As Spravato® (esketamine) continues to emerge as a proven and viable mental health treatment, many patients are unaware of what to do after Spravato® treatment. After receiving Spravato®, it’s essential to prioritize rest and recovery for the remainder of the day. You should not drive, operate machinery, or engage in activities requiring alertness for at least several hours after treatment, as the medication can cause dizziness, sedation, and impaired coordination. Plan to have a responsible adult accompany you to and from your appointment, and arrange for someone to stay with you or check on you during the initial recovery period for ketamine-assisted therapy.
Once home, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, but avoid alcohol altogether on treatment days, as it can intensify side effects and interfere with the medication’s effectiveness. Create a calm, comfortable environment at home where you can rest quietly, and consider having light snacks available, though you may experience some nausea initially.
In the days following Spravato® treatment, maintain open communication with your healthcare team about any side effects or changes in mood you experience. Continue taking any other prescribed medications as directed unless specifically instructed otherwise by your doctor. Spravato® treatment is typically part of a comprehensive care plan, so continue attending therapy sessions and follow-up appointments as scheduled to maximize your treatment outcomes.
Why Is Rest Important After Spravato® Treatment?
Rest is a crucial component of what to do after Spravato® treatment for several key safety and therapeutic reasons. While not considered ketamine-infusion therapy, patients remain in the clinic under a doctor’s observation until potential side effects have passed, which highlights the immediate need for supervised rest during the acute recovery period.
The medication can cause significant side effects, including sedation, dizziness, dissociation, and impaired coordination, that require time to resolve. During this vulnerable period, your brain is processing the neurochemical changes triggered by esketamine, and rest allows your system to stabilize safely without the added stress of physical or mental demands.
Beyond immediate safety concerns, rest supports the therapeutic benefits of Spravato® treatment. Engaging in calming activities such as reading, journaling, or listening to soothing music can help promote relaxation and aid in the recovery process, suggesting that peaceful recovery time enhances treatment effectiveness.
Avoiding stimulating activities, stress, and cognitive demands gives your brain the optimal environment to consolidate the positive neuroplastic changes that Spravato® promotes, potentially maximizing the antidepressant benefits while minimizing the risk of adverse reactions or complications during the critical hours following treatment.
Can I Drive or Return to Work the Same Day After Spravato® Treatment?
Taking Spravato® can be conducted in an outpatient mental health treatment facility, but patients cannot drive or return to work the same day after therapy. This is a strict safety requirement, not a suggestion, as the medication causes significant impairment that can persist for hours even when you feel fine.
- Driving Restrictions: You should not drive at all on the day of your Spravato treatment, and it is recommended that patients avoid driving or operating any kind of machinery for the entire day after taking Spravato, and should begin driving or operating machinery the next day only if they have managed to get a full night’s sleep.
- Work Considerations: Returning to work the same day is also not recommended, especially if your job involves operating machinery, making important decisions, or requiring full alertness and concentration. The sedation, dizziness, and cognitive effects can impair your judgment and reaction time even when you feel recovered.
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What Should I Eat and Drink After Spravato® Treatment?
Before your Spravato® treatment, you should avoid eating for two hours and drinking liquids 30 minutes before taking SPRAVATO®. This fasting helps prevent nausea and vomiting, which are common side effects of the medication.
- After Treatment – Hydration Focus: Once your treatment is complete and your healthcare provider has cleared you, focus primarily on gentle rehydration. Start with small sips of water, clear broths, or electrolyte drinks to help your body recover from the fasting period and support your overall recovery. Avoid alcohol completely on treatment days, as it can worsen side effects and interfere with the medication’s effectiveness.
- Post-Treatment Food Choices: When you’re ready to eat again, which is typically a few hours after treatment when nausea has subsided, choose bland, easily digestible foods. Good options include plain toast, crackers, bananas, rice, or light soup. Avoid heavy, greasy, spicy, or highly seasoned foods that might trigger nausea or stomach upset. Listen to your body and eat small amounts initially, gradually returning to your regular diet as you feel better.
When Should I Contact My Clinic About Side Effects After Spravato® Treatment?
You should contact your healthcare provider right away if you experience any of these potentially severe symptoms: chest pain, shortness of breath, sudden severe headache, change in vision, or seizures after taking esketamine. Watch for irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing, pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin, or trouble breathing. These respiratory symptoms are particularly concerning and require immediate medical attention.
Reach out to your clinic if you experience extreme tiredness or sleepiness, dizziness, fainting, or shortness of breath, or if you feel anxious or disconnected from your body, thoughts, emotions, space, and time that persists beyond the expected recovery period or seems unusually severe.
For life-threatening symptoms like severe breathing difficulties, chest pain, seizures, or loss of consciousness, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately. For concerning but less urgent symptoms like persistent dissociation, unusual mood changes, cognitive problems, or bladder issues that develop in the hours or days following treatment, contact your Spravato® clinic during business hours. Your healthcare team expects these calls and wants to monitor your progress closely, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you’re experiencing any side effects that worry you or seem different from what you were told to expect.
Key Takeaways on What to Do After Spravato® Treatment
- You absolutely cannot drive, operate machinery, or return to work on the same day as Spravato® treatment.
- Rest after Spravato® treatment is crucial for maximizing therapeutic benefits.
- After treatment, focus on gentle rehydration with water and light, bland foods like toast or crackers.
- Immediately contact your clinic for serious symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, severe headache, vision changes, seizures, or breathing problems.
- Arrange for a responsible adult to accompany you and stay with you during recovery and maintain open communication with your healthcare team.
Not sure what to do after Spravato® treatment? Moment of Clarity has a network of outpatient mental health treatment centers in Southern California to provide guidance and support as you navigate this critical phase of your life. Give us a call at 949-625-0564 to discover a variety of recovery strategies and self-care practices tailored to enhance your healing journey.
Resources
- Mayo Clinic – Esketamine (nasal route)
- National Library of Medicine – Intranasal Esketamine (Spravato®) for Use in Treatment-Resistant Depression In Conjunction With an Oral Antidepressant
- Johns Hopkins Medicine – Esketamine for Treatment-Resistant Depression
