How Long Does It Take for Spravato to Work on Depression Symptoms?

When someone hears about a new treatment for depression, one of the first questions that comes up is simple but important: “How long will it take to work?” We get it. If you’re struggling with depression or supporting someone who is, time feels like everything.

That’s exactly why so many people in our community are asking about Spravato. It’s gaining attention because it offers a new approach to treating depression, especially for those who haven’t found relief with traditional options. Today, we want to walk you through what we’ve seen, what to expect, and how Spravato may fit into your journey toward feeling better.

What Is Spravato?

Let’s start with the basics. Spravato is a brand name for esketamine, which is closely related to Ketamine. It’s an FDA-approved nasal spray designed for people with treatment-resistant depression or major depressive disorder with suicidal thoughts.

Unlike many oral antidepressants that target serotonin, Spravato acts on the brain’s glutamate system. This pathway plays a major role in learning, memory, and mood regulation. Because of that, many people experience relief in a completely different way than they did with previous medications.

The Timeline: When Might You Feel a Difference?

We always remind our patients that every person is unique. However, here’s what we generally see:

Initial Phase (First Few Sessions)

Many people start to notice a shift in their mood within the first one to two weeks. Some even feel a difference within the first 24 to 48 hours after their initial sessions. This doesn’t mean full relief happens immediately, but for some, there’s a noticeable sense of lightness or clarity that hadn’t been there before.

This early response is often what gives people hope. After feeling stuck for so long, even a small improvement can be a powerful sign of progress.

Ongoing Treatment (First Month)

Spravato is usually given twice a week for the first four weeks. During this time, most of our patients begin to see clearer patterns of improvement. It might show up as better sleep, reduced anxiety, fewer intrusive thoughts, or more motivation during the day.

The effects tend to build with each session. We monitor closely during this phase to make sure everything feels comfortable and supportive.

Stabilization Phase (Weeks 5–8 and Beyond)

After the first month, the treatment schedule usually shifts to once per week, and later to every other week, depending on how you’re feeling. During this period, improvements often become more stable and long-lasting.

People tell us they feel more emotionally balanced and find it easier to reconnect with their daily routines. The goal isn’t just temporary relief. It’s giving your brain enough support to build lasting resilience.

Why Spravato Feels Different for Many

If you’ve tried multiple antidepressants without much success, you’re not alone. One of the reasons we’re so passionate about Spravato ketamine treatment is that they offer a new angle, not just a different version of the same old thing.

Ketamine and its related forms, like Spravato, help “rewire” brain connections in a way that supports emotional healing. It’s not a cure-all, but it creates space for real progress. We’ve seen people who were once overwhelmed by depression start to feel like themselves again.

And we’ll be honest. That’s one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.

What We Want You to Know Before Starting

Choosing a new treatment path can feel intimidating, and we respect that. Here are a few things we always share with new patients considering Spravato:

  • It’s okay to feel unsure. You don’t have to commit to anything right away. We’re here to talk and help you understand all your options. 
  • You’ll be monitored closely. During each session, our team is right there with you to make sure everything goes smoothly. 
  • It works best when combined with support. Spravato is powerful, but pairing it with therapy, healthy habits, and emotional support often leads to even better results.

You Don’t Have to Wait in Silence

If you’ve been wondering why nothing seems to help your depression, or if your current medications have hit a wall, it might be time to try something new.

You don’t have to keep waiting, hoping things will change on their own. Let’s take the next step together and talk about how Spravato ketamine treatment could fit into your story.

At Renew Ketamine Infusion, we’ve seen firsthand how lives can change when the right approach meets the right support. Let’s explore this path together. Reach out to us today. We’re ready when you are.

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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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