Nashville has plenty of clinics that mention esketamine. What’s rare is a program with history: Athena Care has administered Spravato at 220 Athens Way, Suite 104 since 2021, among the first REMS-certified centers in greater Nashville. If you’ve tried antidepressants two or more times and still suffer from depression, you’re not alone and you’re not out of options. Spravato may be the solution you’ve been waiting for. Here’s exactly how this works.
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.
Who qualifies for Spravato in Nashville?
Two groups qualify under the FDA label: adults with treatment-resistant depression, meaning at least two adequate antidepressant trials without enough relief, and adults with major depressive disorder with acute suicidal thoughts or behavior, treated alongside an oral antidepressant [1]. Since January 2025, Spravato is also approved as a standalone treatment for treatment-resistant depression, the first medication with that indication [2]. A medical screening comes first either way: blood pressure, history, and current medications.
What your visits look like at 220 Athens Way
Every dose of Spravato happens at the clinic, by federal requirement. You’ll check in; we take your blood pressure; you self-administer the nasal spray in a private room, and then you rest through the required 2-hour observation window while our team monitors you, with a second blood pressure check about 40 minutes in [3]. You can bring headphones; or you may want to take a nap in our comfortable chairs. You’ll need a ride home, and driving resumes the next day after restful sleep [1]. Most people take the rest of the day off and are fully back to routine the following morning. Induction runs twice weekly for 4 weeks, then weekly, then every 1 to 2 weeks based on your response [1].
The evidence, with receipts
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]
- 41% of Athena Care patients achieved remission (symptom-free)[iii]
- On average, patient depression scores improved by 57%.
- 64% of Athena Care patients had at least a 50% reduction in symptoms (“responders”)
A city that needs more options
Tennessee carries the third highest rate of diagnosed depression in the country, 24.4% of adults [6]. Nashville’s growth keeps outpacing its psychiatric capacity. That’s why we’ve kept building the interventional program at MetroCenter: when standard care stalls, the next option shouldn’t be six months away.
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.
Insurance: BCBST, Cigna, Aetna, UHC, and more
Spravato is covered by most major commercial plans with prior authorization, and eligible commercially insured patients can pay as little as $10 per treatment, plus their co-pay for an office visit. Our team verifies benefits and files the authorization before you start treatment, so rest assured that the conversation about cost happens up front.
Where Spravato fits among your Nashville options
Athena Care offers comprehensive care, all under one roof, so that all your needs can be met by a team who is working together to coordinate your care. Spravato isn’t the only advanced option for depression: TMS in Nashville offers a medication-free route, and IM ketamine fits select cases. We also offer medication management plus therapy, which can continue alongside any other care that you receive.
Getting started
You might benefit from a single evaluation visit before any decision: it covers your history, the medical screen, and a straight answer on whether Spravato fits. Call a Care Coordinator at 1-855-390-4357, Monday through Friday, 7am to 6pm, or schedule a free, 15-minute inquiry call to get started. You can learn more about the location on our Nashville clinic page.
If you’re in crisis right now, don’t wait: call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline answers 24/7.
Early morning, lunchtime, after-school and evening availability
Athena Care’s Nashville 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 Nashville
Where exactly in Nashville are you located?
220 Athens Way, Suite 104, in MetroCenter, minutes from downtown off Rosa L. Parks Boulevard. There is ample free parking available.
How long is each appointment?
About 2.5 hours: a short check-in, the dose, and the required 2-hour monitoring window.
Will my insurance cover it, and what will I pay?
Most commercial plans cover Spravato with prior authorization, which means that insured patients often pay $10 per visit plus their office co-pay amount. We verify everything before your first visit.
Can I drive myself home?
No. Driving resumes the next day, after a restful night’s sleep.
Can I work the same day?
Plan on not working the same day. Most patients are back to full routine the next morning.
Do I have to stop my current antidepressant?
No, and since January 2025 Spravato can also stand alone. Your prescriber designs the plan with you.
How fast 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.
Contact us today
Visit Us
Address
220 Athens Way
Suite 104
Nashville, TN 37228
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.