How Is Spravato™ Different from Antidepressants?

According to the National Library of Medicine, at least 30% of people with depression fall under the category of treatment-resistant depression. They fail to get adequate relief after trying two or more antidepressants alone.

Living with depression is difficult, especially when symptoms persist despite treatment. Spravato is a newer FDA-approved medication that quickly and efficiently resolves depression symptoms with an easy-to-use nose spray.

At Pacific Phoenix Psychiatry & TMS, Dr. Elia R. Gonzalez-Rodriguez provides treatment for depression, PTSD, and anxiety. She provides Spravato as one of the treatments for depression and suicidal thoughts, as well as veteran services.

What is Spravato?

Many medications are available on the market for depression, but none quite like Spravato. It's a patented nasal spray that works quickly to alleviate severe depression and suicidal ideations.

The FDA approved Spravato for treatment-resistant depression in 2019 – but it's now a standalone treatment option for people living with major depressive disorder. We can also combine it with therapy and an antidepressant for improved outcomes and symptom management.

Spravato provides fast relief for depression symptoms by blocking NMDA receptors in the brain that interact with glutamate. The glutamate neurotransmitter is essential in regulating mood, which plays a role in depression symptoms.

By affecting NMDA and glutamate, Spravato stimulates brain-derived neurotrophic factors crucial for neuron growth and improved connections. The result is fast relief of the worst depression symptoms and suicidal ideations.

Spravato is only available by prescription and in the office of a licensed provider such as Dr. Rodriguez-Gonzalez. To achieve the best results, it is usually used twice weekly initially and weaned down over the next months.

How antidepressants work

Antidepressants are a group of medications that doctors prescribe for different mental health conditions, including major depressive disorder and anxiety. They work on the brain to regulate neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine.

The brain chemicals serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine are all essential in mood regulation. People living with depression have low levels of one or more of these neurotransmitters, causing chronic symptoms.

Many types of antidepressants are available, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI), and tricyclic antidepressants.

Each type of antidepressant works differently on the brain to increase essential neurotransmitters. Although they come with side effects, they are effective for many people living with mental health disorders like depression and anxiety.

Spravato vs antidepressants

Spravato and antidepressants are both effective treatments for depression – but why choose Spravato instead? Spravato differs from antidepressants in how it works on the brain, which allows for quicker relief of symptoms that last.

Another significant difference in how Spravato differs from antidepressants is how long they take to work. Traditional antidepressants typically take a few weeks to begin working. They also often require long-time use, especially for those with severe symptoms.

Spravato, on the other hand, begins working within a few hours in most cases. It also begins making new neural connections, permanently changing how the brain regulates mood.

For those with suicidal thoughts, Spravato offers immediate relief from symptoms, where antidepressants would take weeks. It's an emergency treatment for severe depression and suicidal thoughts that shows immense promise.

Many people get the best results from taking Spravato along with an antidepressant, especially with treatment-resistant depression. Talk therapy is another excellent addition that helps you work through thoughts and feelings to find helpful coping mechanisms.

Contact our team today to schedule an appointment for Spravato treatment, or request a consultation on the website. We service the greater Portland area, Salmon Creek, East Vancouver, and Steilacoom-Lakewood, Washington.