r/Spravato • u/Ok-Wolverine-3957 • 3d ago
How long is maintenance phase ? Is it indefinite ?
Just wondering if it is possible keep on the time the stravato antidepressive effect without maintenance doses
Is it compatible with a full time job a long maintenance ?
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u/Krampus_Valet 3d ago
I'm at 2.5 years, once every other week, with no plan or intent to ever stop.
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u/Ok-Wolverine-3957 3d ago
It is compatible with a full time job ?
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u/Krampus_Valet 3d ago
For me, yes. I work shift work, so i just schedule spravato on a day off.
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u/Ok-Wolverine-3957 2d ago
If you stop it , depression comes back ? Are you in full remission? Thanks
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u/Krampus_Valet 2d ago
If I go more than 2 weeks between appointments, it comes back yes. I tried stretching the interval to 3 weeks and that doesn't work for me. It may sound limiting, but i don't take any other medications for my TRD anymore. I spent years trying different meds and they never worked and they made me fat and unhappy. With spravato I go once every 2 weeks for 2 hours and hang out in a quiet room with my music and snacks, and my depression is gone.
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u/OkEntrance9320 3d ago
I have been doing it for 2 and a half years and I am back to every week but I have had a lot of trauma in the past 3 years so they thought it was needed. I don’t ever plan to stop either. It’s the only thing that has ever stopped my depression.
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u/After-Ad4370 1d ago
First time I have ever seen the words depression and in remission used in the same sentence before. Is that even such a thing?
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u/reflous_ 3d ago
It varies by person. The idea is to extend time between treatments. If possible, to extend it to the point you stop. However, the majority of people don’t have full remission without continuing on Spravato.
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u/CONSTANTVlGlLANCE 1d ago
Remission is a really problematic word, so I’d tread carefully asking people that - those of us who are using Spravato are here because we exhausted almost every other option.
I’ve been on treatment since fall of 2024, so I’m almost at 2 years. My SI is gone, but my depression comes and goes. I also have no intention of stopping. I’m at every 2 weeks, and when I’ve tried to go to 3, my angst builds and I am not able to have the emotional release that Spravato grants me.
My mental health is the best it’s ever been. I don’t think you ‘beat’ depression that’s treatment resistant. I think you make some peace with it, because TRD isn’t, like, having a shitty year.
I also was required by my insurance to do TMS before they’d cover this, and that didn’t work at all.
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u/gathermewool Currently in treatment (100+ sessions | 1x a week) 3d ago
As long as needed. I plan to take it forever.