The nasal spray medication used in SPRAVATO™ is covered by every major insurance provider. However, Ketamine is an off-label treatment. Therefore, the appointment for SPRAVATO™ is not covered in-network while the medicine SPRAVATO™ used in the appointment is covered. Please call our office to learn more.

Ketamine is given in small doses for the treatment of depression. As such, a typical side effect is mild sedation. Some patients complain of mild nausea, which is easily treated with anti-anxiety medication. Some patients have mild elevations or reductions in blood pressure.

The most common side effects that can occur during and after taking SPRAVATO® include:

• Feeling disconnected from yourself, your thoughts, feelings and things around you (dissociation)
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Feeling sleepy (sedation)
• Spinning sensation
• Decreased feeling of sensitivity (numbness)
• Feeling anxious
• Lack of energy
• Increased blood pressure
• Vomiting
• Feeling drunk
• Feeling very happy or excited

If these common side effects occur, they usually happen right after taking SPRAVATO® and go away the same day.

Because of the possibility of nausea and vomiting, you should avoid eating two hours before, and drinking liquids 30 minutes before, taking SPRAVATO®.

No, administered at small doses in a medical setting, there is no evidence that Spravato is addictive. In contrast, those who abuse ketamine recreationally do so at very high doses to induce psycho-active affects.

You’ll take SPRAVATO® twice a week for the first month. During the second month, you’ll take it once a week. After that, you’ll take it once a week or once every two weeks. You will continue to take your oral antidepressant as prescribed.

In clinical studies, improvement of depressive symptoms was demonstrated at four weeks by SPRAVATO® plus an oral antidepressant, compared with placebo nasal spray plus an oral antidepressant. Not all patients will respond to SPRAVATO®.

Some patients taking SPRAVATO® may experience nausea or vomiting. Because of this, you should avoid eating two hours before, and drinking liquids 30 minutes before, taking SPRAVATO®.