The Avesta Blog

Spravato is an FDA-approved esketamine nasal spray for adults with treatment-resistant depression, meaning depression that has not responded to two or more antidepressants, and for adults with depression and acute suicidal thoughts. Each dose is taken in a certified clinic with at least two hours of monitoring. Individual results vary.

IV ketamine therapy typically involves a series of low-dose infusions that create a temporary, dreamlike dissociative state. Some patients feel relief after the first or second session, and most notice meaningful changes after five to six sessions.

Letting go during a ketamine infusion means allowing the experience to unfold without trying to control every thought or sensation. Patients who approach it openly often relax more easily, and you are monitored until you are ready to be discharged.

Integration practices can deepen and extend the benefits of ketamine beyond its pharmacological window, and group integration circles let people process insights and learn from others. Integration does not have to be communal, though.

Ketamine can help couples soften rigid emotions and create space for connection by acting on glutamate and promoting neuroplasticity. The article describes how ketamine couples therapy works alongside traditional couples therapy.

After a ketamine session, a calm, serene environment helps you transition back to everyday life. The article lists quiet spots in DC, such as P Street Beach and Community Garden near Dupont Circle, for post-ketamine integration.

Ketamine couples therapy combines ketamine-assisted therapy with relationship work. Experts believe it may help because ketamine is an NMDA receptor antagonist with rapid antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects that can lower defensiveness.

Esketamine (Spravato) is the S-ketamine half of ketamine and is FDA-approved as a nasal spray for treatment-resistant depression, while generic ketamine is an anesthetic used off-label, usually as an IV infusion. They act through the same NMDA receptor mechanism, and coverage is often the deciding factor.

Avesta offers ketamine infusion therapy led by Dr. Ladan Eshkevari, supported by a team of board-certified advanced practitioners. The article explains its patient-centered approach for people whose traditional treatments have not worked.

Ketamine is a 50/50 mix of two mirror-image molecules, while esketamine (Spravato) is only the S-form and is the only one of the two FDA-approved for depression. Insurance often covers Spravato, usually with prior authorization, while IV ketamine for mental health is off-label.

Mindfulness meditation can be practiced before, during and after ketamine treatment to help you sit with thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations. The article explains how it supports the experience and the work afterward.

Subanesthetic doses of ketamine can significantly reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety and PTSD for many people, and therapy can help you process the changes that come with treatment. Avesta recommends combining ketamine infusions with therapy.