Can Ketamine Spravato Help with Suicidal Thoughts? What the Research Shows

If you’ve ever found yourself or someone you care about in a moment of deep emotional crisis, you know how terrifying it can feel. When life feels heavy and the usual solutions aren’t helping fast enough, the question becomes urgent: Is there anything that can help, right now?

We’ve had this conversation with people across Orange County more times than we can count. Families, partners, and individuals come to us looking for answers, looking for hope. And one name that keeps coming up is Spravato, a form of Ketamine that’s been gaining attention for its rapid impact on suicidal thoughts.

So what does the research really show? Is it safe? Does it work? And most importantly, could it help you or someone you love?

Let’s walk through it together.

First, What Is Spravato?

Spravato is the brand name for esketamine, a nasal spray version of Ketamine that’s been approved by the FDA to treat depression, especially in people who haven’t found relief from other treatments. Unlike traditional antidepressants, which can take weeks to work, Spravato often shows results much faster—sometimes within hours.

That’s part of what makes it such a promising option for those dealing with suicidal thoughts, where time really matters. We’ve seen firsthand how immediate relief, even if temporary, can open a window for healing to begin.

Why Traditional Approaches Aren’t Always Enough

Many people who visit us have already tried therapy, lifestyle changes, and medications. And while these tools are valuable, they’re not always fast-acting—especially during a mental health emergency.

Spravato offers something different. It works on a different pathway in the brain, called the glutamate system, which plays a big role in mood, stress response, and emotional resilience. That’s one reason why Spravato is sometimes referred to as a “breakthrough” option for people in crisis. It’s doing something new in the brain that other medications simply don’t.

What the Research Says About Spravato and Suicidal Thinking

Let’s talk about the science. A number of studies have looked at how Spravato works for people experiencing suicidal thoughts, and the results have been encouraging.

In clinical trials, many participants who received Spravato plus standard care experienced a reduction in suicidal thinking significantly faster than those receiving standard care alone. While it’s not a magic fix, that kind of rapid response can be life-changing when someone feels like they’re hanging by a thread.

We’ve had patients describe the feeling as “a sense of space” between themselves and their darkest thoughts. Something that allowed them to reflect, reach out, and take steps they hadn’t been able to before.

Is Spravato Right for Everyone?

No treatment is perfect for everyone, and Spravato is no exception. That’s why we take a thoughtful, personalized approach when helping someone decide if it’s the right fit.

There are certain requirements to be eligible for Spravato therapy, and it’s always administered in a controlled clinical setting. You’re never left alone during the process. Our team is there the entire time, monitoring and supporting you.

If we determine that Spravato could be helpful, we also make sure it fits into a broader care plan, which may include therapy, wellness strategies, and other supportive tools.

What We’ve Seen in Our Own Practice

We’ve worked with people who had been battling depression and suicidal thinking for years. People who felt like they had tried everything. When they turned to Ketamine-based options like Spravato, the change didn’t just happen in the research numbers. It happened in their everyday lives.

Some told us they felt “lighter” within hours. Others said they were finally able to sleep, reconnect with loved ones, or simply go a day without overwhelming thoughts. These aren’t small victories. They’re signs of life returning.

And while every journey is different, the common thread is that people finally felt hope again.

Why Fast Help Matters

We can’t stress this enough. When someone is struggling with suicidal thoughts, they don’t need help next month or next week. They need help now.

That’s why it’s so important to explore options like Ketamine Spravato, which offer a faster path to relief. Even one day of clarity can create room for someone to get the support they need, re-engage with life, and build a new path forward.

We believe that no one should have to suffer in silence. And certainly not alone. The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can find what works for you.

We’re Here for You Right Now

If you or someone you care about is struggling and nothing else seems to be working, we want you to know there is another option. Ketamine Spravato is giving people across the country new hope, and we’d love to talk with you about whether it might be a fit for your journey too.

You don’t have to navigate this alone. Reach out today, and let’s take this step together.

At Renew Ketamine Infusion, we’re honored to support individuals in some of their hardest moments and to help them find their way back to a life that feels worth living.

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OCD

Obsessive Compulsive disorder (OCD) is unfortunately resistant to many forms of medical treatment including both medication and therapy.

Ketamine has been shown to be an effective, fast acting, safe option for patients with OCD. Over the course of the Ketamine infusions (2-4 weeks) neuroplasticity can lead to a change or abatement in the intrusive, repetitive thoughts and behaviors that typify OCD.

When combined with our unique post infusion integration process, patients with severe OCD can see profound relief of their symptoms.

