If you’ve been living with depression for a long time, there’s a high chance you have tried multiple types of antidepressants. You may have tried different doses, changed medications, or waited weeks or months to see if each one would finally help you feel better. It can be exhausting, and it’s natural after all of that to ask yourself, “Is there any treatment that will ever work for me?”
SPRAVATO® (esketamine) takes a different approach to treating depression. It works differently than traditional antidepressants, and for many patients, it can start to feel different sooner.
Why SPRAVATO® (esketamine) Works Differently and Faster
Traditional antidepressants mainly target serotonin, a chemical linked to mood regulation. These medications can be effective for a lot of people, but they often require several weeks before you start to feel a real difference.
SPRAVATO® (esketamine) works through a completely different mechanism. It works through the brain’s glutamate system, specifically the NMDA receptors, which are involved in how brain cells communicate. Rather than trying to slowly raise certain chemical levels, SPRAVATO® (esketamine) helps to form new neural pathways and reactivate brain regions that may be underactive with depression. This is why the timeline can be very different from that of traditional antidepressants.
Deep Centered Mental Health offers SPRAVATO® (esketamine) at our Austin clinic on 38th Street. To get started, please call us at 469-809-5663 or request a free consultation here.
What The Research Says About Timing
One of the most discussed aspects of SPRAVATO® (esketamine) is how fast it can start to work. Some patients have reported noticing differences within 24 hours after their first session. But it’s important to put those results in context.
Early effects: Subtle shifts and improvements in how you feel.
Meaningful symptom relief: A significant reduction in mood or functioning that starts to affect your day-to-day life.
Full remission: Minimal or no depressive symptoms
While for many, initial changes can happen quickly, more substantial and lasting results build over time with continued treatment.
What “Working” Actually Looks Like
Many people are expecting a dramatic change, like waking up one day and feeling completely different. In reality, the initial signs of SPRAVATO® (esketamine) working are much more subtle. For example, you might notice:
Sleeping a little better
Feeling more present
Noticing less mental heaviness
Small moments that feel more manageable
Noticing these small moments when things feel easier can be easy to miss sometimes. Nevertheless, they are important. They’re often the first signs your brain is starting to respond. Recognizing these smaller changes during the treatment process is a good sign and should encourage and motivate you to stick with the treatment, even before the larger improvements take hold.
Understanding the Treatment Timeline
SPRAVATO® (esketamine) is structured in phases, which can help provide a timeline for how treatment and progress typically unfold:
Induction Phase (Weeks 1-4): In this phase, sessions are more frequent, usually twice per week. Some patients will notice initial mood changes within the first 24 to 72 hours. By the end of the fourth week, most patients will experience a noticeable, rapid reduction in depressive symptoms. For some, it may be more subtle.
Maintenance Phase (Weeks 5-8 and beyond): Treatment frequency is now decreased based on response to treatment to once a week or less. Some patients may notice a brief dip in mood upon switching to once a week, while others continue improving steadily. By week 8, many patients will see additional and consistent symptom relief.
Around week 4, providers will evaluate how you are responding and evaluate the level of treatment you require moving forward. By week 8, there is a clearer picture of overall progress, and providers can see whether further adjustments are needed.
Managing Expectations Along the Way
If you find yourself asking, “How long is this going to take?” That is completely understandable. This question probably stems from exhaustion after trying multiple treatments that didn’t deliver the results you hoped for. Wanting something that works quickly makes sense.
SPRAVATO® (esketamine) has been shown to work faster than antidepressants, but it’s not instant, and the timeline varies among patients. We know that waiting for improvement can be frustrating, but it’s important to remember that just because you haven’t seen improvement right away doesn’t mean SPRAVATO® (esketamine) isn’t going to work for you. Some patients will experience a more gradual response to SPRAVATO® (esketamine). So staying consistent with treatment and keeping open communication with your provider is very important.
Taking the Next Step
The only way to know how you will respond to SPRAVATO® (esketamine) is to start. If you’ve spent months or even years trying different medications without seeing the change you’ve hoped for, exploring a new treatment approach is worth considering.
The first step is simply having a conversation about SPRAVATO® (esketamine). Scheduling a free consultation allows you to talk about your struggles, ask questions, and find out if SPRAVATO® (esketamine) may be a good fit for you. You could be taking the first step toward something that may finally feel different.
We provide SPRAVATO® (esketamine) therapy at our Austin clinic on 38th street. If you’re curious about whether SPRAVATO® (esketamine) is the right fit for you, please call us at 469-809-5663 or request a free consultation here.
