Spravato treatment South Dakota

About Spravato Treatment SD

Spravato treatment, or esketamine, is a powerful medication for the treatment of depression. Administered through a fixed dose nasal spray, Spravato is an FDA-approved treatment option available in South Dakota.

Who should consider taking Spravato/esketamine?

Spravato treatment is for adults with:

  • Treatment-resistant depression: Depression that has not responded to at least two antidepressant medications
  • Major depressive disorder (MDD) with suicidal thoughts

What is the difference between Spravato and ketamine?

While both medications are used to treat severe depression, the difference is that esketamine (Spravato) is an active ingredient that is isolated from ketamine, making Spravato the branded (and more expensive) version of the drug.

Esketamine (Spravato) is administered via a nasal spray. It can only be administered in a medical office, under the direct supervision of a healthcare provider.

Ketamine, on the other hand, can be administered as a nasal spray, oral medication, IV infusion, or an injection at variable doses. Each route offers a different concentration of the medication, allowing you and your provider to adjust your treatment to give you a better chance of success. Learn about the different ketamine routes of administration.

At Manlove Brain and Body Health, we offer all four routes of ketamine administration, but not all ketamine clinics do. Ask your South Dakota ketamine clinic how they administer ketamine, because if they don’t offer alternative routes, this may negate one of the major benefits of ketamine.

FDA Approval

The FDA approved esketamine (Spravato) for the treatment of depression in 2019 and for suicidal thoughts in 2020. With FDA approval, Spravato treatment comes with a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy protocol (REMS) that providers are required to follow.

Generic ketamine is not FDA-approved for the treatment of depression at this time. Although ketamine providers are not required to follow the REMS protocol, our treatment-resistant depression clinic follows this protocol for all ketamine treatments to ensure the safety of our patients. If you are considering receiving ketamine at another clinic, be sure to ask about their safety protocols.

At Manlove Brain and Body Health, a trained mental health professional directly supervises each Spravato/ketamine treatment session.

Is Spravato or ketamine better?

Whether ketamine or Spravato treatment is better, depends on the individual. Here are a few things to consider:

  • Effectiveness, Side Effects, and Flexibility

    A recent study comparing the effectiveness of ketamine vs. esketamine for depression found that ketamine is more effective and comes with fewer side effects. Ketamine also allows you and your provider more flexibility to adjust your treatments based on your response.

  • Safety Protocol

    Manlove Brain and Body Health follows the risk evaluation and mitigation strategy protocol (REMS) for all ketamine and esketamine treatments. However, since this safety protocol is not required for ketamine, not all clinics follow these guidelines when administering ketamine treatments. If your provider does not follow these safety protocol for ketamine treatments, Spravato may be a safer option.

  • Your Insurance Coverage/Cost

    A major factor that may influence whether ketamine or esketamine is best for you may depend on your insurance coverage. Some insurance providers will only cover Spravato treatments. However, if your provider does not cover the cost of either treatment option, ketamine is a much more cost-effective option for patients paying out of pocket. Check with your insurance provider to see if they cover Spravato or ketamine for depression, anxiety, PTSD, or suicidal thoughts.

  • Your Provider’s Level of Experience

    Consider your provider’s level of experience in using ketamine and esketamine for your particular psychiatric condition. If your provider is new to providing ketamine, Spravato may be a better option for you.

Rapid City Spravato Clinic

Schedule an appointment at our Rapid City Spravato clinic to see if Spravato treatment is right for you: 605-348-8000.