Jamestown’s Psychiatry Offering Spravato/Ketamine for Depression

Spravato (esketamine) is life-saving for people with severe depression who do not respond to other depression treatments. We founded Brain Health Consultants in order to offer state of the art care in a private and discreet setting. In addition to more routine treatment, like standard antidepressants and therapy, we are able to offer several breakthrough treatments for patients whose depression has not responded to other therapies. One of these is Spravato, described as the “Biggest Breakthrough in Depression Treatment in 50 Years”. Spravato is now a FDA approved treatment. Brain Health Consultants is proud to have helped prove the efficacy of this breakthrough treatment during the research development and to be one of the first to use the newly available ground breaking treatment.

Our experience is unparalleled.

Spravato is the new brand name for esketamine that comes in ready to use nasal spray. It was approved by the FDA in March 2019 for patients with treatment resistant depression, in conjunction with an oral antidepressant. The FDA requires that Spravato treatment takes place only at approved treatment centers. By law, it cannot be prescribed for home use.

The treatment is done as an outpatient in the privacy of our offices. The reason antidepressants may not work for everyone is that they target just a few of the brain’s chemical transmitter systems, such as serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. Spravato is the first and only approved NMDA antagonist for treatment resistant depression. NMDA receptors modulate glutamate.

Spravato Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How many treatments will I need?

• 2 treatments a week for 4 weeks, then
• 1 treatment a week for 4 weeks, then
• Decrease to weekly or every other week to maintain response
• Long-term goal – monthly treatment

How many treatments will I need?

• 2 treatments a week for 4 weeks, then
• 1 treatment a week for 4 weeks, then
• Decrease to weekly or every other week to maintain response
• Long-term goal – monthly treatment

Spravato proves beneficial in many patients within 24 hours, but we request a commitment to the full course of 8 treatments to allow time for the full effects to be seen.

How long does each treatment last?

Plan to be in our offices for 2 hours for each treatment and plan to take the remainder of the day off from work, school and other activities. You may not drive the day of the treatment. You will need to plan for a way to get home, such as having a family member or friend take you home.

Is Spravato addictive?

When overseen by professionals and administered in a controlled clinical setting, Spravato therapy can in fact be a safer alternative to some prescription drugs. Patients should also note that Spravato is not a narcotic and when given in medical setting has not been known to be addictive. A cousin of Spravato, ketamine, has been abused on the street.

What kind of doctor should I go to for Spravato treatment?

When using Spravato for the treatment of severe depression, you need a psychiatrist who is familiar with your specific condition. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who are specially trained to evaluate and treat illnesses that involve changes in mood, thinking and behavior.

Treating severe depression is a very complex process, and Spravato is known to produce feelings of dissociation in some patients. Patients with bipolar disorder may become manic. Therefore, we do not recommend that Spravato be given for depression by doctors who are not psychiatrists. A psychiatrist is uniquely able to catch these problems early and intervene. Serious medical side effects are very rare when Spravato is used to treat depression. But just in case, our offices include a medical procedure room.