At Aloha Integrative Health, we’re committed to offering innovative treatments that can make a significant difference in the lives of those dealing with mental health issues. Among our advanced therapeutic options is Spravato, a novel treatment approved for use in certain cases of depression. This blog post aims to shed light on what Spravato is, how it works, its safety profile, and the benefits it may offer to patients seeking relief from depressive symptoms.
What is Spravato?
Spravato, with the active ingredient esketamine, represents a breakthrough in the treatment of depression, particularly for individuals who have not found relief through traditional antidepressant medications. Administered as a nasal spray, Spravato is approved for use in adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and for depressive symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) with acute suicidal ideation or behavior. Spravato is used in conjunction with an oral antidepressant.
How Does Spravato Work?
Esketamine, the active component of Spravato, is a derivative of ketamine, a substance known for its rapid-acting antidepressant effects. Unlike many traditional antidepressants that target the neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, esketamine acts on the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the brain. This mechanism is believed to help restore synaptic connections in brain areas that are affected by depression, potentially leading to improvements in mood and thought patterns more rapidly than conventional antidepressants.
Is Spravato Safe?
The approval of Spravato by regulatory agencies was based on a comprehensive evaluation of its safety and efficacy profile. As with any medication, Spravato is not without potential side effects. Common side effects include dissociation, dizziness, nausea, sedation, vertigo, hypoesthesia (reduced sense of touch), anxiety, increased blood pressure, and vomiting. Because of the risk of sedation and dissociation, Spravato must be administered under medical supervision in a certified healthcare facility, and patients must be monitored for at least two hours after receiving the dose.
To ensure safety, Spravato is available only through a restricted program under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS). Patients are selected carefully based on their health history and the severity of their depression, and they are closely monitored throughout the treatment.
What are the Benefits of Spravato?
For individuals with treatment-resistant depression or those experiencing acute suicidal ideation or behavior associated with major depressive disorder, Spravato can offer several benefits:
- Rapid Symptom Improvement: Unlike traditional antidepressants that may take weeks to show effects, Spravato can lead to noticeable improvements in depressive symptoms within hours to days of the first dose.
- New Mechanism of Action: Spravato provides an alternative for individuals who have not responded to other antidepressant treatments, offering hope to those with few remaining options.
- Comprehensive Care: Spravato treatments are administered in a controlled medical environment, ensuring patient safety and allowing for immediate intervention in case of adverse reactions.
Conclusion: Spravato and Integrated Mental Health Care
At Aloha Integrative Health, our mission is to provide personalized, innovative care to each patient. Spravato represents just one of the many advanced treatment options we offer as part of our commitment to exploring new and effective ways to combat depression. If you or a loved one is struggling with treatment-resistant depression, we invite you to reach out to us. Together, we can determine whether Spravato or another one of our treatments could be the right path forward in your journey toward mental health recovery.