Spravato and Anxiety: What Users Say

• ros...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 27, 2021

For Depression "My mom started Spravato last January 2020. The first dose was like a miracle happened. She had about 10 more doses from February 2020 until September 2020, and it worked amazingly. The last 2 doses, one in the end of August and the first week in September, have been a nightmare until now March 2021. She would normally doze off after the nasal spray was administered. The last 2 doses she woke up from the treatment with anxiety that was out of control and has not been able to really control it. She is now in an inpatient facility. They have tried 4 different medications, and nothing is working. She doesn't get any relief from Ativan, Valium, Klonopin, Xanax, or any other antidepressants. She does sleep a few hours a night, but as soon as she wakes up, she is literally shaking with anxiety. It is so sad to watch. I was just wondering if anyone else has experienced anything similar. Any advice would be helpful."

• Hop...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 2, 2019

For Depression "TRD (treatment-resistant depression) for 30 years, have tried everything and will continue to try this. Was on 56mg 2x week for a month (eventually I had no immediate reaction as my body got used to the drug - lingering tiredness, so I did the treatments in the late afternoon) and have had 3 treatments with 84mg. First two of 84mg were fine - trippy, slight visual disturbance but I was able to recognize that this was the drug and not me - felt like I smoked a ton of pot or something. Yesterday was the 3rd treatment of 84mg. I went into the appointment very upset and stressed, and coupled with Spravato, had a dissociative episode. I started to cry and then boom: sobbing, no idea who I was, where I was, visual disturbance so couldn't see correctly, was paranoid, untrusting - I have never been so terrified in all my life. So far, no depression reduction, which saddens me, and I'm scared to have another trip like I did yesterday."

• Hop...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 2, 2019

For Depression "TRD (treatment-resistant depression) for 30 years, have tried everything and will continue to try this. Was on 56mg 2x week for a month (eventually I had no immediate reaction as my body got used to the drug - lingering tiredness, so I did the treatments in the late afternoon) and have had 3 treatments with 84mg. First two of 84mg were fine - trippy, slight visual disturbance but I was able to recognize that this was the drug and not me - felt like I smoked a ton of pot or something. Yesterday was the 3rd treatment of 84mg. I went into the appointment very upset and stressed, and coupled with Spravato, had a dissociative episode. I started to cry and then boom: sobbing, no idea who I was, where I was, visual disturbance so couldn't see correctly, was paranoid, untrusting - I have never been so terrified in all my life. So far, no depression reduction, which saddens me, and I'm scared to have another trip like I did yesterday."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 5, 2023

For Depression "I felt okay the first 2 times on a lower dose. I felt like I would not want a higher dose. I felt a bit out of it and anxious, but not terribly so. On the third visit, I was encouraged to take the next higher dose. I was assured by staff they would be able to help and support if anything was too much. Well, after 3 or 4 minutes following the final spray, I felt an incredible intensity of pure, deathly fear rising higher and higher. I tried to listen to meditation and do some breathing techniques. NOTHING made me feel better. I just kept feeling worse. I could not remember who I was or how to move my body and felt like I had severe dementia for a while. I forgot my life and what my phone was, and I was afraid I would never come back to who I was. Then I just felt like I would die. My heart felt like it would explode. I literally felt I needed medical help. The staff person stayed for a little while, then left me. Even when I told them I needed help and clearly was in distress... Never again."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 5, 2023

For Depression "I felt okay the first 2 times on a lower dose. I felt like I would not want a higher dose. I felt a bit out of it and anxious, but not terribly so. On the third visit, I was encouraged to take the next higher dose. I was assured by staff they would be able to help and support if anything was too much. Well, after 3 or 4 minutes following the final spray, I felt an incredible intensity of pure, deathly fear rising higher and higher. I tried to listen to meditation and do some breathing techniques. NOTHING made me feel better. I just kept feeling worse. I could not remember who I was or how to move my body and felt like I had severe dementia for a while. I forgot my life and what my phone was, and I was afraid I would never come back to who I was. Then I just felt like I would die. My heart felt like it would explode. I literally felt I needed medical help. The staff person stayed for a little while, then left me. Even when I told them I needed help and clearly was in distress... Never again."

• Jak...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 1, 2019

For Depression "I began treatments with 56 mg, which is four sprays using two syringes. It did not help with my depression, so after the fourth treatment (two weeks), the dosage was increased to 84 mg (6 sprays using three syringes). For a week, I thought it might be helping a little, but came to realize it was not. I did start having increased anxiety, often very anxious when waking in the morning. After the first month of twice-a-week treatments and two additional weekly treatments, I stopped since I was convinced it was not helping my depression and was making me very anxious. My depression now seems worse than ever, and my anxiety is at a high level. Spravato's Savings Plan reduced the cost of the medicine to only a co-pay of $10 per treatment. However, the doctor charged $300 per visit, which was not covered by my insurance. If others try Spravato, I hope you have better results. The doctor and staff were great and supportive. It was disappointing for me."

• Car...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 5, 2022

For Depression "Spravato was recommended by my psychiatric nurse practitioner for MDD because I have struggled for more than 30 years. I was well informed of the side effects, but no one reported that anything like what I experienced. I think it’s important for anyone who is considering using Spravato to hear about as many different experiences as possible. While most experiences are positive, mine was not. After I administered the second dose, about 10 minutes or so, I began to feel like I was falling, spinning, and losing my mind, completely out of control. I sat there for almost 4 hours, absolutely terrified. Terrified that I would never feel “normal” again, that I would die, I would lose everything that I cared about. I cried in fear and begged the person who gave me the medicine to make it stop. I begged her to tell me that it would stop and that I would feel normal again. I’m still traumatized by the experience and feel like some of the effects are still happening 3 months later."

• Egg...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 15, 2019

For Depression "Starting fourth week tomorrow. Spravato has helped a little but still have anxiety, especially when waking in the morning. It may or may not work but I’m better than I was, hope it lasts. I may try Kratom if this doesn’t work, do not want to be as bad as I was. My clinician is great, and believe me, not all clinicians are that caring. I had to see someone else for one dosing, and she left me in the room for 40 minutes by myself. Not good when you're tripping out."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 9, 2023

For Depression "I have had MDD for years. I started to suffer from depression as an adolescent, probably due to my environment and situations I had been exposed to. Anyway, I have been on just about every SSRI, SNRI, and also antipsychotics and benzos for most of my life. Currently on Trintellix. I have had four Spravato treatments so far. The first treatment was horrible. I relived traumatic experiences in my mind, and the physical effects were almost unbearable. I had such a frightening experience that the doctor was hesitant to have me come back. I am desperate, so we decided to have my spouse sit with me to help keep me in a positive state. This helped. However, I felt hungover the next day and couldn't think clearly. Next treatments only improved slightly, still very uncomfortable, I couldn't wait for the treatments to be done. On the eves of treatments, I had very restless legs and had a panicky feeling. It's been two weeks, and I don't feel any better. In fact, I feel a little worse."

• Sti...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 3, 2021

For Depression "Part of a clinical trial for treatment-resistant depression without any other antidepressants. I have 2 treatments left, and it hasn't worked at all and has made my accompanying anxiety worse!"

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 9, 2022

For Depression "Horrible side effects. Paranoid, delusional, agitated all the time. Overwhelmed my sense."