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SPRAVATO® at CPAC: A Different Approach to Treatment-Resistant Depression
Depression treatment is not one-size-fits-all. While traditional antidepressants can be very effective, some people continue to experience significant symptoms despite trying multiple medications. When depression has not adequately improved after two or more antidepressant treatments, it may be considered treatment-resistant depression (TRD).
For adults who have struggled to find relief with traditional treatments, SPRAVATO® (esketamine) offers a different approach.
At Conway Psychological Assessment Center (CPAC), SPRAVATO treatment combines evidence-based psychiatric care with a calm, comfortable environment designed specifically for patients receiving treatment.
What Is SPRAVATO?
SPRAVATO is an FDA-approved prescription nasal spray containing esketamine. It is used to treat adults with treatment-resistant depression and may be used either alone or along with an oral antidepressant.
SPRAVATO is also FDA-approved, when used with an oral antidepressant, to treat depressive symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder who are experiencing acute suicidal thoughts or behaviors.
Although SPRAVATO is related to ketamine, the two are not the same. SPRAVATO contains esketamine, a specific form of the ketamine molecule, and has been studied and FDA-approved specifically for certain depressive disorders.
How Does SPRAVATO Work?
SPRAVATO works differently from traditional antidepressants.
Many commonly prescribed antidepressants work primarily through brain chemicals such as serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. SPRAVATO acts on a different chemical messenger called glutamate, including activity at NMDA receptors. The exact way SPRAVATO improves depression is not fully understood.
In simple terms, SPRAVATO gives providers another pathway to target when traditional antidepressant approaches haven't provided enough relief.
This different mechanism is one of the reasons SPRAVATO can be an important option for people who have spent years trying antidepressants without achieving the improvement they hoped for.
What Does the Treatment Schedule Look Like?
SPRAVATO is not taken at home. Patients self-administer the nasal spray under the supervision of a healthcare provider in a certified treatment setting.
For treatment-resistant depression, treatment generally begins more frequently and gradually becomes less frequent:
Weeks 1–4: Treatment twice a week
Weeks 5–8: Treatment once a week
Week 9 and beyond: Treatment once a week or every other week, depending on individual response
The goal is to eventually use the least frequent treatment schedule needed to maintain improvement. Response, tolerability and ongoing symptoms are evaluated throughout treatment so the maintenance schedule can be individualized to each patient.
What Happens During a SPRAVATO Appointment?
After administering SPRAVATO, patients remain in the treatment setting for at least two hours of observation. During this time, blood pressure, respiratory status and overall response to the medication are monitored.
SPRAVATO can temporarily cause effects such as sleepiness, dizziness, nausea, increased blood pressure or dissociation—a temporary feeling of being disconnected from yourself or your surroundings. Because of these potential effects, SPRAVATO is available only through certified healthcare settings participating in the FDA-required SPRAVATO REMS safety program.
Patients also need to arrange transportation home after each treatment and cannot drive until the following day after a restful night's sleep.
The monitoring period is an important part of treatment—but it doesn't have to feel like sitting in a medical exam room for two hours.
The SPRAVATO Suite at CPAC
The environment in which psychiatric treatment takes place matters.
At CPAC, SPRAVATO patients receive treatment in a dedicated semi-private, spa-like SPRAVATO Suite designed to make the required observation period feel peaceful and comfortable.
The suite includes four comfortable recliners, with privacy curtains surrounding each treatment space. This allows patients to have their own personal area while remaining safely monitored by the clinical team.
Rather than spending the treatment period in a traditional exam room, patients can settle into a recliner, relax, listen to music, use headphones, rest or simply enjoy a quiet space while the medication takes effect.
The goal is to create an atmosphere that feels calm, private and restorative, while still providing the medical supervision required for SPRAVATO treatment.
Is SPRAVATO Right for You?
SPRAVATO is not appropriate for every person with depression. A comprehensive psychiatric evaluation is an important first step.
The evaluation includes reviewing current symptoms, previous antidepressant trials, other treatments, medical history, current medications and potential safety considerations. This helps determine whether treatment-resistant depression is present and whether SPRAVATO may be an appropriate option.
For patients who have spent months—or even years—trying medications without adequate improvement, treatment resistance does not mean that treatment options have been exhausted.
Sometimes it means it is time to consider a different approach.
At Conway Psychological Assessment Center, SPRAVATO treatment is designed to provide both: an innovative treatment option for difficult-to-treat depression and a comfortable, supportive environment in which to receive it.