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Spravato for Depression User Reviews (Page 2)

Spravato has an average rating of 5.5 out of 10 from a total of 57 reviews for the treatment of Depression. 37% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 39% reported a negative experience.

Reviews for Spravato

  • AJano
  • January 18, 2020

"I did the IV Ketamine for several months and found it very helpful, but it wore off very quickly. My physician has recommended that I start Spravato, as he has sometimes seen its benefits last longer. I have now had 2 treatments with 53 mg. I do not feel dissociative symptoms, like with the IV, but I have significant symptoms of motion sickness. The night of the treatment, I feel exhausted and this is lasting into the following day. With the IV treatment, my symptoms fully resolved the night of treatment. I am trying to determine if these treatments are worth continuing. The side effects are prolonged and there is no certainty that the benefits will last very long."

4 / 10
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  • Jake
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • September 1, 2019

"I began treatments with 56 mg which is four sprays using two syringes. It did not help with my depression so after the fourth treatment (two weeks) the dosage was increased to 84 mg (6 sprays using three syringes). For a week, I thought it might be helping a little, but came to realize it was not. I did start having increased anxiety, often very anxious when waking in the morning. After the first month of twice a week treatments and two additional weekly treatments, I stopped since I was convinced it was not helping my depression and was making me very anxious. My depression now seems worse than ever and my anxiety is at a high level. Spavato's Savings Plan reduced the cost of the medicine to only a co-pay of $10 per treatment. However the doctor charged $300 per visit which was not covered by my insurance. If others try Spravato, I hope you have better results. The doctor and staff were great and supportive. It was disappointing for me."

2 / 10
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53 Report
  • RFM
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • December 2, 2019

"An update from September I've been on Spravato for over three months now and it seems to be helping although I'm still not seeing rainbows. It works best for me about 48 hours after a visit. My experiences are all over the place. If you clean your sinuses before your visit it's effects are a lot stronger. I had some bizarre reactions. One of the weirdest was the feeling of melting into the floor and then the floor dropping out. It also causes me to have a strong urge to urinate and messes with my sense of taste. The vision issues have more or less subsided. Take some candy to the appointment, preferably Life Savers wintergreen or peppermint. Nothing you can choke on. Note: When the cost is Ketamine infusions hits 200$ I'm going to switch. Pure Ketamine is amazing."

7 / 10
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49 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • Laly
  • September 2, 2020

"I suffer from depression. I’ve tried different meds and none have seemed to help. I heard of Spravato and was very excited to know there was a treatment out there that could work. I’ve done 6 sessions of Spravato and have seen no improvement. I have an appointment tomorrow for another treatment. I really don’t like the experience. As you inhale the Spravato you get the nasty taste. Then you’re in for a ride of feeling like you’re outside your body. Feeling like you’re completely numb. Face feet etc. I hate the whole experience. Everyone is different. I hope this works for others that are going to try this. Good luck!"

2 / 10
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40 Report
  • Anonymous
  • August 27, 2019

"I posted my experience earlier and now I have done a total of 10 treatments of the nasal spray Spravato. 2 at 56mg and the rest at 84mg. After sessions 6 I started to feel a little lighter and less depressed but this lasted very shortly. The treatments after that did nothing for me. They are very intense and you get awful disassociation, dizziness, numbness. Its a complete out of body experience. For me the feelings were very bothersome & after I would leave I was done for the day. I couldn’t do anything just lay around. I guess if it worked for me I would have sucked it up & continued even though the side effects were so bothersome. Unfortunately for me this didn’t work and it cost me a fortune. Personally I wouldn’t advise others to do this until there is more research about it. It is still very new and drs are still learning by experimenting on us! However the one done by IV is not as new. I will continue to fight the fight but will never do Spravato again."

1 / 10
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Are you taking this medicine?

  • Calif
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • September 1, 2020

"I’ve had 5 Spravato treatments so far for depression. I felt a lightening of my mood after the first three treatments, however the feeling didn’t last long maybe 24 hours. I’m hopeful that with continued treatments I will improve. I don’t have a strong reaction to the medication when it’s administered, just a slight disassociation with time and place that I can easily bring into perspective. The nasal spray dripping down your throat is horrible and I take zofran and omeprazole before my appointments to counter. I had 15 ketamine injections a year ago and they helped a little. I’ve yet to have an infusion. I know that is the gold standard but I cannot afford it financially."

2 / 10
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37 Report
  • Hope
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • July 27, 2019

"I went through a series of 6 ketamine IV infusions. It was life changing. The drawback being that the effects and relief lasted days/weeks. But when it is working it is miraculous. Due to a good response to the Ketamine but not able to prolong the effects, Spravato was prescribed for me. I began week 1 with 2 treatments( required 2 treatments every week for first 4 weeks). It is much milder, less intense, and effective in my view based on my response. Both dosages were at 56mg, the required initial dose. I believe that I may have better results with the 84mg and will be trying that dosage next week for week 2."

