Spravato® (Esketamine) Treatment in Corpus Christi, Texas
STMHA Corpus Christi is a REMS-certified Spravato treatment center offering FDA-approved esketamine for adults with treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder with acute suicidal ideation. Medicare and major insurance covered.
Understanding Spravato
Fast-acting relief when antidepressants haven't been enough
Spravato works differently from traditional antidepressants. Standard SSRIs and SNRIs target serotonin, norepinephrine, or dopamine and typically take four to eight weeks to show effect. Esketamine acts on NMDA receptors in the brain and can begin easing depressive symptoms within hours to days of the first dose.
This faster mechanism is why the FDA approved Spravato specifically for treatment-resistant depression and for depression with acute suicidal ideation, where waiting weeks for relief is not an option. It is the first FDA-approved nasal spray in its class and one of the few treatments designed specifically for patients whose depression has not responded to standard antidepressant therapy.
STMHA Corpus Christi is a REMS-certified Spravato treatment center. Our board-certified psychiatrists evaluate candidacy, manage treatment, and monitor progress at every visit. Spravato is administered in-office under clinical supervision, with a mandatory two-hour monitoring period after each dose as required by the FDA's Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program.
Eligibility
Who qualifies for Spravato treatment
Spravato is FDA-approved for two specific indications. Your psychiatrist reviews your medical history, current medications, prior treatment responses, and any contraindications before recommending Spravato.
What to expect
What happens during a Spravato visit
Each visit takes about 2.5 to 3 hours from start to finish. You will be in our Corpus Christi clinic the whole time, with our team nearby.
Cost & effectiveness
How much does Spravato cost, and how well does it work?
Coverage plays the biggest role in what patients pay out-of-pocket. Clinical trial data supports Spravato's use for adults whose depression has not responded to standard antidepressants.
Understanding the difference
Spravato vs. IV ketamine: what's the difference?
Spravato contains esketamine, one of the two mirror-image molecules that make up ketamine. In practice, the two are administered, regulated, and covered very differently.
Side effects & safety
What Spravato side effects look like
Most side effects occur during or shortly after the session and resolve within the two-hour monitoring period. Your clinical team is present throughout.
Important: You must not drive or operate heavy machinery on the day of your treatment session. Arrange transportation in advance. Do not eat for two hours before your appointment. Avoid nasal corticosteroids or nasal decongestants within one hour of your dose.
Where to find care
Spravato treatment at our Corpus Christi clinic
Spravato is an in-office treatment provided at STMHA Corpus Christi, Texas. It is not offered at our San Antonio or Edinburg locations, and is not delivered via telehealth.
STMHA Corpus Christi
Coverage
Insurance accepted for Spravato
Our team verifies benefits and handles prior authorization before your first session, so you know your out-of-pocket cost in advance.
Good to know
Spravato treatment questions, answered
Spravato (esketamine) is an FDA-approved nasal spray for adults with treatment-resistant depression or major depressive disorder with acute suicidal ideation. It contains esketamine, a compound related to ketamine that works on NMDA receptors in the brain. Unlike traditional antidepressants that can take weeks to build up, Spravato may begin reducing depressive symptoms within hours to days. It is administered in a certified clinical setting and always used in combination with an oral antidepressant.
Adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) who have tried at least two antidepressants at adequate doses without sufficient relief, and adults with major depressive disorder experiencing active suicidal ideation with intent or plan (MDSI). Your psychiatrist at STMHA Corpus Christi reviews your history to determine if you are a candidate. Some medical conditions, such as a history of aneurysmal vascular disease, may disqualify a patient.
Yes. Spravato is covered by Medicare Part B as a physician-administered drug when given in a certified healthcare setting. Many commercial insurance plans including Tricare, Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and United Healthcare also cover Spravato with prior authorization. Coverage varies by plan, so call (361) 356-1234 to verify your specific benefits before starting treatment.
Spravato's cost depends on your dose (56 mg or 84 mg) and your insurance plan. Medicare Part B and most commercial insurance plans cover Spravato as a physician-administered drug when given at a REMS-certified site like STMHA Corpus Christi. Out-of-pocket costs vary based on your plan, deductible, and coinsurance. Our team verifies your specific benefits and secures prior authorization before you begin, so you know your cost in advance.
In the TRANSFORM-2 clinical trial, adults with treatment-resistant depression treated with Spravato plus a new oral antidepressant showed significantly greater symptom reduction than those on placebo plus antidepressant, with many patients responding in the first week. Long-term SUSTAIN-1 data showed continued Spravato treatment cut the risk of depressive relapse by roughly 51% versus antidepressant alone. Individual response varies. Your psychiatrist tracks your PHQ-9 scores at every visit to measure your response.
Plan to spend about 2.5 to 3 hours at our clinic for each session. The nasal spray itself takes about 5 minutes to administer, after which you rest and are monitored by our clinical team for at least two hours. This monitoring period is required by the FDA's REMS program. You will also need a designated driver on the day of each session.
The most common side effects are dissociation, dizziness, nausea, sedation, increased blood pressure, and vertigo. These effects typically occur during or shortly after administration and resolve within the two-hour monitoring period. You cannot drive on treatment days. Our clinical team is present throughout every session to monitor safety and comfort.
Spravato (esketamine) is FDA-approved specifically for treatment-resistant depression and MDSI, administered as a nasal spray under clinical supervision, covered by Medicare and many commercial insurance plans, and subject to the FDA's REMS safety program. IV ketamine is used off-label for depression, is not FDA-approved for that indication, is rarely covered by insurance, and is not subject to the same regulatory oversight.
STMHA Corpus Christi at 1321 Glenoak Dr., Corpus Christi, TX 78418 is a REMS-certified Spravato treatment site serving the Corpus Christi area and surrounding Coastal Bend communities. Call (361) 356-1234 to schedule a Spravato eligibility consultation with one of our board-certified psychiatrists.
Medically reviewed
Reviewed by John Lusins III, MD
Board-certified psychiatrist, founding member of STMHA, and recognized Top Doctor by The Bend.
Ask about Spravato at STMHA Corpus Christi
If antidepressants have not given you enough relief, Spravato may be an option worth discussing. Contact our Corpus Christi clinic to schedule an eligibility consultation with a board-certified psychiatrist.