What Happens During a Spravato Treatment Session?
- Peculiar Wellness Center
- October 25, 2026
- 7 min read
Table of Contents
- 1. Before Your First Appointment
- 2. How to Prepare on Treatment Day
- 3. What Happens When You Arrive
- 4. Using the Nasal Spray
- 5. The Two-Hour Monitoring Period
- 6. What a Spravato Treatment Session Can Feel Like
- 7. Going Home After Your Session
- 8. How Often Will You Come In?
- 9. Frequently Asked Questions
- 10. What to Do Next
If you are about to start Spravato, it is normal to feel a little nervous about what the visit will actually look like. Spravato is not a pill you take at home, so each dose happens in a clinic with a provider nearby. Knowing what to expect during a Spravato treatment session can make your first visit feel much more manageable. This guide walks you through each step, from preparing at home to check-in, using the nasal spray, the monitoring period, and getting home safely. It also covers what the session may feel like and answers common questions about driving, alcohol, and telehealth. For an overview of how Spravato fits into broader mental health care, you can visit our Spravato treatment section.
1. Before Your First Appointment
Several steps happen before your first Spravato treatment session. Most of them are handled by your provider’s office, but it helps to know what is going on behind the scenes.
According to MedlinePlus, Spravato is available only through a restricted program called the Spravato REMS. You, your provider, and the pharmacy must all be enrolled before you can receive it. Your clinic will usually take care of the following:
- A psychiatric evaluation to confirm that Spravato fits your diagnosis and treatment history
- REMS enrollment, which includes signing a patient enrollment form
- A benefits check and prior authorization with your insurance plan
- A review of your medical history, including blood pressure, heart health, and current medications
If you are wondering about costs at this stage, our guide on whether insurance covers Spravato explains how coverage and prior authorization work.
2. How to Prepare on Treatment Day
A little planning makes your Spravato treatment session go more smoothly. Before each visit:
- Avoid food for at least two hours and liquids for at least 30 minutes before your appointment. This helps reduce nausea.
- Use nasal sprays early. If you use a nasal steroid or decongestant spray, use it at least one hour before your session.
- Arrange a ride home. You will not be able to drive until the next day after a restful night’s sleep.
- Wear comfortable clothes that you can relax in for a couple of hours.
- Bring something calming, such as headphones, music, or an eye mask, if your clinic allows it.
- Plan a light schedule for the rest of the day, since you may feel tired afterward.
3. What Happens When You Arrive
When you check in, your provider starts with a few quick steps to make sure it is safe to give your dose.
Your provider will typically:
- Check your blood pressure, since Spravato can raise it temporarily
- Ask how you have been feeling since your last visit
- Review any changes in your medications or health
- Answer any questions before you begin
If your blood pressure is higher than usual, your provider may wait and recheck it, or reschedule your dose for another day. This is a normal safety step, not a setback.
4. Using the Nasal Spray
One detail surprises many people: you give the medication to yourself, with your provider guiding you through each step.
Here is how this part of the Spravato treatment session usually works:
- You sit in a comfortable, reclining position.
- You gently blow your nose before the first device.
- You use one spray in each nostril. Each device holds two sprays.
- You rest for about five minutes before using the next device.
- You repeat this step until you have used all the devices for your dose, usually two or three.
Your provider checks each device afterward to confirm the full dose was used. The whole dosing process typically takes about 10 to 15 minutes.
5. The Two-Hour Monitoring Period
After your dose, you stay at the clinic for at least two hours so your provider can watch for side effects. This monitoring period is the longest part of every Spravato treatment session.
During this time:
- You rest in a quiet room, often in a reclining chair
- Your provider checks your blood pressure again after the dose
- Staff watch for drowsiness, dizziness, or other effects
- You can listen to music, close your eyes, or simply relax
Spravato acts on glutamate, a chemical messenger in the brain. That is why some people feel temporary changes in how they perceive their surroundings. To learn more, read our guide on how Spravato works in the brain. At the end of the monitoring period, your provider confirms that you are ready to leave.
6. What a Spravato Treatment Session Can Feel Like
Everyone responds differently, and many people find the experience easier than they expected. Knowing the possible effects ahead of time can help you feel more prepared.
According to Mayo Clinic, esketamine is available only through a restricted program and must be used under a provider’s supervision in a medical facility. That supervision exists because of short-term effects such as:
- Feeling disconnected from your body, thoughts, or surroundings (dissociation)
- Sleepiness or drowsiness
- Dizziness or a spinning sensation
- Nausea
- A temporary rise in blood pressure
These effects usually begin shortly after your dose and ease during the monitoring period. If anything feels uncomfortable, tell your provider right away. They are there to help you through it.
7. Going Home After Your Session
Once your provider clears you, a family member, friend, or caregiver drives you home. Even if you feel fine, you should not drive, operate machinery, or do anything that requires full alertness until the next day after a restful night’s sleep.
Many people find it helpful to:
- Rest or take it easy for the rest of the day
- Eat a light meal once they feel ready
- Keep a short note about how they felt during and after each session
That note can help you and your provider track your progress over time.
8. How Often Will You Come In?
Treatment usually starts with two sessions per week for the first four weeks. After that, visits typically drop to once a week, and later to once a week or every two weeks, depending on how you respond. Your provider will adjust your schedule to the lowest frequency that keeps your symptoms under control.
9. Frequently Asked Questions
Plan to be at the clinic for at least two and a half hours. Check-in and dosing take a short time, but the required monitoring period after your dose lasts at least two hours. Your provider will let you know when you are ready to leave.
No. You need a ride home after every session. You should not drive, operate machinery, or do anything that requires full alertness until the next day after a restful night’s sleep, even if you feel normal.
Alcohol can add to the drowsiness Spravato may cause, so it is best to avoid it on treatment days. Tell your provider about any alcohol or substance use before you start. This helps them plan safe care for you.
No. Every dose must be given in person at a certified clinic, where your provider can monitor you. Some follow-up visits or consultations may be available through telehealth, but the Spravato treatment session itself always happens in the office.
Contact your provider as soon as possible to reschedule. Missing sessions, especially early in treatment, can affect your progress. If your symptoms get worse after a missed session, let your provider know so they can review your treatment plan.
10. What to Do Next
If you are ready to find out whether Spravato is right for you, the first step is an evaluation with a qualified provider. Peculiar Wellness Center can walk you through each part of the process and help you prepare for your first visit. Learn more about Spravato treatment in Grand Prairie, TX.
If you are in crisis or having thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or call 911.
Key Takeaways
- Every Spravato treatment session happens in person at a certified clinic.
- Avoid food for two hours and liquids for 30 minutes before each visit.
- You use the nasal spray yourself while your provider guides you.
- You stay for at least two hours of monitoring after each dose.
- You need a ride home and cannot drive until the next day after restful sleep.
READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP? WE WILL WALK YOU THROUGH EVERY PART OF YOUR FIRST VISIT.
A provider can answer your questions, check your coverage, and help you feel prepared before your first session.
Disclaimer
The information in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Individual experiences vary. Always follow the specific instructions of your provider and treatment clinic.