5 / 10
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  • DVe
  • November 4, 2021

"Have had maybe 5 Spravato treatments. Almost immediately felt better on depressive feelings associated with chronic pain. I seemed to notice the dissociative effects varied wildly from treatment to treatment, and believe the stronger the effect, the more medicine gets to my brain. Today I decided not to swallow for as long as possible, theorizing swallowing what drains from the sinuses is lost to effects of stomach acid. Well as I swished the drainage (yeah kinda gross but it travels that path in any event) and avoided swallowing for as long as possible I experienced the strongest dissociative effects to date. Makes sense as the medicine is absorbed through membranes in the mouth rather than lost to stomach. I may be wrong but I think the more dissociative, the more medicine gets to the brain, the more impactful the effect , the better I will feel. Will update as I continue the process, assuming I don’t drown:)"

8 / 10
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27 Report
  • Anon
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • September 14, 2023

"After trying an absurd amount of antidepressants and various meds and finding no improvement, Spravato changed my life. I won't begin to lie, saying the experience is easy. No, especially the first two or three times, you will get blasted into the damn moon. Very, very intense. Shortly after beginning this treatment and continuing for a few weeks, the improvements were amazing. My family and friends could see how much better I was doing, and I could even notice the improvements in myself (which is often really hard to find). I really encourage anyone else with treatment-resistant depression to try Spravato."

10 / 10
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  • Eggs
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • October 15, 2019

"Starting fourth week tomorrow Spravato has helped a little but still have anxiety especially when waking in morning. It may or may not work but I’m better than I was hope it lasts. I may try Kratom if this doesn’t work, do not want to be as bad as I was. My clinician is great and believe me not all clinicians are all not that caring. I had to see someone else for one dosing and she left me in the room for 40 minutes by myself. Not good when you're tripping out."

4 / 10
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39 Report
  • RFM
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • September 3, 2019

"I've been on esketamine and rapid TMS for over a month now and I'm starting to see some small improvements. 84mg gives me some intense reactions. I found that putting your head between your legs after you inject until it soaks in really amplifies the effects. I'd use regular ketamine but my insurance won't cover it and at $400 a visit that's not going to happen. I got approved to use Spravato for a year when needed and Jannsen Pharmaceutical is picking up my copay for now. They have a plan to pay for your medication if needed and 80,000$ net a year or less qualifies. I'm plan on switching to rTMS by itself soon. It only takes 5 minutes and no restrictions on my day."

7 / 10
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  • Careful
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • September 5, 2022

"Spravato was recommended by my psychiatric nurse practitioner for MDD because I have struggled for more than 30 years. I was well informed of the side effects, but no one reported that anything like what I experienced. I think it’s important for anyone who is considering using Spravato to hear about as many different experiences as possible. While most experiences are positive, mine was not. After I administered the second dose, about 10 minutes or so, I began to feel like I was falling, spinning and losing my mind, completely out of control. I sat there for almost 4 hours hours absolutely terrified. Terrified that I would never feel “normal”again, that I would die, I would lose everything that I cared about. I cried in fear and begged the person who gave me the medicine to make it stop. I begged her to tell me that it would stop and that I would feel normal again. I’m still traumatized by the experience and feel like some of the effects are still happening 3 months later."

1 / 10
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17 Report
  • Kari
  • August 8, 2019

"I have had 3 sessions of 56 mg. First time had the most dramatic side effects, very strong dizziness and disassociation. Next day I felt great. Second session had the worst reaction. Side effects last through the evening, dizziness and nausea. Next day I felt like my head was full of mud, couldn't make any decisions, had a blank look on my face all day...didn't feel like I was in this world. And the third session seemed to be somewhere in the middle. The side effects during and the evening of weren't too bad. The next day I functioned and went to work like a typical day. I can't say I have seen relief from my depression. Dr. thinks I should still give it a few more times. But I am going through a difficult time in my life so maybe my depression would be way worse if I didn't have the spravato treatments?"

7 / 10
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37 Report
  • Kjo
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 2, 2020

"An exciting experience that lifts you into a different way of looking at many things. Colors and objects appear more enhanced and even strikingly different than usually experienced but quite interesting and most surprisingly more in depth."

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32 Report
  • Andy
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • April 29, 2023

"My first treatment was actually exceptionally frightening. When it appeared to peak, I could not move and felt frozen. A very low soft short mumble of a couple of words when asked a question. Lips barely moved. Very very dark and distorted visual when eyes are closed. Open eyes, very difficult to see, and also quite dark. Felt very very trapped. Wasn't sure if I was dying. Remained highish for several hours after. Also, next 2 days had negative side effects, which a friend also observed. Never again!"

