Spravato and Bad Taste: What Users Say

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 24, 2020

For Depression "Details: a medium intranasal dose twice a week in office for a month, followed by a high dose once a week. Not a cure. If you stop, your depression will return. Experience: spray a mist of Spravato into each nostril while at the office. You then need to wait two hours to be monitored for the effects to wear off. For me, the first 20 minutes are unpleasant, like a psychedelic trip that is a bit too strong. Due to COVID-19, I cannot bring anyone with me, so I listen to guided meditations. I have vomited on the higher dose, but an accompanying Zofran has helped tremendously. In my bag: water bottle, crackers, hard candy, a book. The nasal spray drips down your throat and tastes terrible. Results: Spravato has helped me tremendously. I am 36, and have had depression since I was 12. I have tried many medications, with only minor results (including TMS). The appointments are unpleasant for me, but they are worth it for the relief. It was about two months before I saw results."

• San...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 19, 2022

For Major Depressive Disorder "11 weeks in and I am happy, thinking positively, seeing life brighter! I’m driving, being social, etc. Been struggling for 25 years. Started feeling good at about 6 weeks but even better now. Just so you know, every time you have a treatment, the experience is different. So if for some reason something is unpleasant, it doesn’t mean it always will be. Try to relax, bring water, hard candy, or cough drops for the short time the taste is bad in your throat, and I recommend headphones with music you like. You should be able to bring a pillow and small throw to cover up with. All this can make you more comfortable. I’ve never gotten sick or had any bad effects afterward. Spravato is helping me to be myself prior to my depression."

• Bob...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 25, 2021

For Major Depressive Disorder "Been on Spravato for over a year. Still have been on a regimen of 84 mg twice a week. It has not given me really any adverse effects, light equilibrium issues when on it. When I first started, it was very helpful, but weaning down to anything less than twice a week hasn't been able to work for me. It's helpful for a few days and goes away, wouldn't call it a miracle drug. But it's very helpful compared to the countless other medications I've been on. Definitely bring some Listerine patches or strong mints to help with the nausea/bad taste. Have MDD, PTSD, and anxiety disorder. Spravato is an effective medication, but with the caveat that weaning down really makes the depression kick in. Advice: make a nice playlist of music and try to relax."

• Lal...
• September 2, 2020

For Depression "I suffer from depression. I’ve tried different meds, and none have seemed to help. I heard of Spravato and was very excited to know there was a treatment out there that could work. I’ve done 6 sessions of Spravato and have seen no improvement. I have an appointment tomorrow for another treatment. I really don’t like the experience. As you inhale the Spravato, you get the nasty taste. Then you’re in for a ride of feeling like you’re outside your body. Feeling like you’re completely numb. Face, feet, etc. I hate the whole experience. Everyone is different. I hope this works for others that are going to try this. Good luck!"

• CAd...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 11, 2022

For Major Depressive Disorder "I’ve been on Spravato for a few months. After the initial cycle, I’ve stayed at once a week for a while. Here are my tips: Tilt your head back. Have hard candy, the taste is bad. Some days I have more intense effects than others, sometimes it is as mild as a glass of wine or nothing at all. As far as being dissociative, I use eye shades and earphones, listening to vibration sounds on Spotify or Apple Music, and completely absorb myself into this… no out-of-body feelings, no walking around, no messing with vision. This method has helped to enjoy the experience because it’s not scary and allows me to be with my thoughts. As far as how it’s worked, it helps on the day of treatment, but the efficacy wanes until the next treatment. Even on the first day, it’s not a fix. I was hoping for more. My provider suggested infusions, but between the cost and knowing now how the drug works: it won’t last and would be infinitely more costly to maintain."

• Win...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 4, 2022

For Major Depressive Disorder "I only tried Spravato once, but it was too bad to continue. A few minutes after the nasal sprays, I had a horrible taste in my mouth, then nausea, then crying, dissociation, sweating, etc. Now I’m back home after a few hours with somewhat of a hangover feeling: headache, still nauseous, and now also a sore throat. I can’t accurately “rate” this drug since it needs to be taken for quite some time to get the results, but the side effects were just too horrible to go on. *Side note: I have also done several ketamine infusions prior to this, with only a bit of nausea once."