If you or someone close to you is dealing with the challenges of depression, you are probably somewhat familiar with different depression treatment options. The good news is that there are new, effective treatments for depression that weren’t available even ten years ago.
The downside of having several excellent treatment options is that it can be tough to know which depression treatment option to choose. You want the option that offers the best hope for recovery while also taking into account concerns such as time to efficacy, treatment length, and insurance coverage.
At our Delray Beach psychiatry clinic we often discuss these options with patients to help them understand the available mental health treatments. This post contains much of the information we discuss with patients to help them choose between Spravato and ketamine infusions to treat depression.
Understanding Spravato and Ketamine Infusions
At NeuPath Mind Wellness in Delray Beach, we offer both Spravato and ketamine infusion therapy for depression. Both treatments are effective at treating depression and both Spravato and ketamine have numerous clinical studies that establish they are safe and effective treatment options. Let’s take a look at each one:
Spravato (Esketamine)
Spravato is an FDA-approved nasal spray that contains esketamine, a derivative of ketamine. Spravato is approved to treat treatment-resistant depression in adults. It’s also approved for those experiencing major depressive disorder (MDD) with acute suicidal ideation or behavior.
Spravato is administered in an outpatient clinical setting under medical supervision, such as at our psychiatry clinic in Delray Beach. Patients are observed during and following treatment to ensure correct use and to monitor the patient following treatment. Each treatment session lasts about two hours.
Ketamine Infusions
Ketamine infusions involve administering ketamine intravenously under direct medical supervision. Typically this is performed at a ketamine clinic, such as NeuPath Mind Wellness in Delray Beach. Like Spravato, ketamine infusions are an outpatient procedure performed in a clinic setting.
Ketamine infusion therapy at NeuPath Mind Wellness is performed only when prescribed by a psychiatrist. The infusion is delivered on-site at our clinic, with patients continuously supervised during treatment by our medical staff. Ketamine infusion therapy sessions last about 90 minutes to two hours.
Comparing Ketamine and Spravato Therapies
How long does ketamine take to work?
One of the most important considerations for patients is how long it will take to feel the effect from treatment. Both ketamine therapy and Spravato are considered fast-acting depression treatments. In most cases, patients begin to notice an improvement within a day or two after treatment. For some patients it can be even faster: some patients report feeling better within a few hours after ketamine or Spravato therapy.
How long does ketamine last?
Another important consideration when choosing a depression treatment is how long the improvement is expected to last. For ketamine therapy and Spravato, the duration the improvement lasts is different for each patient.
For most patients, ketamine infusion therapy tends to maintain its beneficial effect longer than Spravato. Typically, the improvement from Spravato therapy lasts several weeks to a few months, while ketamine therapy lasts several months or longer. Booster treatments help patients extend the benefit beyond the initial timeframe.
Because the improvement duration varies, it is important to attend all scheduled follow-up visits with your psychiatrist at NeuPath Mind Wellness. They are trained to screen for early warning signs and will often be able to identify issues before they become problematic, thereby preventing a relapse to worse mental health.
How are Spravato and ketamine administered?
Spravato is administered using a nasal spray device under the direction of our clinic staff. Each treatment session involves multiple intakes of Spravato followed each time by an observation period.
Ketamine is also administered by our clinic staff at our office in Delray Beach. Ketamine infusions are delivered through an IV into the bloodstream. Patients are awake during the procedure, which is often relaxing and mentally invigorating. Total treatment time for each infusion is approximately 90 minutes.
Are ketamine and Spravato covered by insurance?
Although both ketamine and Spravato are FDA-approved medications, only Spravato has been approved by the FDA specifically for use in treating depression. Because ketamine therapy to treat depression is an off-label (though completely legal) treatment, most insurance companies do not include ketamine therapy as a covered treatment.
Spravato is a covered treatment by many insurance companies. If you have questions about insurance coverage for depression treatment, please contact us at 561-847-3662.
Which to Choose: Ketamine or Spravato
Your choice of depression treatment should be a decision made in consultation with your mental health care provider. If you are near Delray Beach, our psychiatrists at NeuPath Mind Wellness would be happy to discuss treatment options with you. You can schedule an appointment to discuss ketamine treatment options by calling 561-847-3662.
Your care provider at NeuPath Mind Wellness may recommend either ketamine therapy or Spravato for you based on your particular circumstances, severity of depression, concurrent diagnoses, and other criteria.
Spravato treatment may be preferred when a patient’s insurance includes Spravato as a covered benefit, when a patient has an aversion to needles, or simply prefers the nasal spray delivery. Ketamine infusion therapy may be preferred when a patient has concurrent diagnoses (depression and anxiety, for example), when there is a need to tailor the dosage more precisely, or based on clinical considerations.
Where to Find Ketamine Therapy in Delray Beach
Both ketamine therapy and Spravato therapy are available at NeuPath Mind Wellness, a psychiatry and ketamine clinic in Delray Beach, Florida. Patients in Delray Beach, Boca Raton and surrounding areas can receive Spravato or ketamine therapy for depression by scheduling an appointment at NeuPath Mind Wellness.
You can schedule a consultation by calling 561-847-3662 or filling out our online appointment request form. We look forward to welcoming you at NeuPath Mind Wellness!
