How SPRAVATO® Differs from Traditional Antidepressants

If you’ve faced depression that didn’t respond well to medication, you know how exhausting it can be to hope for relief that never quite comes. 

Traditional antidepressants help millions — but for some, they don’t work fast enough or go deep enough. That’s where SPRAVATO® (esketamine nasal spray) comes in.

At Hudson Specialty Care Spravato, we provide this innovative, FDA-approved treatment for people with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Here’s how SPRAVATO differs from traditional antidepressants — and why those differences matter.

What are traditional antidepressants?

Traditional antidepressants are oral medications designed to rebalance the brain chemicals that influence mood. They typically act on neurotransmitters like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine — systems that regulate how you think, feel, and respond to stress.

They include:

• SSRIs (such as fluoxetine or sertraline)
• SNRIs (such as venlafaxine or duloxetine)
• Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
• Atypical antidepressants (like bupropion or mirtazapine)

For many, these drugs help over time — but they often take weeks to reach full effect, and they don’t work for everyone. SPRAVATO approaches depression differently.

SPRAVATO belongs to a different class

SPRAVATO is a game-changing alternative to antidepressants. Here’s why.

It targets a different brain pathway

While most antidepressants work on serotonin or norepinephrine, SPRAVATO focuses on glutamate — your brain’s most abundant neurotransmitter.

By influencing NMDA receptors, it helps your brain form new neural connections, which may restore healthier communication in mood-regulating regions.

It works faster

Traditional antidepressants can take a month or more to deliver relief. SPRAVATO, in contrast, may start easing your symptoms within hours or days. When you’re stuck in the fog of depression, that speed can be life-changing.

It’s given in a safe, supervised setting

You won’t take SPRAVATO home with you. We administer it as a nasal spray at one of our certified treatment centers, where our care team monitors you for about two hours. That ensures your comfort and safety while the medicine takes effect.

It’s designed for treatment-resistant depression

SPRAVATO isn’t a first-line treatment. It’s intended for people who’ve already tried at least two antidepressants without lasting relief. If that sounds familiar, you may fit the criteria for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) — and SPRAVATO could be the next step.

It has a different side effect profile

Traditional antidepressants can cause nausea, sexual side effects, or weight changes. SPRAVATO’s effects are shorter-lived and happen mostly during treatment. You might feel dizzy, lightheaded, or briefly detached — sensations that fade as your session ends.

It follows a tailored maintenance plan

Instead of taking a daily pill, you start with two SPRAVATO sessions per week, tapering to weekly or twice-monthly visits as your mood improves. This personalized approach lets us fine-tune your treatment over time.

Why these differences matter

Because SPRAVATO works differently, it offers new hope for people whose depression hasn’t budged despite multiple medications. 

While the treatment process is more structured, many patients find comfort in having real-time support from our care team during each visit.

If you’ve tried antidepressants without success, it may be time for something new. Call Hudson Specialty Care Spravato or request an appointment online at one of our locations in New Jersey or New York. We can help you explore whether SPRAVATO is right for you.