Start here for a free physician consultation to see if Ketamine assisted psychotherapy can help renew you.

Chronic Pain

“There is extensive research currently being done on this topic. I can say from personal experience as a practicing Board Certified Pain Medicine Physician, I have had patients with chronic pain, including fibromyalgia, who have had significant relief of their symptoms with Ketamine assisted therapy. With that said, Ketamine assisted therapy will definitely not work for everyone with chronic pain, and each patient will require a thorough evaluation to ensure they are an adequate candidate for a trial of Ketamine assisted therapy for relief of their chronic pain” -Dr. Justin Yanuck.

The current evidence of Ketamine assisted therapy for chronic pain is fairly mixed. The majority of studies only looked at ketamine infusion without any assisted psychotherapy.

Ketamine has the ability to lead to relief on its own (and the mechanisms for this have been well studied). We feel quite strongly that the real potential for Ketamine to provide relief, especially for chronic pain patients, is when combined with psychotherapy. Psychotherapy allows the individual to process their experience and build off this experience to lead to new psychological frameworks for processing both internal and external stimuli.

Pain is complex, and Ketamine assisted psychotherapy is not one-size-fits-all. Our treatment plan gives patients with treatment-resistant chronic pain and even opiate dependance a chance to try a different and effective treatment. Start here (button) for a free physician consultation to see if Ketamine assisted psychotherapy can help renew you.

Start here for a free physician consultation to see if Ketamine assisted psychotherapy can help renew you.

PTSD

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a major public health concern, affecting up to 7% of Americans.

As many as half of all Americans with PTSD get inadequate relief from traditional treatments which include antidepressants, antipsychotics, and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Ketamine combined with psychotherapy has been shown to be very effective at reducing the symptoms of PTSD. These effects last well beyond its near immediate relief.

Many mechanistic actions for how Ketamine works in PTSD have been proposed.

Ketamine allows people to reacquaint themselves with their past inciting trauma from an emotionally neutral perspective. Ketamine will not make you forget about the trauma. It can allow you to acknowledge its occurrence in a neutral way in order to not be continually re-traumatized by thinking about it.

Depending on the patient, outcomes can be noticed almost immediately with a sense of lightness and joy. Ketamine followed by psychotherapy has been shown to lead to significant relief of the burdens of PTSD.

Start here for a free physician consultation to see if Ketamine assisted psychotherapy can help renew you.

Anxiety

Traditional treatments for anxiety will often either work poorly, have addictive properties, or severe side effects including brain fog and drowsiness. Furthermore, these treatments tend to have reduced efficacy over time, and lead to only transient relief of symptoms.

Ketamine, when combined with our novel integrative psychotherapy, can lead to significant relief of anxiety.

During the ketamine infusion and integration process, patients will often get a better understanding of their anxiety, and are able to reframe many of the triggers that often provoke their anxiety.

Ketamine has properties that allow for rewiring of the brain (new synapse formation and repair of existing synapses). Ketamine allows people to effect changes into their own lives. It shows people that they have the power to heal from within and take control of their relationship with anxiety.

Start here for a free physician consultation to see if Ketamine assisted psychotherapy can help renew you.

Depression

Ketamine has been shown to be extremely effective and safe for patients with depression and treatment resistant depression (those who fail to get relief from two or more antidepressants).

Ketamine is highly effective at rapidly (within 2-8 hours) reducing depressive symptoms. Traditional antidepressants often take weeks to months to work.

Many traditional antidepressants have side effects including reduced libido, weight gain, GI upset, mood disturbances, and unfortunately require daily use for months to years.

Many antidepressants, even if they do work, require you to be on them for years, if not for the rest of your life.

Ketamine treatment has been shown in most patients to lead to resolution of symptoms without the need for any further medications.

Ketamine is not a medication meant to be taken for the rest of your life. The goal is to provide sustained relief after the completion of a set treatment plan. This is accomplished by combining the actions of Ketamine in the brain with psychotherapy. Additional enhancement sessions available as needed.

Unfortunately, there is a significant subset of patients that do not get significant relief from traditional cognitive behavioral therapy. Ketamine acts as a catalyst to stimulate a patient’s innate capacity for psychological healing. This allows patients to overcome past experiences and learned behavior to truly heal. Ketamine, combined with therapists who are specifically trained to work with psychedelic therapies, can lead to profound breakthroughs and deep psychological healing.

Start here for a free physician consultation to see if Ketamine assisted psychotherapy can help renew you.

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