How Spravato Can Help Manage Treatment-Resistant Depression

Spravato is specifically designed for individuals who have not responded adequately to multiple antidepressants and frontline treatments. It offers a different mechanism of action than most standard medications, targeting the NMDA receptor system in the brain rather than just serotonin or norepinephrine. This difference allows it to work where other medications have been unsuccessful, often improving symptoms in individuals whose depression has remained unresponsive through traditional means. It is used in conjunction with an oral antidepressant and is administered under medical supervision in a clinical setting.

Part of what makes it suitable for treatment-resistant cases is the way it is monitored and delivered. Each session involves a structured environment with clinical oversight before, during, and after administration, ensuring the patient is stable and supported throughout. Because of how quickly Spravato can begin working in some cases, it can bring a noticeable shift in symptoms where weeks or months of other medications brought little change.

The providers at Psychiatry of the Palm Beaches utilize a case-by-case approach to determining if this medication is appropriate. It is not offered as a first step, but rather as a carefully considered next step when several prior treatment plans have proven ineffective. When the pattern of depression proves to be resistant to past care, introducing something that works through a different pathway gives the brain a new opportunity to respond.

Spravato is approved for individuals who have tried at least two or more antidepressants without satisfactory improvement. For individuals who have spent years navigating various medications, often with side effects or temporary benefits that fade over time, Spravato may provide an effective alternative. Because it acts on different pathways in the brain, its effectiveness is not tied to the same systems that many earlier medications have relied on.

When traditional medications lose their effectiveness or fail to bring relief, symptoms often compound. Hopelessness, withdrawal, disrupted sleep, and cognitive slowing can deepen, making it difficult to function or feel engaged. Spravato has been shown to interrupt this cycle for some individuals, helping them engage more effectively with therapy and other treatment interventions. The providers at Psychiatry of the Palm Beaches conduct a detailed review of past responses to help them determine whether introducing Spravato might open up new possibilities.

Spravato may be considered for both major depressive disorder and persistent depressive disorder in cases where symptoms have remained unresponsive to frontline treatments. While these two diagnoses present differently in terms of duration and intensity, both can become resistant over time. Whether the depression comes in more severe waves or remains steady, when other medications have consistently failed, this option may be explored.

Major depressive episodes tend to present with more acute symptoms such as deep sadness, suicidal thoughts, and changes in appetite or sleep, while persistent depressive disorder often manifests as a lower-grade but long-term experience of emotional flatness, low energy, and disengagement. Spravato is highly beneficial for some patients in providing relief from some of these symptoms by engaging different brain mechanisms than traditional antidepressants.

In some cases, Spravato may be considered for individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts in the context of major depressive disorder, especially when other interventions have failed to create stability. Because it works more rapidly than traditional medications, some individuals have experienced a noticeable easing of distress soon after beginning treatment, though responses can vary.

The presence of suicidal thoughts requires careful assessment, and any decision to use Spravato in these situations is made under close supervision. Administration takes place in a controlled setting with medical staff present, followed by observation to ensure safety. This allows individuals to receive immediate care while providers assess whether the treatment is reducing the intensity of the thoughts and creating room for stabilization. This supportive environment is essential during the early phases of care.

Specialists at Psychiatry of the Palm Beaches address the urgency of suicidal symptoms and take steps to create a treatment plan that addresses both the immediate risk and long-term management. If Spravato is prescribed, it is part of a larger care framework that includes therapy, medication oversight, and ongoing evaluation.

Spravato treatment is available at Psychiatry of the Palm Beaches. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We have convenient locations to serve you in Boynton Beach, FL, Royal Palm Beach FL, and Palm Beach Gardens, FL. We serve patients from Boynton Beach FL, Palm Beach Gardens FL, Royal Palm Beach FL, Delray Beach FL, Lake Worth Beach FL, Juno Ridge FL, North Palm Beach FL, Golden Lakes FL, Westlake FL, and surrounding areas.