What Else Can I Do While on SPRAVATO® to Manage Depression?

Are you considering SPRAVATO® (esketamine) for treatment-resistant depression? Treatment-resistant depression sounds discouraging and can be a challenge to manage. But, with the right treatments, it is manageable. FDA-approved SPRAVATO® is a game-changer when it comes to depression. Taking this nasal spray can provide rapid relief of depressive symptoms for most people.

However, a single type of treatment may not be enough to manage treatment-resistant depression. Along with SPRAVATO®, there are some other things that you can do to keep depression from coming back. When combined with SPRAVATO®, these things will give you the most benefit when it comes to getting control of your depressive symptoms.

Don’t Use Recreational Drugs Or Alcohol ​​

You may be tempted to use drugs or drink alcohol to cope with the symptoms of depression. In fact, substance abuse is common among those with treatment-resistant depression. However, in the long run, this can make depression worse. Additionally, esketamine can be fatal for people who abuse alcohol. Therefore, you should avoid alcoholic beverages altogether when taking SPRAVATO®.

Educate Yourself

Learn as much as you can about treatment-resistant depression and treatments like SPRAVATO® and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy. That way, you will better understand all of the treatment options available for your depression. It will also help you know what to expect from treatment. You will also be better informed and more prepared to discuss your symptoms with your doctor.

Improve Your Sleep Habits

Sleep disturbances are common among people with depression, especially those with treatment-resistant depression. Problems sleeping is one of the major diagnostic criteria for those with depression. Improving your sleep habits can help. Some things you can do include:

  • Keep a consistent sleep schedule. Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day — even on the weekends.
  • Have a relaxing wind-down routine. One hour before bedtime start to wind down. Your relaxing bedtime routine may consist of activities like having a warm cup of decaffeinated tea, taking a warm bath, or journaling.
  • Get enough sleep. Most adults need between 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night. Aim to get that much. Use a sleep app that has a sleep timer and schedule your bedtime.
  • Make sure your bedroom is comfortable. To get the best sleep, your room should be slightly cool (65-68°F), dark, and you should have cozy bedding.
  • Avoid caffeine late in the afternoon. Caffeine use within eight hours of bedtime has been found to reduce sleep time by 45 minutes. Therefore, stop drinking coffee, energy drinks, and soda at least eight hours before you go to bed.

Don’t Skip Therapy

If you taking SPRAVATO® for depression, you may think that you won’t need therapy. However, numerous research studies have found that medications (including esketamine) work best for treatment-resistant depression when combined with therapy.

If you’ve tried therapy before and it hasn’t helped, don’t give up hope. There are many forms of therapy, including acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT).  You may need to try several types before you find the one that provides relief from severe depressive symptoms.

Closely Follow Your Treatment Plan

You should have regular appointments with your treatment provider to monitor symptoms, changes, etc. It’s essential to stick with your treatment plan and attend all meetings unless your doctor tells you otherwise. If you are prescribed oral anti-depressants along with SPRAVATO®, don’t skip doses of your medications or stop taking them. Before making any changes to your treatment, speak with your doctor.

Seek Out Support

If you suffer from serious depression, it can be hard not to isolate. But, make sure you stay connected with people who can provide emotional support. Spend time with loved ones, friends, and community members who are supportive and helpful. Join either an online or face-to-face support group. You can find support groups through the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

Practice Self-Care

There are many different things that you can do for self-care. Yoga is one practice that has been found to help with depression, so it might be worth a try. Yoga combines stretching with breathing practices, which can help relax you and improve well-being.

You could also spend some time in nature. Being outdoors can help relieve depressive symptoms. Spending just 15 minutes a day taking a nature walk is enough to help relax you. That is because sunlight influences chemicals in your brain that control mood, such as serotonin.

Manage Stress

Stress and depression are closely related. Therefore, it’s important to reduce stress as much as possible to best control your depression symptoms. Limit your exposure to situations and people that cause stress. Take steps to manage common stress triggers like money and work. Some types of stress you can’t control. But, try to manage what you can. For example, avoid working too many hours in a row. Establish a budget to control spending.

Make Exercise a Priority

Exercise has been shown to boost mood and complement depression treatment. Scientists believe that exercise helps improve the brain’s nerve cell connections, which helps ease depressive symptoms. It can be hard to find the motivation to exercise when you are depressed. But, just taking a short walk around the neighborhood can help you feel better. The key is to find something that you enjoy and can do every day.

Keep Up With PCP Visits

Your physical health is just as important as your mental health. Health problems, such as thyroid disease, can interfere with your mental health and make depression worse. Therefore, make sure you see your primary care physician (PCP) on a regular basis. Go at least once per year for a physical and maybe more often if you have chronic health conditions like diabetes. Let your doctor know about all of the medications you are taking, including SPRAVATO® treatments.

Final Thoughts

Treatment-resistant major depression is a serious, debilitating mental illness. However, don’t give up on managing your symptoms. Taking SPRAVATO® along with making the changes above can provide significant relief of depressive symptoms and can help you achieve remission.