Breakthrough depression treatment without the commute
If you’ve tried antidepressants two or more times, but still suffer from depression, it may be time to consider another option. And, thankfully, you don’t have to commute to Nashville or another city to access it. Spravato (esketamine) is an FDA-approved nasal spray for treatment-resistant depression, available only at certified treatment centers, and we administer it right here in Murfreesboro, at 1639 Medical Center Parkway, Suite 202.
If you or someone who you love struggles with depression even after two or more medication attempts, schedule a free, 15-minute consultation with us today to learn more.
Is Spravato right for you?
In general, you’re eligible for Spravato if:
- You have treatment-resistant depression: you’ve tried at least two antidepressants at adequate doses and enough relief never came [1].
- You have depression with acute suicidal thoughts or behavior: Spravato is approved for adults in this situation alongside an oral antidepressant [1].
- It’s medically appropriate: your prescriber screens blood pressure and history first, since Spravato isn’t recommended with certain blood vessel conditions, a history of bleeding in the brain, or during pregnancy [1].
A different mechanism for depression that won’t move
Standard antidepressants work through serotonin, and when two of them haven’t helped, a third often won’t either. Spravato takes a different route: it acts on glutamate, the brain’s most abundant messenger, helping rebuild connections that chronic depression erodes [1]. And since January 2025 it’s FDA-approved as a standalone treatment, the first of its kind for treatment-resistant depression [2], so staying on your current medication is an option, not an obligation.
Your visits on Medical Center Parkway
Our clinic sits in Murfreesboro’s medical district at 1639 Medical Center Parkway, Suite 202, minutes from Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford. Each visit is the same: vitals first, you self-administer the nasal spray under our team’s supervision, then you relax during a required 2-hour monitoring window while we keep an eye on your blood pressure and how you’re feeling [3]. Headphones and a playlist are welcome; plenty of people nap. You’ll need a ride, since driving waits until the next day after restful sleep [1]. Expect twice-weekly visits for the first 4 weeks, then weekly, then every 1 to 2 weeks as maintenance [1].
What the research shows
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.
Care built for a college town and a commuter county
Murfreesboro isn’t a suburb anymore. MTSU brings more than 21,000 students to town, and adults ages 18 to 24 report the highest depression rates of any age group nationally, 21.5% [6]. Add tens of thousands of Nashville commuters, and the twice-weekly induction schedule becomes the real barrier to care. We built around it: appointments start at 8am and in Murfreesboro we offer limited evening availability as well. The clinic sits just off the I-24 corridor, and your therapy or medication management follow-ups can happen by telehealth between doses. The Spravato visits themselves always happen in person, that part is federal law, but everything around them can flex to your schedule.
Insurance and cost in Murfreesboro
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 Athena Care Murfreesboro
Spravato is one tool in a full interventional program here: TMS and IM ketamine are available in the same suite, alongside therapy and medication care, so if your plan needs to change, your clinic doesn’t. We’re at 1639 Medical Center Parkway, Suite 202, Murfreesboro, TN 37129, Monday through Friday, 7am to 6pm. Call us at 1-855-390-4357, or schedule a free, 15-minute consultation to get started.
You can also visit the Murfreesboro clinic page to learn more.
Early morning, lunchtime, after-school and evening availability
Athena Care’s Murfreesboro clinic offers early morning, lunchtime, after-school, and evening 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 Murfreesboro
How long does each visit take?
About 2.5 hours door to door, most of that time is for the required monitoring window, where you’re relaxing.
I’m an MTSU student. Can I use my parents’ insurance?
Usually, yes, if you’re covered as a dependent. Call us at 1-855-390-4357, or schedule a free, 15-minute consultation and we’ll verify eligibility and prior authorization requirements before your first dose.
Can I go back to work or class the same day?
Plan to take the rest of the day off. Most people feel back to baseline by evening, and driving resumes the next day after restful sleep.
How is Spravato different from TMS?
Spravato is a medication that works through glutamate; TMS uses magnetic pulses and involves no medication at all. We offer both in this office. Schedule a free, 15-minute consultation to learn more about which option is best for you.
Do I have to stop my current medications?
No. Spravato pairs with an oral antidepressant, and since January 2025 it can also stand alone. Your prescriber builds the plan with you.
What does the treatment feel like?
Many people describe a dreamlike or floaty feeling for 30 to 60 minutes. That’s the dissociation: expected, monitored, and it fades before you leave.
How soon can I start?
From initial inquiry to beginning treatment, it usually takes 2-5 weeks. Call 1-855-390-4357 and we’ll map your timeline.
And if you’re in crisis right now, please don’t wait for an appointment. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7. You’re not alone in this, and help doesn’t start next week, it starts today.
Contact us today
Visit Us
Address
1639 Medical Center Parkway
Suite 202
Murfreesboro, TN 37129
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.