If you are reading this, there is a good chance you or someone you care about is taking Spravato—or thinking about it. And one of the most common questions we hear from people is: How long can you stay on Spravato? Like many treatments for depression, Spravato is not always a short-term fix. However, the right length of treatment can vary from person to person, so it is important to talk with your provider first.
Spravato is derived from ketamine. While ketamine has been used in medicine for decades as an anesthetic, researchers discovered more recently that it also has powerful effects on depression—especially for people who have not gotten better with traditional antidepressants. This is commonly called treatment-resistant depression, or TRD.
The short answer: as long as it continues to help you, and you and your provider decide it is the right fit.
You will most likely start Spravato treatment by taking it twice a week for the first four weeks. If you are doing well and tolerating it, your doctor will likely move you into a maintenance phase, where you will receive it once a week, and eventually, possibly once every two weeks.
There is no hard time limit for how long a person can stay on Spravato. In fact, the SUSTAIN 2 Study, which followed patients using Spravato for over a year, found that those who stayed on it maintained their improvement in symptoms, and side effects did not worsen over time.
So if you are responding well to the treatment, there is no rush to stop. Our providers can closely monitor your progress to ensure your treatment is effective and safe over time.
It depends on the individual. Some people find that they can taper off after a few months and maintain the benefits with other therapies like oral antidepressants or therapy. Others find that a regular maintenance schedule with Spravato is what keeps their symptoms manageable.
According to the SUSTAIN 2 study, there was a benefit to staying on Spravato for over a year in terms of symptom reduction and manageable side effects (most of which were experienced in the medical facility immediately following administration). The decision to stay on Spravato long-term will depend on how effective it is at managing your symptoms and whether alternative therapies can replace the impact of Spravato.
So far, the evidence says yes—for most people. Common side effects, like dizziness, nausea, or a sense of dissociation, tend to occur early in treatment and often lessen over time. That said, Spravato is not for everyone, so it is important to have regular check-ins with your provider.
Because treatment happens in a clinical setting, you are always being monitored to make sure it is working well for you and not causing problems.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to how long you should stay on Spravato. But the key takeaway is this: you do not have to figure it out alone. With regular guidance from a healthcare provider who knows your history and listens to your goals, you can make a plan that works for you. Meet with our dedicated team at The Grant Group today to begin discussing treatment.