How Spravato™ Differs from Traditional Antidepressants

Depression is a severe mental health disorder that causes persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in your daily activities.

These symptoms can impact every aspect of your life, including your work, relationships, and physical health. You don’t just “snap out of” depression. You need professional treatment and care to help you manage and overcome this illness.

Depression is a complex condition that calls for treatment options. While traditional antidepressants might be effective for some people, they’re not the right solution for everyone.

Our team at Peak Interactive Wellness in Denver, Colorado, recognizes these challenges, which is why we sometimes recommend Spravato, a groundbreaking alternative to traditional antidepressants.

In this article, we delve into how Spravato functions differently from traditional antidepressants and why it might be the ideal choice.

What’s Spravato?

Spravato (esketamine) is a prescription nasal spray approved to treat major depressive disorder in adults. It's prescribed mainly for those who haven't responded well to other treatments.

Unlike standard antidepressants that work on serotonin, Spravato targets your NMDA receptors, which play a vital role in learning, memory, and mood regulation.

Spravato was approved by the FDA in 2019 and shows great potential to provide rapid relief from depressive symptoms.

How Spravato differs from traditional antidepressants

Traditional antidepressants like SSRIs and SNRIs work by altering serotonin levels in your brain. Spravato, however, focuses on the glutamatergic system. This system is key to neural activation and thought to be connected to symptoms of depression.

By regulating this system, Spravato offers a fresh approach to depression treatment, especially for people who haven't benefited from conventional therapies.

Administration

Traditional antidepressants are administered orally, but Spravato is a nasal spray. This delivery method is unique, and some studies suggest it may allow for more direct access to the brain.

Spravato needs to be administered in a controlled clinical setting for your safety and to ensure the treatment is optimized for you.

Speed of effect

One of the drawbacks of standard antidepressants is how long they can take to become effective — often several weeks. Spravato, in contrast, has shown promise in providing more immediate relief from depressive symptoms.

This rapid onset of effectiveness is crucial for those in dire need of relief, further distinguishing Spravato from traditional treatments.

Spravato provides a potent alternative to traditional antidepressants. If you’d like to see whether you’re a candidate for this new development in depression treatment, call us at 720-460-9084 or request an appointment online today.