SPRAVATO Treatment

in Reno & Across Nevada via Telepsychiatry

Personalized, evidence-based treatment for psychotic disorders that focuses on reducing symptoms, restoring daily functioning, and supporting long-term recovery. We combine comprehensive psychiatric care with individualized treatment plans to help patients regain stability, clarity, and quality of life.

MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT

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SPRAVATO® • ESKETAMINE

A Different Path Forward for Depression.

When depression has not responded to traditional treatment, it may be time to approach the brain differently.

SPRAVATO® (esketamine) is an FDA-approved nasal spray that works through the brain's glutamate system—a fundamentally different pathway from traditional antidepressants such as SSRIs and SNRIs.

Begin SPRAVATO® ScreeningCall Us for More InformationSPRAVATO® services are available to California patients at this time.
SPRAVATO esketamine nasal spray device held in hand
Innovative psychiatry. Without the hype.
Evidence-led care in a calm, medically supervised setting.
SPRAVATO esketamine 28 mg nasal spray device
What Is SPRAVATO®?

A Different Kind of Antidepressant Treatment.

SPRAVATO® is the brand name for esketamine, the S-enantiomer of ketamine. Unlike most traditional antidepressants, which primarily target monoamine systems such as serotonin or norepinephrine, esketamine acts at the NMDA receptor and influences glutamatergic signaling.

It is self-administered as a nasal spray under direct healthcare supervision in a REMS-certified treatment setting. Patients remain onsite for monitoring after each dose.

Not IV ketamine. Not take-home medication.
SPRAVATO® has its own FDA-approved formulation, dosing schedule, safety requirements, and REMS program.
Mechanism of Action

How SPRAVATO® Works in the Brain

A simplified visual of the leading neurobiological model. The precise antidepressant mechanism of esketamine is not fully established.

Inside the SynapseNMDAAMPAGlutamate releaseNMDA antagonism↑ AMPA throughputDownstream signaling associated with synaptic plasticity
01
Esketamine reaches the NMDA receptorSPRAVATO® contains esketamine, the S-enantiomer of ketamine.
02
NMDA receptor antagonismEsketamine is a noncompetitive antagonist at the NMDA glutamate receptor.
03
Glutamatergic signaling changesNMDA modulation alters downstream glutamate signaling in ways that differ from traditional monoamine antidepressants.
04
Relative AMPA signaling increasesPreclinical models suggest increased AMPA throughput is part of the downstream response.
05
Synaptic plasticity pathwaysDownstream signaling may support changes in synaptic strength, connectivity, and neuroplasticity.
Why the wording matters: the exact mechanism responsible for SPRAVATO®'s antidepressant effect is not known. This graphic is a simplified model of proposed downstream effects—not a claim that every step is fully established in humans.
FDA-Approved Uses

Where SPRAVATO® Fits

FDA Approved

Treatment-Resistant Depression

For adults with treatment-resistant depression. SPRAVATO® may be used as monotherapy or together with an oral antidepressant.

✓ FDA-Approved Indication
FDA Approved

MDD With Acute Suicidal Ideation or Behavior

For depressive symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder who have acute suicidal ideation or behavior, used in conjunction with an oral antidepressant.

✓ FDA-Approved Indication
Important: SPRAVATO® has not been shown to prevent suicide or to eliminate suicidal ideation or behavior, and treatment does not replace hospitalization when hospitalization is clinically warranted.
Beyond Current FDA Indications

Where Research Is Evolving

Ketamine and esketamine are being studied across additional psychiatric conditions. These are not FDA-approved indications for SPRAVATO®, and evidence from IV or racemic ketamine cannot automatically be applied to intranasal esketamine.

Emerging Research

Bipolar Depression

Ketamine and esketamine have been investigated for depressive episodes in bipolar disorder. The evidence base is smaller than it is for unipolar treatment-resistant depression, and careful mood-stabilizing treatment and monitoring are important.

Investigational / Off-Label
Emerging Research

PTSD

Glutamatergic treatments—particularly ketamine—have been investigated for post-traumatic stress symptoms. SPRAVATO® is not FDA approved for PTSD.

Emerging Evidence
Early Research

OCD

Researchers have explored glutamate-modulating treatments for obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Current evidence remains preliminary, and established treatments such as ERP remain foundational.

Early / Investigational Evidence
An Important Distinction

Ketamine and SPRAVATO® Are Related—But They Are Not Interchangeable.

SPRAVATO®

Contains esketamine, the S-enantiomer of ketamine. It is an FDA-approved intranasal product with defined indications, dosing, REMS requirements, and safety monitoring.

≠

Other Ketamine Treatments

IV, IM, compounded intranasal, and racemic ketamine formulations differ in route, formulation, evidence base, regulation, and clinical protocols.

