SPRAVATO® (Esketamine) Therapy Services


For individuals looking for an alternative to ketamine therapy, we offer SPRAVATO® Therapy Services, a newly patented form of ketamine delivered as a nasal spray, also used for treatment-resistant conditions.




KETAMINE ALTERNATIVE

Innovative Treatment

Hightop Health offers SPRAVATO® as an advanced treatment for severe depression  and acute thoughts of suicide, specifically for patients who may have tried other treatment options with little to no success. SPRAVATO® is administered as a nasal spray, making it less invasive and potentially more convenient than intravenous (IV) or intramuscular (IM) ketamine administration. Both ketamine and SPRAVATO® therapy can be effective for mood disorders, but the choice between them depends on the individual patient’s needs, medical history, and response to previous treatments.

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WHAT TO EXPECT

SPRAVATO® Therapy Services Process

Hightop Health provides SPRAVATO® in the following phases:

1

INTAKE & EVALUATION 

Patients meet with a medical provider for an intake evaluation to determine whether SPRAVATO® Therapy Services might be an appropriate treatment and to assess any relevant risk factors that may prevent eligibility.

2

PREPARATION

SPRAVATO® patients meet with a clinician to establish a foundation for treatment and get familiar with the space and process.

3

SESSIONS & MAINTENANCE

Patients typically complete three sessions a week for four to six weeks at the clinic and are monitored in case of any adverse reactions. Clinical outcome measures are also collected along the way. Based on response and tolerability, booster sessions may also be required.

HOW IT WORKS

Understanding SPRAVATO® Therapy Services

Hightop Health considers SPRAVATO® Therapy Services as a treatment option for patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and even as a potential mechanism to prevent in-patient hospitalization for patients with thoughts of suicide. SPRAVATO® is an FDA-approved nasal spray that targets N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the brain, offering a different mechanism than traditional antidepressants, which typically focus on the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. This treatment is always administered in a clinical setting under strict medical supervision, ensuring safety and efficacy.

Like all TRD interventions, SPRAVATO® is not a “magic bullet” or a panacea. In most cases, patients will need to continue concurrent pharmacological, psychotherapeutic, Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)/Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) engagement, and lifestyle medical treatments while receiving SPRAVATO®.  

The FDA approval of SPRAVATO® ensures a regulated and standardized treatment, often covered by insurance, making it more accessible for patients. Its non-invasive administration via a nasal spray provides convenience and comfort compared to intravenous or intramuscular ketamine infusions, making it a preferred option for some patients.

 During SPRAVATO® therapy, patients are closely monitored due to potential side effects, which may include increased blood pressure, fast heart rate, and temporary dissociative symptoms. This supervision ensures patient safety throughout the treatment sessions.

While both SPRAVATO® and ketamine are used to manage treatment-resistant depression (TRD), they differ in form and approval status. Ketamine is typically administered via intravenous or intramuscular and is often used off-label, whereas SPRAVATO® is an FDA-approved nasal spray specifically for depression. The insurance coverage and ease of use of SPRAVATO® offer additional benefits, making it an effective and accessible option for patients seeking relief from severe depression.

GET ANSWERS

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to commonly asked questions about our SPRAVATO® Therapy Services and Hightop Health’s approach to offering comprehensive, integrative care. Learn about what conditions can benefit from SPRAVATO® Therapy Services.

SPRAVATO® Therapy Services uses the active ingredient, esketamine, in nasal spray form. Unlike IV or IM ketamine, it is FDA-approved for managing treatment-resistant depression and depressive symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder and acute suicidal ideation. It aims to offer rapid relief by targeting N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the brain, which are thought to modulate glutamate, a key neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation.

Yes, SPRAVATO® (esketamine) is FDA-approved for treating treatment-resistant depression and depressive symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder with acute suicidal ideation.

Like ketamine, SPRAVATO® carries some risks, including increased blood pressure and temporary dissociative symptoms, necessitating close patient monitoring during and after treatment sessions to ensure safety. SPRAVATO® is always administered in one of Hightop Health’s prestigious clinics to ensure expert regulation and seamless monitoring of patients’ response to the medication.

All clinics are designed to make patients feel safe and well cared for. Patients must attend a designated series of sessions to get the most out of their treatment. This can vary between patients, but a typical course of treatment might involve three sessions a week for four to six weeks. Patients might also need to attend booster sessions once the initial treatment starts to work to avoid experiencing a relapse. All treatment sessions take place under supervision at a Hightop Health clinic. Patients will need to have someone drive them home afterward, as it is common to experience some side effects such as drowsiness or impaired responses.

Related Blog Posts

Discover more about SPRAVATO® Therapy Services and other novel treatments Hightop Health offers in the following blog posts.

  • What’s Better for Treatment-Resistant Depression? Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Ketamine, or SPRAVATO®(Esketamine)?

    Many of my patients who come to me for a treatment resistant evaluation wonder what’s wrong with them that the…

    Read More

  • Ketamine for Depression? How Do I Know If It’s Right For Me?

    Ketamine is an anesthesia and pain management medication developed over 40 years ago that doctors and patients soon recognized had…

    Read More

  • Antidepressant Pills Don’t Help Me! What Do I Do Next?

    For the last several decades, treatment of depression consisted of either anti-depressant medications or psychotherapy or some combination of the…

    Read More

  • Should I Get Ketamine Through the Vein (IV), by Mouth, as a Nasal Spray, or Shot in the Muscle/Skin?

    I would love to answer this question in a very precise scientific manner with extensive research studies to support my…

    Read More

  • Is Ketamine a Cure for Depression?

    When patients with depression who have not done well with traditional oral antidepressants come to my clinic for other options,…

    Read More

  • Should You Believe in Science?

    Strange question but more people are asking it in the last few years especially with confusion, misinformation, and politicization around…

    Read More
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Blog Post Image

What’s Better for Treatment-Resistant Depression? Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Ketamine, or SPRAVATO®(Esketamine)?

Many of my patients who come to me for a treatment resistant evaluation wonder what’s wrong with them that the…

Learn More
Blog Post Image

Ketamine for Depression? How Do I Know If It’s Right For Me?

Ketamine is an anesthesia and pain management medication developed over 40 years ago that doctors and patients soon recognized had…

Learn More
Blog Post Image

Antidepressant Pills Don’t Help Me! What Do I Do Next?

For the last several decades, treatment of depression consisted of either anti-depressant medications or psychotherapy or some combination of the…

Learn More
Blog Post Image

Should I Get Ketamine Through the Vein (IV), by Mouth, as a Nasal Spray, or Shot in the Muscle/Skin?

I would love to answer this question in a very precise scientific manner with extensive research studies to support my…

Learn More
Blog Post Image

Is Ketamine a Cure for Depression?

When patients with depression who have not done well with traditional oral antidepressants come to my clinic for other options,…

Learn More
Blog Post Image

Should You Believe in Science?

Strange question but more people are asking it in the last few years especially with confusion, misinformation, and politicization around…

Learn More
quotes

“Innovative treatment options may benefit patients who have exhausted other traditional interventions, offering patients new-found hope for possible recovery.”

– Michael Banov, MD

Medical Director, Psych Atlanta




Learn More or Get Started with SPRAVATO® Therapy Services Today

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