Spravato – A Guide to Safe Use and Expectations

Last Updated on December 9, 2024

Mental health has not always been paid as much attention as physical health with the history of depression treatment a huge testament to this fact. For better clarity, there was no medical approach to treating depression until the 18^th & 19^th centuries.

Even then, medical treatment was not significant until the 20^th century. This has all been brought up in the spirit of appreciating how far the treatment of depression and other mental health disorders has come. For more on this, you can visit: VeryWellMind.

Thankfully, the business of treating depression and depressive disorders has improved. Prescriptive medications like Spravato are some of the reasons for this.

This is given how people with major depressive disorders and treatment-resistant depression still have a good chance at recovery. Be that as it may, the use of a medication like Spravato has to be well-informed, which is why this article discusses safe usage and expectations.

Safe Usage of Spravato

As with all medications, especially prescriptive medications, wrong usage is a possibility. In the spirit of ensuring that this is not the case when Spravato is used, below are some tips for safe usage:

Administration in Controlled Settings

The easy-to-use feature of this medication can send the impression that it can be used anywhere. This is considering that it is a nasal spray. However, it is too potent to be seen in that light. For the record, it gets to work in record time, compared to traditional treatment solutions.

One of the many implications is that it has to be used appropriately, which is why it should only be administered in controlled settings. In clearer terms, its administration should only happen under the strict supervision of a qualified healthcare professional.

By the way, the supervisory task should not end after this medication has been administered. Patients also need to be closely observed by a qualified healthcare professional after administration. This is important for managing side effects, among other things.

Not a Substitute

Spravato is not ideal for the treatment of every kind and phase of depressive disorder. Overall, the unique approach to providing its results and its potency is the reason for this. You can click here for more insight on how Spravato differs from traditional antidepressants.

Knowledge of these major differences is important because it helps you see how Spravato is not a substitute for them. Rather, it is supposed to be used alongside them, in most cases. Once again, this is another key reason why administration under controlled settings is important as it ensures that the right combination of medications is used.

Dosing Schedule

People respond differently to the use of this prescriptive medication and this is meant in two regards. Firstly, some people show improvements faster/slower than others. Secondly, some people feel the side effects more/less than others.

This is a reason why there is hardly a general dosage plan. Once again, it is why the services of a qualified healthcare professional are required for determining dosage plans. Be that as it may, the administered dose usually reduces as the treatment progresses.

Expectations with Spravato

There are several things that people who use Spravato should expect. Some of them include the following:

Quick Effects

Improvement is usually noticed quicker than it is with traditional antidepressants. While the desired improvement may take between several weeks to even months with traditional antidepressants, between one or two days is what it takes with Spravato. However, the full effects will usually set in eventually.

Long-Term Use

Although approved for the treatment of major depressive disorders and treatment-resistant depression, clinical studies are still ongoing. One of the focuses is its long-term efficacy and safety.

However, experience has shown that many patients who use it would have to continue its use for a long while. This is to ensure that the improvements associated with its use are sustained. By the way, there is a risk of dependency, although very low, which is also why it should be used in very controlled settings.

Side Effects

Spravato has come to the aid of many people battling major depressive disorders and treatment-resistant depression. However, it is not without its side effects, which may include:

• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Anxiety
• Dissociation
• Vomiting
• Numbness/Tingling Sensation
• Headache
• Drowsiness/Sedation
• High Blood Pressure

There are other possible side effects besides these. By the way, some side effects are more common than others. Furthermore, some (if experienced) may require urgent medical attention, which is another reason administration under very controlled settings is important.

Conclusion

Dealing with major depressive disorders and treatment-resistant depression can be very difficult. Thankfully, all hope is not lost and Spravato is proof of this. The question; what is Spravato for depression and how it works to manage symptoms has been discussed in this article. Knowledge of this ensures that the decision to use this prescriptive medication is well-informed.

We’ve ensure that this article discussed safe usage and what to expect when using this medication. This will provide you with the basic information that you may require. Note however, that your healthcare provider must be involved in the decision to use Spravato.