Depression that won’t respond to medication is exhausting, and if you’ve cycled through prescriptions without real relief, you might be wondering what’s left. You’re not alone: about 1 in 3 people with depression don’t get better on conventional antidepressants [1]. Fortunately, Spravato offers a genuinely different approach, and you don’t have to drive into Nashville to get it. Our Hendersonville clinic on Hazel Path brings REMS-certified Spravato treatment to Sumner County.
If you or someone who you love struggles with depression even after two or more medication attempts, schedule a free, 15-minute inquiry call with us today to learn more.
What is Spravato, and why is it different?
Spravato (esketamine) is an FDA-approved nasal spray for treatment-resistant depression. Instead of working on serotonin the way most antidepressants do, it acts on glutamate, the brain’s most abundant messenger, helping restore connections that chronic depression wears down. That different mechanism is why some people feel a shift from Spravato in days instead of weeks. Originally approved in 2019 as an add-on to an oral antidepressant, Spravato became the first FDA-approved standalone treatment for treatment-resistant depression in January 2025 [2].
Who’s a candidate?
- Treatment-resistant depression: you’ve tried at least 2 antidepressants at adequate doses without enough relief.
- Depression with acute suicidal thoughts or behavior: Spravato is approved for adults who suffer from suicidal thinking and use Spravato alongside an oral antidepressant.
- Medically appropriate: your prescriber will screen your blood pressure and history, since Spravato isn’t recommended with certain blood vessel conditions, a history of brain bleeding, or during pregnancy.
What does treatment looks like at our Hendersonville clinic?
Spravato is never a take-home medication. Each visit, you’ll self-administer the nasal spray under our team’s supervision, then relax through a required 2-hour monitoring period while we keep an eye on your blood pressure and how you’re feeling [3]. Bring a book or a playlist, and bring a driver: you can’t drive again until the next day, after a restful night’s sleep.
The schedule is front-loaded on purpose. You’ll come in twice a week for the first 4 weeks, then weekly, then every 1 to 2 weeks for maintenance, tuned to your response.
What results can I expect?
Since 2023, Athena Care has successfully treated hundreds of patients with Spravato, with excellent results[i]:
- 91% of Athena Care patients had a clinically meaningful improvement in depressive symptoms and 80% had a clinically substantial improvement[ii]
- 64% of Athena Care patients had at least a 50% reduction in symptoms (“responders”)
- 41% of Athena Care patients achieved remission (symptom-free)[iii]
- On average, patient depression scores improved by 57%.
Meet our Chief Medical Officer
Athena Care’s Chief Medical Officer is the psychiatrist Dr. Amanda Sparks-Bushnell, M.D. She oversees Athena Care’s Spravato program.
Dr. Amanda Sparks-Bushnell is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist who maintains a heartfelt commitment to transformative leadership and patient well-being. Her career is marked by a passion for enhancing medical services, fostering collaboration, and ensuring the utmost care for those she serves.
Side effects and safety
The most common effects, dissociation, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, and a brief rise in blood pressure, occur around the session itself and typically resolve the same day. That’s the whole reason for the supervised 2-hour window: you’re never navigating those effects alone [3]. Your prescriber walks through the full safety profile before your first dose.
Cost and insurance in Hendersonville
Most major insurance plans cover Spravato for eligible patients. This means that, with commercial insurance, most people pay $10 per visit for the medication, plus any co-pay costs for an office visit. [6] Athena Care doesn’t offer self-pay options for Spravato.
Why Hendersonville?
Our clinic sits at 103 Hazel Path, Suite 2, Hendersonville, TN 37075, just off Main Street, with free parking and appointments Monday through Friday, 7am to 6pm. We see patients from Hendersonville, Gallatin, Goodlettsville, Mt. Juliet, and across Sumner County, which means twice-weekly induction visits don’t require a commute into Nashville.
Early morning, lunchtime and after-school availability
Athena Care’s Hendersonville clinic offers early morning, lunchtime and after-school time slots for Spravato patients. Contact our care team to learn more about current availability. Call or text us at 1-855-390-4357 to get started.
Reach out through our Care Coordinators at 1-855-390-4357 or visit the Hendersonville clinic page to learn more.
Frequently asked questions about Spravato in Hendersonville
How long is each appointment?
About 2.5 hours, most of it the required monitoring window. Many patients book morning sessions and are home by lunch.
Do I have to be off my current medication?
No. Spravato is often taken alongside an oral antidepressant, and since January 2025 it can also stand alone. Your provider will design the plan with you.
Why do I need a driver?
Because Spravato can cause temporary drowsiness and dissociation, the FDA requires no driving until the next day after restful sleep.
How is this different from ketamine therapy?
Spravato is the FDA-approved, insurance-covered nasal spray form of esketamine. Ketamine infusions are a related, off-label option; our team offers both and can help you compare. Visit this article to compare different advanced treatment options.
How soon can I start?
It begins with an evaluation, REMS enrollment, and insurance authorization, which our team handles. Call or text 1-855-390-4357 and we’ll map out the timeline for you.
Contact us today
Visit Us
Address
103 Hazel Path
Suite 2
Hendersonville, TN 37075
Phone: (615) 320-1155
Fax: (615) 320-1177
Hours
M-F 7:00am – 6:00pm
Languages
English, Español
[1] AJMC, TRANSFORM-2 Results on Esketamine Published, Along With Caveats (May 2019): https://www.ajmc.com/view/transform2-results-on-esketamine-published-along-with-caveats
[2] Johnson & Johnson, SPRAVATO (Esketamine) Approved in the U.S. as the First and Only Monotherapy for Adults With Treatment-Resistant Depression (Jan. 2025): https://www.jnj.com/media-center/press-releases/spravato-esketamine-approved-in-the-u-s-as-the-first-and-only-monotherapy-for-adults-with-treatment-resistant-depression
[3] U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), SPRAVATO (Esketamine) Nasal Spray Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning and REMS requirements (revised Apr. 2025): https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2025/211243s019lbl.pdf
[4] Popova, V., et al., Efficacy and Safety of Flexibly Dosed Esketamine Nasal Spray Combined With a Newly Initiated Oral Antidepressant in Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Randomized Double-Blind Active-Controlled Study (TRANSFORM-2), American Journal of Psychiatry (2019): https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.2019.19020172
[5] Oliveira-Maia, A.J., et al., ICEBERG Study: An Indirect Adjusted Comparison Estimating the Long-Term Benefit of Esketamine Nasal Spray When Compared With Routine Treatment of Treatment Resistant Depression in General Psychiatry, Frontiers in Psychiatry, via PubMed Central (2023): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10669153/
[6] Johnson & Johnson, SPRAVATO withMe Affordability & Treatment Support, Spravato.com (2026): https://www.spravato.com/patient-support-program
[i] Athena Care results are based on the Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) scores for patients completing at least 12 Spravato treatments. Improvement, response, and remission were determined using a 3-score rolling average. Thus, the “improved” score was based on a minimum of 3 scores (corresponding to a minimum of 3 weeks).
[ii]Research indicates that 6- and 12-point reductions in MADRS scores correspond, respectively, to a clinically meaningful improvement (1-point) and a clinically substantial (2-point) change on the Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) scale, which is a global measure of symptom severity (i.e., not specific to depression). Turkoz I, Alphs L, Singh J, Jamieson C, Daly E, Shawi M, Sheehan JJ, Trivedi MH, Rush AJ. Clinically meaningful changes on depressive symptom measures and patient-reported outcomes in patients with treatment-resistant depression.
[iii] Remission was defined as a MADRS score less than 12, which matches the definition utilized in the Spravato clinical trials.