Depression is a complex psychiatric condition with multiple root causes and contributing factors. This can make it difficult for psychiatrists to treat and especially frustrating for patients who are living with stubborn types of depression that don’t respond well to treatment.
If you’re living with depression that hasn’t improved with treatments like antidepressants or therapy, there are other excellent treatment options available. Many of our patients in Colorado Springs and Monument come to us with what’s known as treatment-resistant depression. At Colorado Psychiatry Solutions, we specialize in helping individuals achieve long-lasting relief from persistent depression. One of our newest depression treatment tools is Spravato® (esketamine).
Spravato is approved specifically to treat cases of treatment resistant depression, and is available as an outpatient treatment at our three clinics in Colorado Springs and our clinic in Monument. Let’s take a look at what Spravato is, how it works, and why it may be the best depression treatment for you.
What Is Treatment-Resistant Depression?
Before discussing treatments like Spravato, it’s important to first understand treatment-resistant depression. Treatment-resistant depression is major depressive disorder that hasn’t responded to at least two different antidepressant medications.
When multiple antidepressants don’t help, patients can easily become frustrated and lose hope. But it’s important to remember that treatment-resistant doesn’t mean untreatable. It only means that additional antidepressant attempts are unlikely to help.
How Is Spravato Different From Antidepressants?
Spravato is an FDA-approved nasal spray that contains esketamine, a derivative of ketamine. Where antidepressants work primarily by targeting serotonin and other monoamines, ketamine therapies like Spravato target the brain’s glutamate system. This utilizes a completely different pathway in the brain, and is what makes Spravato such a powerful option for those with treatment-resistant depression.
The science behind Spravato is exciting and unique, but what truly matters for our patients is how Spravato works to treat depression. Here are some key benefits of Spravato therapy:
- Rapid Relief: Ketamine therapies, including Spravato, are renowned for delivering fast-acting relief from depression. Many patients feel a noticeable improvement within hours or days of their first treatment.
- Proven Results: In clinical studies, people who hadn’t responded to other treatments showed significant improvements in depressive symptoms with Spravato therapy. This foundation of proven results paved the way for the FDA to approve Spravato for depression treatment in 2019.
- Reduction in Suicidal Thoughts: Spravato is the first FDA-approved medication shown to reduce suicidal thinking, making it an important treatment for patients in crisis or at risk of self-harm.
- Neuroplasticity: Ketamine creates a state of neuroplasticity in the brain, where the brain is able to form new connections. These new neural pathways support healing and mood improvement.
What Spravato Treatment is Like
Spravato is administered at one of our clinic locations in Colorado Springs or Monument. After meeting with one of our psychiatric care providers, the patient self-administers the nasal spray while being monitored by trained staff who ensure proper delivery.
Each Spravato treatment session lasts about two hours. For the majority of the time the patient simply relaxes in a comfortable room to allow for medical supervision while the medication takes effect.
Is Spravato Right for You?
Spravato may be an excellent option for you if you have:
- Tried at least two antidepressants with little or no improvement
- A diagnosis of major depressive disorder
- Medical insurance (Spravato is often a covered treatment)
If you haven’t found relief with the standard treatment approaches, Spravato may be a good option for you.
Spravato Therapy at Colorado Psychiatry Solutions
At Colorado Psychiatry Solutions, we are here to help guide you through every step of the process. Our providers will meet with you and conduct a thorough mental health evaluation. We will review your symptoms and medication history and listen carefully to understand your treatment goals.
We will discuss your treatment options with you, whether Spravato or another treatment, and ensure you are fully informed at every step of the way.
Throughout your care at Colorado Psychiatry Solutions we provide:
- Personalized Treatment Plans: We take time to understand your full history and mental health profile.
- Insurance Support: Spravato is covered by most major insurance plans, and we help handle the paperwork and work with your insurance company for treatment approval.
- Compassionate Care: You’ll never be treated like just a number. We’re here to listen, support, and adjust care as needed.
- Safe, Comfortable Environment: Our treatment rooms are designed to make your experience comfortable and safe, while facilitating healing and improved mental health.
Help for Depression in Colorado Springs
If you or someone you love is living with treatment-resistant depression, Colorado Psychiatry Solutions is here to help. Many of our treatments, including Spravato, are effective against treatment-resistant depression because they use a different functional mechanism than antidepressants.
At Colorado Psychiatry Solutions, we’re proud to bring advanced psychiatric care to residents of Colorado Springs and Monument because we’ve seen the impact these treatments have on the lives of those living with depression or anxiety. Our skilled, compassionate staff are experts in utilizing Spravato and other psychiatric treatments to help patients feel like themselves again.
To schedule an appointment, please contact us today at 719-622-6522 or request an appointment online. We look forward to seeing you!
