Spravato® (Esketamine) Treatment

Living with depression that hasn't eased after trying more than one antidepressant can be exhausting. Many people in that position wonder whether there's anything left to try. Spravato® (esketamine) is a prescription nasal spray approved by the FDA for adults with treatment-resistant depression. It's a different kind of medication from the daily oral antidepressants most people have used before.


At Calm Clarity Therapy, Spravato treatment is led by Lisa DeMay, PMHNP-BC, at our certified Denver office. Every path starts with a Spravato Consult, a conversation with Lisa about your history and health to decide together whether it's a good fit.

Contact

Requesting Spravato® (Esketamine) Treatment

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Complete the form on this page or use one of the options below:

Fax:

720-953-3898

Spravato

If you are in a mental health crisis, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or call 911 in an emergency. Spravato is not an emergency or crisis service.

Who Spravato may be appropriate for

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Spravato is approved for adults 18 and older. Lisa may discuss it with you if:


  • You've been diagnosed with depression and have tried at least two antidepressants without enough improvement
  • You have major depression with recent suicidal thoughts or behavior, in which case Spravato is used alongside an oral antidepressant


Spravato isn't right for everyone. Some health conditions, including certain blood vessel conditions, a history of bleeding in the brain, high blood pressure, pregnancy, and a history of substance use, need careful review or may rule it out. Lisa goes over this with you during your consult.

720-443-1021

Getting started

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  1. Reach out: Call or text, use the form on this page, or ask your provider to send a referral. Our intake team checks your insurance and handles prior authorization.
  2. Spravato Consult: You meet with Lisa to review your history, current medications, and health, and to talk through the benefits and risks.
  3. Enrollment: If you decide to move forward, you're enrolled in Spravato REMS, the safety program that every Spravato patient takes part in.
  4. First treatment: Your treatment visits take place at our Denver office.
720-443-1021

What a treatment day looks like

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Check-in

Your blood pressure is taken before your dose.

Your dose

You use the nasal spray yourself, with a provider present.

Monitoring

You stay with us for at least two hours afterward while we check on you, including your blood pressure and breathing. Many people rest, listen to music, or close their eyes during this time.

Heading home

You'll need someone else to drive you. Spravato can affect your ability to drive, so you shouldn't drive or operate machinery until the next day after a full night's sleep.

How often treatment happens

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A typical schedule starts with two sessions a week for the first four weeks, then weekly for weeks five through eight. After that, sessions are usually weekly or every other week, depending on how you're doing. Lisa reviews this with you regularly.


Working with your current care team: Spravato is one piece of a larger plan, and many people continue therapy and other medication alongside it. You don't need to move your care to Calm Clarity to receive Spravato here. If your therapist or prescriber is outside our practice, we can coordinate with them with your consent. If you'd like therapy or medication management with us as well, that's available too.

Important safety information

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Spravato carries a boxed warning. Before starting, you'll go through its risks with Lisa in detail. In summary:


  • Sedation, dissociation, and breathing problems. You may feel very sleepy, disconnected from yourself or your surroundings, or have slowed breathing after a dose. This is why monitoring happens in the office.
  • Misuse and dependence. Spravato is a controlled substance. Your history is reviewed before treatment and throughout.
  • Suicidal thoughts and actions. Antidepressants may increase suicidal thoughts in some people, especially young adults. Tell your provider right away about any new or worsening thoughts, mood, or behavior.
  • Other effects can include increased blood pressure, nausea, dizziness, and trouble with thinking or judgment shortly after a dose.

Spravato FAQ

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Do you have a question? Feel free to give us a call and also take a look at some of our most frequently asked questions.

  • Do I need to be a Calm Clarity patient already?

    No. Everyone starts with a Spravato Consult with Lisa. After that, you can receive Spravato here while keeping your therapy and medication management with your current providers.

  • Can my provider refer me?

    Yes! Providers can refer by fax (720-953-3898), through our referral form, by email (info@calmclaritytherapy.com), or by calling (720) 443-1021. You can also reach out yourself. A referral isn't required.

  • Is Spravato covered by insurance?

    We currently accept Health First Colorado (Colorado Medicaid) and Aetna for Spravato, and we're working to add more plans. Spravato usually needs prior authorization, which our intake team handles before your first treatment. The medication is kept at our office and billed to your insurance with your treatment visit, so there's no separate pharmacy pickup. If you have a different plan, call or text us and we'll talk through your options.

  • How is Spravato different from ketamine therapy?

    Spravato contains esketamine, which is related to ketamine. Spravato is an FDA-approved nasal spray for specific types of depression, given under a federal safety program with set monitoring requirements. Other forms of ketamine treatment are used differently and fall under different rules.

  • Do I have to stop my current medication?

    Not necessarily. Spravato can be used on its own or with an oral antidepressant, depending on your situation. Lisa will review everything you're currently taking.

  • Can I do Spravato by telehealth?

    No. Each dose has to be taken in person at our Denver office, with monitoring afterward.

We’re here to help.

Everyone's path with depression looks different, and deciding on a new treatment takes time. If you'd like to talk through whether Spravato might be an option, call or text us. Our intake team can answer questions, check your coverage, and set up your Spravato Consult with Lisa.

REQUEST SPRAVATO CONSULTATION

SPRAVATO® is a registered trademark of Johnson & Johnson. Calm Clarity Therapy is not affiliated with the manufacturer. See the full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide."