Is Spravato Right for You? A 5-Minute Self-Assessment
Is Spravato Right for You? A 5-Minute Self-Assessment
Wondering if Spravato is right for you isn't a question you can fully answer in a blog post — it ends with a conversation between you and a provider — but you can do most of the homework in five minutes. The qualifying criteria are specific. The disqualifiers are clear. Here's how to figure out whether to keep researching or schedule a consult.
The clinical criteria, in plain English
To be a candidate for Spravato for treatment-resistant depression, you generally need: a current diagnosis of major depressive disorder, at least two failed antidepressant trials in your current episode, age 18 or older, and the ability to stay in a clinic for two hours per session with a ride home. That's the short version. Most of the rest is making sure Spravato is safe for your specific medical history.
Have you tried 2+ antidepressants at full dose?
This is the criterion most patients aren't sure about. "Failed trial" has a specific meaning: you took the medication at an adequate therapeutic dose for at least four to six weeks and didn't get a meaningful response — or you couldn't tolerate the side effects long enough to find out. Trying a low dose for two weeks and stopping doesn't count. If you can't remember the doses and durations, pull up your pharmacy history; most chains will print 12 months back instantly.
What may disqualify you
A few conditions either rule out Spravato or require careful evaluation: uncontrolled high blood pressure, a history of certain bleeding conditions, pregnancy or breastfeeding, active substance use disorder involving dissociatives, and certain cardiovascular conditions. These aren't always absolute — some are workable with the right medical coordination. A consult is where we sort that out.
Age, pregnancy, blood pressure, and substance use
Spravato is approved for adults 18 and older. It's not used during pregnancy because the safety data isn't there. Blood pressure is screened at every session, so if you have hypertension we want it well-managed before starting. And for substance use: a history of substance use isn't a disqualifier, but active use of dissociatives requires a real conversation.
What "maybe" looks like
A lot of patients fall into "maybe" — meaning you meet most criteria but have one factor that needs a closer look. That's normal. It's exactly what the consult is for. We'd rather take 30 minutes to evaluate your fit than start you on a treatment that wasn't right for you.
Your next step
If you said yes to all the main criteria, the next step is a free 15-minute consult. We'll review your treatment history, screen for contraindications, and explain what enrollment in the REMS program looks like. If you said maybe, that's still a consult — we'll just spend more time on the specifics.
