Spravato® (esketamine) Treatment

A different mechanism, when fast results matter.

A modern lounge chair with a tufted design, made of light-colored leather, positioned on a tiled floor in front of a textured dark stone wall. Shadows cast by window blinds create striped patterns on the chair and the floor.

The Hunter Clinics Approach

Every Spravato® patient is cared for in the same measurement-driven framework that defines our practice: structured pre- and post-session check-ins, validated symptom tracking between sessions, and a treatment team that adjusts your protocol based on data, not guesswork.

What is Spravato®?

Spravato® is the brand name for esketamine, an FDA-approved nasal spray for treatment-resistant depression and for Major Depressive Disorder with suicidal ideation or behavior, most typically used alongside oral antidepressants. Unlike traditional antidepressants, which primarily target serotonin and related monoamine neurotransmitter systems, Spravato® works on the brain's glutamate system, offering a genuinely different mechanism for patients who haven't found relief elsewhere.

Patient Candidacy

Spravato® is intended for adults with Major Depressive Disorder who haven't responded to at least two prior antidepressant trials, or who are experiencing depression with thoughts of self-harm. As with every treatment at Hunter Clinics, eligibility is determined through careful diagnostic evaluation. Spravato® is a serious clinical tool, used deliberately and only when it's the right next step for you.

If you are unable to keep yourself safe, do not wait for Spravato® or other treatments. Please call 911 or visit your nearest emergency room.

The Treatment Course

Spravato® is self-administered under the direct observation of our clinical team in a calm, private treatment room. After each dose, you'll be monitored for at least two hours to ensure your safety and comfort before you're cleared to leave. You’ll rest comfortably in our zero-gravity loungers with eye masks, headphones, and blankets available to create a tranquil experience. Because of mild sedative and/or dissociative effects some patients experience, you won't be able to drive yourself home, so plan for a ride in advance. Most treatment courses begin with two sessions per week for the first month then taper to a lower frequency based on patient response.

What to Expect

• A diagnostic evaluation to confirm Spravato® is the right fit

• Self-administered, in-office dosing under direct clinical supervision

• A minimum two-hour monitoring period after each session

• Arranged transportation home required for every visit

• Ongoing symptom tracking to guide frequency and duration of treatment

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Spravato® (esketamine) is an FDA-approved nasal spray for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder with active suicidal ideation. It works on the NMDA receptor system , a different mechanism than traditional antidepressants , and is often associated with rapid symptom relief. Because of required monitoring under REMS protocols, treatment sessions take place in our clinic.

  • Spravato® is FDA-approved for adults with treatment-resistant depression (who have not responded to at least two adequate antidepressant trials) and for those with major depressive disorder with active suicidal ideation. Eligibility is assessed through a full psychiatric evaluation.

  • Spravato® is covered by many commercial insurance plans and Medicare when FDA-approved indications and medical necessity criteria are met. Our team will verify your specific coverage and assist with prior authorization as needed.

  • Spravato® sessions require approximately two hours in our clinic. This includes a monitoring period following administration, as required by the FDA REMS program, as you rest comfortably in one of our loungers.

  • You will not be able to drive yourself home after a session, so please plan accordingly.