When depression does not respond to standard antidepressants, the search for relief can feel never-ending. You may have tried multiple medications, adjusted dosages, and waited months for results that never came. Spravato® (esketamine) offers a different path forward — one rooted in a newer understanding of how the brain responds to treatment.
Understanding what Spravato® treatment involves before you begin can help you approach the process with realistic expectations and confidence. One of the most common questions patients ask before their first appointment is how long Spravato® treatment actually takes. The answer depends on the phase of care, and knowing what each phase looks like will help you plan your path toward remission.
What this guide covers:
Spravato® is administered in two distinct phases: an induction phase and a maintenance phase. The induction phase spans the first four weeks of treatment, during which sessions are scheduled twice a week. This more intensive schedule is designed to establish a therapeutic response and begin shifting the brain toward healthier neurological patterns. Each session takes place in our office, where you will self-administer the nasal spray under clinical supervision and remain in the office for monitoring for approximately two hours afterward.
Following induction, treatment moves into an initial maintenance phase (weeks five through eight), with sessions scheduled once per week. This gradual reduction in frequency helps consolidate the progress your brain has begun to make while your care team assesses how well you are responding.
Beginning at week nine, Spravato® sessions shift to either once weekly or once every two weeks, depending on your individual response and Dr. Srisai Gowda’s clinical recommendation. Some patients achieve and sustain remission with ongoing maintenance sessions, while others may benefit from integrating Spravato® with additional neuromodulation therapies available at Shore Clinical TMS & Wellness Center, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation or medication management.
This holistic approach is central to how we practice interventional psychiatry. Dr. Gowda also specializes in combining treatment modalities to maximize patient outcomes. Our team continuously monitors your neuroplasticity response and adjusts your care to ensure you continue to progress.
Spravato® nasal spray sessions are not just clinical appointments — they are structured experiences designed to support your well-being at every level. Shore Clinical TMS & Wellness Center provides private treatment rooms where you can rest comfortably during the required observation period following each session. Our TMS technicians are dedicated to making each visit as supportive and calming as possible, so you can focus on the work of healing rather than the logistics of care.
Because Spravato® requires in-office administration and post-session monitoring, consistency matters. We are committed to working around your schedule so that attending appointments feels sustainable over the full course of treatment.
If you or someone you care about is living with treatment-resistant depression, we encourage you to take the next step. Spravato® treatment for depression is one of the many advanced options available at Shore Clinical TMS & Wellness Center. We can help you understand how long Spravato® treatments take, the benefits, and more. To learn how Dr. Gowda brings together every leading tool in interventional psychiatry to help patients achieve remission, contact us today.