Your Treatment Day

What a SPRAVATO® Session Looks Like

A structured experience designed around safety, comfort, and clinical observation.

01

Check In

We review symptoms, medications, relevant safety considerations, and obtain baseline blood pressure before treatment.

02

Self-Administration

You self-administer SPRAVATO® nasal spray under direct observation of the healthcare team.

03

Settle In

Relax in your treatment space while we monitor comfort, alertness, and your clinical response.

04

Monitoring

You remain onsite for at least two hours. Monitoring includes sedation, dissociation, respiratory status, blood pressure, and other clinically relevant changes.

05

Head Home

You need arranged transportation home and should not drive until the following day after a restful night's sleep.

Calm • Private • Medically Supervised
Designed Differently

A Clinical Setting That Doesn't Feel Clinical.

SPRAVATO® requires medical monitoring. Your environment can still feel calm, private, and intentional.

  • Comfortable private treatment space
  • Thoughtful lighting and reduced unnecessary stimulation
  • Clinical monitoring throughout the session
  • Measurement-based tracking of symptoms and response
  • SPRAVATO® integrated into your broader psychiatric treatment plan
Is It Right for You?

Who Might Be a Candidate?

SPRAVATO® may be worth discussing when depression continues to interfere with your life despite appropriate treatment.

Previous Antidepressant Trials

You have major depressive disorder and have not experienced adequate improvement after appropriate antidepressant treatment.

Persistent Symptoms

Depressive symptoms remain significant, recurrent, or functionally impairing despite ongoing psychiatric care.

A Different Biological Approach

You want to explore an FDA-approved treatment that acts through a different neurobiological pathway than conventional antidepressants.

In-Office Treatment Is Feasible

You can participate in supervised administration, post-dose monitoring, and arrange safe transportation home after treatment.

SPRAVATO® is not appropriate for everyone. Evaluation may include psychiatric history, prior medication trials, substance-use history, cardiovascular considerations, current medications, pregnancy considerations when applicable, and other factors relevant to safety and treatment planning.
Frequently Asked Questions

Questions About SPRAVATO®

Click any question to reveal the answer.

No. SPRAVATO® contains esketamine, the S-enantiomer of ketamine. It is an FDA-approved intranasal medication with its own indications, dosing protocols, and safety requirements.
No. SPRAVATO® is administered in a certified healthcare setting. You self-administer the nasal spray under direct observation and remain onsite for monitoring afterward.
Patients are monitored for at least two hours after administration. Additional time is needed for pre-treatment assessment and medication administration.
Some patients experience temporary dissociation or perceptual changes, including feeling detached, dreamlike, dizzy, or altered. Experiences vary between people and between sessions. The subjective experience itself is not the goal of treatment.
No. You need transportation home after treatment. You should not drive, operate machinery, or perform activities requiring complete alertness until the following day after a restful night's sleep.
Response varies. Some patients notice improvement relatively early, while others require multiple sessions before meaningful changes become apparent. At VitaNova, response is evaluated over time rather than promising a particular result after a specific dose.
Treatment generally begins more frequently during the induction phase and becomes less frequent during optimization and maintenance. Dose and frequency are individualized according to the FDA-approved protocol, response, and tolerability.
Esketamine is a Schedule III controlled substance and has abuse and misuse potential. Substance-use history is therefore part of an individualized risk-benefit assessment and ongoing monitoring.
Coverage varies by plan and clinical circumstances. Insurers commonly require documentation of diagnosis, previous treatment trials, and other eligibility criteria before authorizing treatment.
No psychiatric treatment can responsibly promise a cure. The goal is meaningful improvement in symptoms and functioning while continually evaluating whether the benefits justify continuing treatment.
The VitaNova Approach

Innovative Psychiatry.
Without the Hype.

Newer does not automatically mean better. And alternative does not automatically mean evidence-based.

At VitaNova Psychiatry & Wellness, advanced treatments belong inside thoughtful, comprehensive psychiatric care—grounded in diagnosis, prior treatment history, measurement-based follow-up, and the whole clinical picture.

SPRAVATO® gives us another tool.
The goal remains the same: helping you build a life that feels worth participating in.

California

Ready to Explore a Different Approach?

If depression has persisted despite treatment, a comprehensive evaluation can help determine whether SPRAVATO® may be appropriate for your treatment plan.

Begin SPRAVATO® ScreeningCall Us for More Information

SPRAVATO® is a registered trademark of Johnson & Johnson and/or its affiliated companies. VitaNova Psychiatry & Wellness is an independent healthcare practice and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Johnson & Johnson.

Information on this page is educational and does not replace individualized medical advice. References to investigational or off-label uses do not represent FDA-approved indications for SPRAVATO®. Treatment recommendations are made following an individualized psychiatric and medical evaluation.