When depression persists, even after medications, it’s easy to start wondering if anything will work. Up to a third of people with depression don’t respond to conventional antidepressants [1], and Spravato was developed specifically for them. Our Memphis area clinic in Cordova offers Spravato with the supervision, monitoring, and insurance support the treatment requires.
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?
Spravato (esketamine) is a prescription nasal spray, FDA-approved in March 2019, for adults with treatment-resistant depression. Unlike traditional antidepressants that target serotonin, Spravato works on glutamate, the brain’s most abundant chemical messenger, which is why it can act in days rather than weeks. And as of January 2025, Spravato is also FDA-approved as the first standalone treatment for treatment-resistant depression, no longer only as an add-on to a daily oral antidepressant [2].
Signs Spravato is right for you
- You’re battling depression and attempted two or more antidepressants, along with another form of treatment, during your most recent depressive episode without finding significant relief.
- You have been diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression (TRD).
Your prescriber will also review your blood pressure and health history, since Spravato isn’t recommended with certain blood vessel conditions or during pregnancy.
What to expect at your Spravato appointments
Every session takes place at our REMS-certified Cordova clinic. After a quick check-in and blood pressure reading, you’ll self-administer the nasal spray with our clinical team right there, then settle into a recliner for the required 2-hour observation window [3]. Bring headphones, a book, or nothing at all; plenty of people use the time to simply rest. Because the medication can leave you drowsy for a few hours, you’ll need a ride home, and driving waits until the next day.
Treatment starts with 2 sessions per week for the first month, then steps down to weekly, and eventually every 1 to 2 weeks for maintenance, adjusted to how you respond.
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.
How much does Spravato therapy cost in Memphis, TN?
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.
How to get Spravato treatment in Memphis, TN
You’ll complete treatment under the supervision of a licensed provider. This is essential to ensuring that patients are aware of and capable of managing any side effects related to Spravato.
To reduce the side effects of dissociation and to prevent abuse, and misuse, the FDA implemented a controlled distribution system for Spravato. The Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program requires a certification for healthcare facilities that disperse Spravato. As a result, your local pharmacy does not carry the medication. Only licensed healthcare facilities and staff members who have received the necessary training to prescribe and distribute the drug may use it.6
To be assessed for Spravato, you’ll have a physical examination and a psychological evaluation. Then, if your request for treatment is accepted, you’ll receive a Spravato esketamine prescription.
Most major insurance providers cover Spravato treatment. A care coordinator will thoroughly review your plan and assist you with any questions or concerns regarding insurance coverage for Spravato treatment in Memphis, TN. Rest assured that all information provided and discussed remains confidential.
At Athena Care, that whole sequence happens under one roof: evaluation, enrollment, treatment, and follow-up with the same team.
How well does it work?
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%.
Safety and side effects
Most side effects show up during or shortly after a session and fade the same day: dissociation, sleepiness, dizziness, nausea, and a temporary rise in blood pressure. Sedation is common enough, roughly half of patients in trials, that the 2-hour monitoring window exists precisely to keep you safe and comfortable [3]. Your provider reviews the full safety picture with you before treatment.
Our Memphis area Spravato clinic in Cordova
Athena Care’s Memphis clinic is at 8000 Centerview Parkway, Suite 201, Cordova, TN 38018, minutes off I-40 with free parking, serving patients from Memphis, Germantown, Bartlett, Collierville, and across Shelby County, Monday through Friday, 7am to 6pm.
Call us at 1-855-390-4357, or schedule a free, 15-minute inquiry call to get started. You can also visit the Memphis clinic page to learn more.
Early morning, lunchtime and after-school availability
Athena Care’s Memphis 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.
Frequently asked questions about Spravato in Memphis
How long is each appointment?
About 2.5 hours: check-in, the nasal spray, and the required 2-hour monitoring period.
Can I drive myself home?
No. Plan for a ride after every session; driving resumes the next day after a restful night’s sleep.
Will I need to stop my current antidepressant?
Usually not. Many people take Spravato alongside their oral antidepressant, and since January 2025 it can also be prescribed on its own. Your provider decides with you.
How soon will I feel a difference?
Some people notice a shift within the first week or 2; the trials measured response within 4 weeks [5]. If it isn’t helping by then, your prescriber will talk through next steps, including TMS at the same clinic.
Contact us today
Visit Us
Address
8000 Centerview Pkwy #201, Cordova (Memphis), TN 38018
Phone: (877) 641-1155
Fax: (615) 320-1177
Hours
M-F 7:00am – 6:00pm
Fax: (615) 320-1177
Languages
English
[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] Johnson & Johnson, SPRAVATO withMe Affordability & Treatment Support, Spravato.com (2026): https://www.spravato.com/patient-support-program
[5] 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
[6] 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/
[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.