Mood Benefits of Spravato® Nasal Spray

Dealing with major depressive disorder (MDD) or treatment-resistant depression (TRD) can feel like an endless battle. If you’ve tried everything and feel like you’re at the end of the line — there’s still hope.

Spravato® nasal spray is an effective, FDA-approved treatment that offers significant mood benefits for those struggling with stubborn depressive symptoms. 

Serving patients throughout the greater Atlanta, Georgia, area, Dr. Karen Giles at Breakthru Psychiatric Solutions explains how Spravato can transform your mood.

How Spravato is different from traditional antidepressants

Spravato, also known as esketamine, is a nasal spray that treats major depressive disorder and treatment-resistant depression in adults. 

Spravato works differently from regular antidepressants. While most antidepressants focus on chemicals like serotonin and dopamine, Spravato targets a chemical in the brain called glutamate. This process helps your brain cells form new connections that improve depressive symptoms and create a more balanced mood.

Fast-acting relief

One of the most significant benefits of Spravato is its speed. Traditional antidepressants can take several weeks to months to show noticeable improvements, leaving patients feeling stuck in their depressive state. Spravato, on the other hand, can start working within hours. 

Reduces suicidal thoughts

Depression often brings with it dark thoughts and feelings of hopelessness. Studies show that Spravato reduces suicidal thoughts rapidly, which may prevent self-harm.

Long-lasting improvements

While Spravato acts quickly, its benefits aren’t short-lived. 

Many of our patients experience sustained improvements in their mood and overall mental health with regular use of Spravato, combined with standard antidepressants and therapy. In fact, 85% of Breakthru’s TRD patients using Spravato saw significant response to treatment and 38% experienced remission. 

Improved cognitive function

Depression often goes hand-in-hand with cognitive impairments, such as difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and slow thinking. Spravato improves these cognitive functions by addressing the connections in your brain, namely synaptic plasticity and neural connectivity. 

Think of your brain as a network of roads connecting different cities. In this analogy, the cities are neurons, and the roads are the connections between them. 

Synaptic plasticity is like road maintenance and construction, which improves or builds roads to improve traffic flow. When Spravto enhances synaptic plasticity, your brain can form new connections or strengthen existing ones more effectively.

Neural connectivity, on the other hand, refers to how well these roads link the cities (neurons) together, allowing for smooth communication. Better neural connectivity means better communication between different parts of your brain, which translates to improved mood, thinking, and memory. 

Spravato promotes these processes, helping create a more efficient and well-connected brain network, which can lead to better decision-making, problem-solving, and overall mental clarity.

More Spravato benefits

In addition to improving your mood, Spravato comes with several other perks.

Fewer side effects

Compared to traditional antidepressants, Spravato has a relatively favorable side effect profile. Although you may experience mild dizziness, nausea, or a temporary increase in blood pressure during treatment, the benefits of Spravato outweigh the potential drawbacks, especially if you haven’t found relief with other treatments.

Complements other treatments

Spravato isn’t meant to replace your current treatment regimen but rather to complement it. When used alongside standard antidepressants and therapy, Spravato can enhance the overall effectiveness of your treatment plan. 

Clinical support and monitoring

Dr. Giles administers Spravato at Breakthru Psychiatric Solutions, ensuring you receive the necessary support and monitoring throughout the process. Under her expert supervision, we can manage potential side effects, monitor your progress, and make necessary adjustments to your treatment plan.

Insurance covers Spravato

Many insurance plans cover Spravato, making it more accessible and affordable to those suffering from TRD and MDD. 

To find out if you’re a good candidate for Spravto, call Breakthru Psychiatric Solutions in Sandy Springs, Georgia, or request an appointment online.