What to Expect at Your First SPRAVATO® Session
Most of the anxiety about SPRAVATO® comes from not knowing what the experience is like. So here it is, step by step — what actually happens from the moment you walk in.
Arrange your ride before you come
This is the one detail you need to settle before anything else. You cannot drive yourself home after a SPRAVATO® session, and typically not until the next day after a full night's sleep. Line up a family member, friend, or rideshare before your appointment.
If you arrive without a plan to get home, we won't be able to proceed with treatment that day. It's that important — and it's a federal REMS requirement, not just our policy.
Plan for about three hours total
From the moment you check in to the moment you're discharged, expect the visit to take roughly three hours. Most of that time is the monitored observation period required by the FDA at every certified SPRAVATO® center.
Eat lightly beforehand
Don't eat for at least two hours before your appointment, and don't drink anything for at least 30 minutes before. This reduces the chance of nausea, which is one of the more common side effects. If you use a nasal steroid or decongestant, take it at least an hour before your visit.
What happens during your session
Here's the sequence, start to finish. Nothing here is rushed, and our clinical team stays with you throughout.
Blood pressure check on arrival
When you arrive, we'll check your blood pressure and review how you've been doing since your last visit. SPRAVATO® can raise blood pressure temporarily, so we take a reading before each session.
A clinician demonstrates the nasal spray device
Before you use it yourself, a member of our clinical team shows you exactly how the device works — how to hold it, how to spray, and what to expect. You'll have the chance to ask anything before you start.
You self-administer the spray
You spray the medication yourself, following our team's instructions. A clinician is present the entire time. The dosing itself takes only a few minutes.
Two-hour monitored observation
After dosing, you stay with us for at least two hours. This is required by the FDA at every certified SPRAVATO® center — it's not optional and it's not unique to us. A member of our clinical team monitors you throughout. We'll check your blood pressure again during this period.
What you may feel during the session
Effects usually begin within about forty minutes of dosing. Here's what people commonly describe — not as a prediction of what you'll experience, but so you know what's on the table.
Dissociation is the most common experience
Many people describe feeling floaty, dreamlike, or briefly detached from themselves or their surroundings. You're still aware and able to communicate. Dissociation is one of the most commonly reported effects, and it typically begins soon after dosing.
Drowsiness is common
Some people feel sleepy during the observation period. Sleeping through part of it is fine — our team is still monitoring you. You may also feel calm, or simply quiet.
Before you leave
Before discharge, a clinician assesses you to confirm you're ready to go. When our team determines you're clear, your ride takes you home.
Some people feel tired or foggy for the rest of the day. Most feel back to normal by the next morning. You should not drive, operate machinery, or do anything requiring full alertness until the next day, after a restful night's sleep.
This is one session in a course
Your first session is part of a treatment course, not a one-off. The typical schedule starts with twice-weekly sessions for the first four weeks, then once weekly for the next four. After that, you and your provider decide together how to continue.
You can read more about the full treatment schedule and what SPRAVATO® is on our SPRAVATO® overview page.
Quick reference for your first visit
- Arrange your ride home before coming — you cannot drive after treatment
- Don't eat for 2 hours before; don't drink for 30 minutes before
- If you use a nasal steroid or decongestant, take it at least 1 hour before
- Plan for about 3 hours total from arrival to discharge
- You self-administer the nasal spray with a clinician present
- Two-hour monitored observation is required after every dose
- Don't drive or operate machinery until the next day after a full night's sleep
Still have questions about what it's like?
That's completely normal. We'd rather you ask everything before you walk in. A free phone consultation is the easiest way to get answers.
Have Questions Before You Come In?
That's normal and expected. Schedule a free phone consultation and we'll walk you through every detail before you commit to anything.