There is a renaissance in psychedelic medicine and Journey Healthcare is now offering physician directed, evidence-based treatment through esketamine (Spravato) therapy.
What is Spravato
SPRAVATO® is a prescription medicine, used along with an antidepressant taken by mouth to treat:
- Adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD)
- Depressive symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) with suicidal thoughts or actions
Spravato is the first FDA-approved nasal spray medication for Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD).
33% of people suffering from depression have treatment resistant depression.
Patients engaging in esketamine (Spravato) therapy will not have to wait weeks or even months for the treatment to take effect. Patients will not have to suffer through months of side effects and depression before determining if the medicine works at all.
Spravato targets the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NDMA) receptor and is believed to work differently than currently available oral antidepressants.
Am I a candidate for Spravato?
If you’ve tried two or more antidepressants without sufficient relief you may be a candidate for Spravato
Esketamine (Spravato) benefits often begin to appear within just hours and clinical trials with ketamine have shown peak mood elevation within 24-36 hours of treatment.
Esketamine (Spravato) offers patients a high success rate (50-70 percent) of reducing or eliminating severe depression symptoms opposed to traditional antidepressants boast a lower success rate (40-45 percent) and some do not work at all.
Esketamine (Spravato) therapy works fast and often!
Spravato is not for:
- As a medicine to prevent or relieve pain.
- To prevent suicide, reduce suicidal thoughts or actions, or replace hospitalizations, even if there is improvement after the first dose.
- Spravato is not for use in children.
Call us directly to schedule consultation for TMS at: 412-668-4444
How it works
Esketamine (Spravato) works differently than other typical antidepressants by increasing levels of glutamate. Glutamate is the most abundant neurotransmitter in your brain and central nervous system.
Glutamate’s functions include: Learning and memory. Sleep-wake cycle manager. It is an energy source for brain cells when glucose is low and it also allows chemical messages to be sent between nerve cells.
Glutamate is also needed for making another neurotransmitter in your brain called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA is known as the “calming” neurotransmitter. It’s involved in sleep, relaxation, anxiety regulation and muscle function.
Weeks 1-4
Twice Weekly visits
Weeks 5-8
Once weekly
Weeks 9+
once every week or two depending on healthcare professional recommendation.
You and your healthcare provider will decide how long you stay on SPRAAVATO based on:
- How you respond to it
- How stable your response is.
After 8 weeks of treatment, your healthcare provider will determine the dosing frequency based on how you feel.
What to expect on treatment days:
In a clinical setting, patient’s typically sit in a comfortable chair with an eye mask and dim lights. They listen to music or practice meditation and mindfulness techniques while the medication is administered. Before and after treatments patients are encouraged to briefly journal their experiences, creating an intention for their therapeutic journey.
Integration is also a vital part of working with esketamine (Spravato). Integration is reflecting and acting upon the lessons learned during the treatment. It is a framework to process the journey. We can increase the impact of the medicine with somatic activities to help patients nourish their mind, body and spirit.
Each device contains: an aqueous solution of esketamine.
Each device delivers: 2 sprays, 1 spray into each nostril.
- You will not be able to drive, so plan transportation for treatment days.
- You will administer the nasal spray yourself under the supervision of a healthcare provider.
- You’ll be monitored for side effects for at least two hours.
- Your healthcare provider will tell you when it’s okay to leave.
- Do not drive, operate machinery or do anything where you need to be completely alert until the day after a treatment session, following a restful sleep.
Clinical use of psychedelics can create positive, sustainable mental health outcomes for clients who have found that therapy or conventional psychotropic medications did not bring the desired relief. The effects clients feel after an esketamine (Spravato) treatment can include reduced depression or anxiety, more openness, a more profound sense of connection with others, more positivity, and less visceral distress related to life stressors.
Real patient with treatment-resistant depression testimonies.
Nicole P., 23 – St. Peters, MO
Spravato helped Nicole’s treatment-resistant depression. Now, she’s resuming her education and sharing her story.
Allison’s Story
Allison’s son tried many oral antidepressants without relief. Now, because of Spravato Allison’s son is starting to feel like himself again.