When you are living with depression, and your symptoms don’t improve with standard treatment, it can feel discouraging and exhausting. For adults experiencing difficult-to-treat depression, there are newer and more hopeful treatment options that can offer relief from depression symptoms. One of those innovative depression treatment options is Spravato®.
If you live in the Southwestern Pennsylvania area, New Directions Mental Health is proud to offer Spravato® treatment to our local communities as part of a thoughtful, closely monitored care approach that can support long-term mental health. This treatment is not used alone. Instead, it’s carefully integrated with therapy, medication, and ongoing support to help individuals gain stability and improve well-being.
What is Spravato®?
Spravato® is an FDA-approved esketamine nasal spray used to treat adults with difficult-to-treat depression. It contains esketamine and works differently from traditional antidepressants by rapidly altering brain chemistry that’s connected to mood regulation. Because of how it works, Spravato® treatment can offer some people relief more quickly when other options have not helped them.
Spravato® is always administered under close medical supervision in a clinical setting. It’s not taken at home and is used alongside an oral antidepressant as part of a structured care plan.
View Full Spravato® Prescribing Information
Understanding difficult-to-treat depression and its implications
Difficult-to-treat depression occurs when depression symptoms do not improve after trying two or more traditional antidepressants at adequate doses. For many, this means ongoing low mood, loss of interest, fatigue, and difficulty functioning, even while actively engaged in depression treatment.
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common mental health conditions in the United States, affecting about 1 in 15 adults each year.1 Research in the American Journal of Psychiatry shows that nearly one-third of people diagnosed with MDD may go on to experience difficult-to-treat depression,1 highlighting how common it is for standard medications alone to fall short.
People with difficult-to-treat depression often experience more severe symptoms and a greater impact on daily life compared to those whose depression responds to first-line treatments. This is why alternative options like Spravato® play an important part in a person’s treatment plan. For individuals who have not found relief with traditional approaches, interventional treatments may help reduce symptoms when used as part of a carefully monitored, individualized care plan.
Integrating Spravato into an individualized treatment plan
Spravato® treatment works best when it’s part of a larger, integrated plan rather than a stand-alone option. At New Directions Mental Health, treatment goals focus on both symptom relief and long-term stability.
An integrated treatment plan may include:
- Medication support: Spravato® is used alongside oral antidepressants, unlike traditional antidepressants alone.
- Therapy: Sessions help individuals process emotions, build coping skills, and maintain progress.
- Follow-up visits: Ongoing check-ins allow providers to adjust care as needed.
This combination approach allows Spravato® to provide relief while therapy and other supports can address the underlying patterns connected to depression.
The role of therapy and support in enhancing Spravato® treatment outcomes
Therapy plays an important role in supporting Spravato® treatment outcomes. While Spravato® may help reduce depression symptoms, therapy helps individuals understand their experiences and build tools for daily life. In collaboration, these approaches support lasting improvements in mental health.
Regular therapy sessions and compassionate care help individuals:
- Strengthen emotional awareness and coping skills
- Manage stress and mood changes
- Stay engaged with treatment goals over time
At New Directions Mental Health, our therapy and medication services work together to support recovery through personalized care and consistent follow-up.
Monitoring and safety protocols during Spravato® treatment
Safety is a central part of Spravato® treatment. Each session follows strict medical guidelines to protect a client’s well-being.
Key safety protocols include:
- Blood pressure checks before and after treatment
- A required two-hour monitoring period following each dose
- Supervision by a qualified health care professional
Clients are monitored for symptoms such as sudden severe headache, chest pain, or signs of high blood pressure. Individuals are advised not to drive or operate machinery until the day after treatment. A thorough review of medical history is completed before starting Spravato® treatment to reduce risks and support safe care.
Combining Spravato® with other treatment modalities: Medication and more
Spravato® is most effective when combined with other treatments. Unlike traditional antidepressants, it works quickly and targets different brain pathways. This makes it a helpful addition rather than a replacement.
Mental health care professionals may combine Spravato® treatment with:
- Oral antidepressant medications
- Ongoing therapy sessions
- Lifestyle and wellness supports
This combination allows care teams to tailor treatment plans based on each person’s needs, history, and response to treatment.
Our Spravato® treatment process in Pittsburgh at New Directions Mental Health
Spravato® treatment in Pittsburgh at New Directions Mental Health follows a clear, structured process that’s designed for a client’s safety and treatment effectiveness.
The treatment process includes:
- Initial visit: Review of medical history, current symptoms, and treatment goals.
- Treatment sessions: Spravato® is taken as a nasal spray under close supervision.
- Monitoring period: Clients remain in the clinic for two hours after each dose.
- Follow-up visits: Providers assess progress and adjust care as needed.
This approach allows clients to receive care in a supportive setting with experienced professionals focused on long-term mental health outcomes.
Benefits and considerations of Spravato® as part of a treatment plan
Spravato® may offer meaningful benefits for adults living with hard-to-treat depression, especially when symptoms have not improved with standard antidepressants alone. Research published in the American Journal of Psychiatry1 found that when intranasal esketamine was used alongside standard depression care, participants experienced significantly faster improvement in depression symptoms compared to placebo.
In this study, symptom reduction was observed as early as four hours after the first dose, with continued improvement noted at 24 hours in some individuals, including reductions in certain measures of suicidal thoughts.1
Consideration to be aware of
While these findings are encouraging, Spravato® is not a standalone solution and works best as part of a broader, individualized treatment plan. Important considerations are carefully reviewed before and during care, including:
- Potential side effects: Such as dizziness, nausea, or temporary dissociation.
- Medical history: Including blood pressure and other health factors.
- Ongoing monitoring: To support safety and treatment response over time.
Spravato® has shown promising results2 for some people with difficult-to-treat depression, but thoughtful oversight, regular follow-up, and integration with other mental health supports remain essential.
Elevating depression treatment with a comprehensive approach
Spravato® fits into a larger treatment plan that values therapy, medication support, and ongoing care. When used safely and alongside other therapeutic approaches, Spravato® treatment can help individuals with difficult-to-treat depression move toward relief and stability.
If you or a loved one is exploring treatment options, New Directions Mental Health offers Spravato® treatment as part of a personalized mental health care plan. Call 724.374.7414 to schedule an appointment with a provider. For new clients, please click here to schedule an appointment. For existing clients, please click here and find your office location to contact your office directly.
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