1 / 10
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10 Report
  • Ana
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • April 10, 2020

"I would like to know if anyone else currently being treated with Spravato has had insomnia/flashback/extremely weird and vivid dreams? I have only completed 2 treatments so far and am curious as to how it is affecting others."

8 / 10
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28 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • July 22, 2019

"So far I am on my 3rd time of doing the Spravato Nasal spray. 2x I did 56mg and one time the 82mg I believe. I feel exactly the same. No change at all!! My Dr told me to at least give it to the one month mark. It makes me feel awful during it I get the disassociation and dizziness along with every other side effect and I will say it takes me more than 2 hours to wear off. Pretty much the whole day. I am hoping the next few treatments work otherwise I have. Wasted a lot of time and money:-("

2 / 10
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30 Report
  • STOP
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 8, 2019

"I am astonished that this made FDA approval. In Emergency Room I was unknowingly given Ketamine IV last Fall and as it was being dripped I screamed for the RN with "What is that!!!" When he said "Ketamine" I said:" Get it out of me! I was told it was to "reset my brain" and I was not at all interested in that."

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  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • May 9, 2023

"Hi, I have had MDD for years. I started to suffer from depression as an adolescent probably due to my environment and situations I had been exposed to. Anyway, I have been on just about every SSRI, SNRI and also antipsychotics and benzos for and most of my life. Currently on Trintellix. I have had four Spravato treatments so far. The first treatment was horrible. I relived traumatic experiences in my mind, and the physical effects were almost unbearable. I had such a frightening experience that the Dr was hesitant to have me come back. I am desperate, so we decided to have my spouse sit with me to help keep me in a positive state. This helped. However, I felt hungover the next day and couldn't think clearly. Next treatments only improved slightly, still very uncomfortable, I couldn't wait for the treatments to be done. On the eves of treatments I had very restless legs and had a panicky feeling. It's been two weeks and I don't feel any better, In fact, I feel a little worse."

1 / 10
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8 Report
  • Aileen
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • July 26, 2019

"I am scheduled to begin Spravado next week. I’m very nervous, but am desperate to lift this depression of seven years. It would be so helpful if more people would comment about their experiences with Spravado. I could use the input!"

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24 Report
  • David...
  • December 1, 2021

"Bioavailability is a big issue with ketamine. Infusions provide 100%, intramuscular maybe 70% and Spravato, nasally 30%+. Unless you don’t swallow for several minutes after pressurized into nostrils. As it drains down your throat and if you don’t swallow the membrane in your mouth allows much greater absorption, much greater. The experience in much more pronounced which I only assume means more meds into your system and thus better outcome. Sure Seems to be working that way for me."

8 / 10
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  • elandem
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • March 4, 2021

"I did a full month of treatments - 8 total at the 84 mg dose. I enjoyed the experience, however it did absolutely nothing to help my depression. I am going to try IV Ketamine infusions at some point, as I understand they are more effective for many reasons. I started with Spravato because it only cost $520 total for all 8 visits ($55 copay and $10 for Spravato thru the J&J program)."

2 / 10
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  • goali...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • October 7, 2021

"I have had Spravato three times--once with the lower dose; twice with the higher. It's difficult to leave a review knowing *everyone responds differently* (but hopefully with enough enjoying remitted depressive symptoms). I didn't notice anything my first two sessions, during or after. But my partner did (more positive/less irritable). On the third dose I did feel like more color was returning into my life, but that lasted for a day. This is not unusual: the medication supposedly builds up. The post-nasal drip is foul, but I've found that some candies work the best. I don't feel actually sick (although some people do). I didn't disassociate or have any reactions at all. I had ketamine for the main anesthesia ingredient during a major hip operation, and I came out of that surgery feeling great for a week even with the pain, so I'm hopeful continued use of its sibling will really help me. There is a question about whether maintenance really does need to be ongoing to keep the benefits."

8 / 10
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13 Report
  • Carol
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • October 5, 2022

"I was having suicidal ideations when I got my first Spravado last Thursday. The thoughts went away until Saturday morning when I was a mess. I had my second Spravato Monday and have had no ideations back. I am still depressed but it is working for me. I have my third treatment tmrw."

9 / 10
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6 Report
  • Better...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • March 7, 2022

"I’m happy with my results. It took my until the 4th week to feel substantially better. I’m a few months into a weekly maintenance schedule. I found the treatments somewhat unpleasant initially but soon grew used to them. My advice: It’s not a miracle cure, so try to temper your expectations—the limited studies have shown that Spravato + a new antidepressant is maybe 30% more effective than a new antidepressant alone. Although the manufacturer contends people might feel better within days, not everyone will. It’s not a psychedelic therapy; any dissociation is a side effect—talk to your doctor about how Spravato works. The intensity of the dissociation is not an indication of how strong a given treatment is. It’s not a treatment for bipolar, anxiety, or PTSD."

9 / 10
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7 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.