality of life after this eighth week of treatment, we can typically decrease sessions to once every two weeks or less. Ongoing sessions help you maintain your results.
SPRAVATO has FDA approval for long-term use, so the duration of treatment to maintain results is indefinite. Most patients stay on it for at least 12 weeks, and studies show that continuing maintenance sessions lowers the risk of relapse. If you can tolerate antidepressants, taking SPRAVATO with oral medication can further enhance results.
SPRAVATO offers long-awaited relief if you are still searching for solutions to treatment-resistant depression. If you are wondering, “How long can you stay on SPRAVATO?” contact our team today to schedule an initial consultation and learn how this treatment can help you achieve quick, lasting improvement in your mental health.