Finding the right treatment for bipolar disorder is not an easy task. Some patients spend years searching for a treatment that fits their needs and preferences, as traditional options are sometimes ineffective. Here’s everything you should know about Spravato Therapy and how this innovative treatment can help with symptoms of bipolar disorder.
Understanding Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a complex mental health condition that can manifest through extreme and sudden mood, energy, and behavioral shifts. The most common signs include manic episodes, both euphoric and depressive. During euphoric episodes, people tend to be easily irritated or euphoric, with a lack of impulse control. During depressive episodes, people tend to feel helplessness, emptiness, and anhedonia (the inability to feel joy or pleasure from previously loved activities).
There are two types of bipolar disorder:
- Bipolar l: recognized by full manic episodes, with a chance of depressive episodes
- Bipolar II: recognized by hypomanic episodes (less severe mania) with major depressive episodes
This disorder can cause a rift in both personal and professional life, due to heavy emotions and mood swings. In order to manage the symptoms of this disorder, the traditional approach includes combining multiple aspects of therapy and medicine. Bipolar is usually treated by combining psychotherapy (talk therapy) with medicine (antidepressants, mood stabilizers, atypical antipsychotics). Traditional medicine can sometimes be inefficient for patients with treatment-resistant bipolar depression.
Spravato Therapy
Spravato is an FDA-approved nasal spray, self-administered under clinical supervision. The treatment is sprayed into the nose 2-3 times, with each spray spaced 5 minutes apart. Spravato is actually esketamine, a form of ketamine that can help rapidly reduce the symptoms of treatment-resistant depression (TRD) or major depressive disorder (MDD) with acute suicidal ideation.
Currently, Spravato is not officially approved for bipolar depression by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but it can be used off-label to help with depressive symptoms that are present in bipolar depression.
How does Spravato work?
Spravato (Esketamine) works by targeting and blockingthe N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the brain and increasing glutamate. This helps boost neuroplasticity, or the brain’s ability to form new connections, improve mood regulation, and reduce negative thought loops that are common in various mental health conditions.
Benefits of Spravato Therapy
Spravato therapy and ketamine therapy are becoming more and more popular amongst people struggling with various mental health disorders and for a good reason. Here are the benefits of Spravato and what the treatment can look like.
- Free consultation (find out if Spravato is suitable for you)
- Personalized treatment plan (a tailored plan is created after assessing the mental and medical history)
- Safe, clinical setting (compassionate Guides supervise each session)
- Non-invasive administration (Spravato is self-administered via a nasal spray)
- Rapid relief (noticeable reduction of depressive symptoms within hours or days of the first treatment)
Spravato vs. Traditional Medicine for Bipolar Disorder
The treatment is mostly determined by the type of bipolar disorder (bipolar l and bipolar II), as each type requires a specific approach. Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, mood stabilizers, and atypical antipsychotics are main treatments, sometimes paired with antidepressants depending on the diagnosis and history. Here’s how the traditional treatments compare to Spravato:
| Treatment Type | Spravato (Esketamine) | Antidepressants | Atypical Antipsychotics | Mood Stabilizers |
| Administration | Nasal spray | Oral medicine | Oral medicine | Oral medicine |
| Purpose of use | Reducing symptoms of depression | Reducing symptoms of depression (usually paired with mood stabilizers) | Reducing symptoms of manic episodes | Reducing mood swings |
| Reduction of depression symptoms | Yes | Yes | Some do | Some do |
| Onset of effects | Within hours or days | Several weeks | A few days or weeks | Several weeks |
| Duration of treatment | Twice weekly for 4 weeks, then once weekly for 4 weeks (12 sessions in total) | At least a couple of months | At least a couple of months | At least a couple of months |
| Common side effects | Nausea, dizziness | Nausea, fatigue, weight gain | Weight gain, drowsiness | Fatigue, weight gain, nausea, tremors |
| Black box warning | / | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Insurance Coverage
Kadelyx Health offers coverage by BlueCross BlueShield of Arizona (BCBSAZ), United Healthcare, and Aetna for Spravato for patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) or major depressive disorder (MDD). Currently, Spravato for bipolar disorder is not covered by insurance.
Who is Spravato Therapy for?
Spravato is for people struggling with symptoms of depression or treatment-resistant depression that are sometimes present in bipolar disorder. It’s a groundbreaking treatment for people seeking rapid relief from symptoms who haven’t seen improvement from traditional treatments. Before starting this treatment, each patient will receive a detailed medical and mental evaluation to ensure that Spravato is the best option for you.
If you intend to harm yourself right now, please call 988, 911, or proceed to your nearest Emergency Department for immediate treatment.
Start Your Healing Journey Today
Managing bipolar disorder is not impossible with the right treatment option tailored to your needs. Book a free consultation at Kadelyx Health to learn more about Spravato and how it can improve your quality of life.
