A woman standing at the shore with her arms raised and her face turned to the sun, smiling
REMS-certified SPRAVATO® center · Phoenix, AZ

Two antidepressants haven't worked. SPRAVATO® works differently.

SPRAVATO® (esketamine) is the first prescription nasal spray used alongside an oral antidepressant to treat severe, treatment-resistant depression. Many patients feel a shift within 24 hours, not weeks.

Check if I qualify Call us
A clinician with a patient during a treatment session at our Phoenix practice
A nasal spray you take yourself, here in our Phoenix office — with a clinician beside you the whole time.
24 hrs
Relief can begin this fast
2 hrs
Monitored, every session
Most
Insurance accepted & verified

Check your SPRAVATO® eligibility

Two questions and your contact details. We verify your benefits and call you back within one business day.

Please don't include sensitive medical details. Not for emergencies — in a crisis, call 988 or 911.

REMS-certified

Protocol-driven monitoring

FDA-approved

For TRD and MDD with SI

Insurance handled

We file the authorization

Board-certified

15+ years in practice

Do I qualify?

SPRAVATO® is for a specific kind of depression.

It is approved for two groups of adults with major depressive disorder — and about 30% of people diagnosed with depression fall into treatment-resistant territory.

Treatment-resistant depression

An adult with major depressive disorder that has not responded to standard antidepressant treatment.

Two or more antidepressants tried

No adequate response to at least two different antidepressants during your current episode — usually six weeks each. This is the criterion insurers check.

Depression with suicidal thoughts

Depressive symptoms alongside suicidal thoughts or actions, where waiting weeks for a medication to work is not an option.

Not sure whether you meet the criteria? That is exactly what the first call is for.

Check my eligibility

How it works

A different target in the brain.

Standard antidepressants work on serotonin and norepinephrine, and take weeks to build an effect. SPRAVATO® acts on the brain's glutamate system instead — which is why it moves so much faster.

  1. 1

    Blocks NMDA receptors

    The doorways controlling glutamate flow. When they are overactive, mood and thinking suffer; esketamine restores the balance.

  2. 2

    Rebuilds connections

    Depression damages the connections between neurons. Esketamine promotes neuroplasticity, so improvement can hold rather than fade.

  3. 3

    Works with your meds

    It is prescribed alongside an oral antidepressant, not instead of one — and only ever given under medical supervision.

Time to first relief

SPRAVATO®

24 hours to a few days

Oral antidepressant

6 to 12 weeks

Illustrative, not to scale. Individual response varies.

A patient holding the SPRAVATO 28 mg esketamine nasal spray device up to their nose
SPRAVATO (esketamine) CIII nasal spray

Dispensed only through REMS-certified centers. We are one.

Faster than pills. Gentler than ECT.

All three treat depression that hasn't responded to standard care. They differ in how fast they work, what a session costs you in time, and what you feel afterward.

Time to relief

SPRAVATO®

Hours to days

Oral antidepressants

Typically 6–12 weeks per trial

ECT

Over a course of sessions

How it is given

SPRAVATO®

A nasal spray you self-administer

Oral antidepressants

A pill you take daily at home

ECT

Anesthesia and an induced seizure

Sedation

SPRAVATO®

None — you stay awake

Oral antidepressants

None

ECT

General anesthesia every session

What it targets

SPRAVATO®

Glutamate and NMDA receptors

Oral antidepressants

Serotonin and norepinephrine

ECT

Whole-brain seizure activity

Memory effects

SPRAVATO®

Not typical

Oral antidepressants

Not typical

ECT

Memory loss is a known risk

Time at the clinic

SPRAVATO®

~2 hours of monitoring per session

Oral antidepressants

None — taken at home

ECT

A half day, plus recovery time

Driving afterward

SPRAVATO®

Not until the next day

Oral antidepressants

Unrestricted

ECT

Not the same day

See if it's right for me

We also offer TMS, ECT and medication management — so if SPRAVATO® isn't the right fit, you don't start over somewhere else.

Your treatment

From first call to first dose.

1

Consultation & evaluation

A full psychiatric evaluation — history, every medication tried, medical factors and a baseline depression score. Also where we screen for what rules SPRAVATO® out.

2

Insurance & authorization

We file the prior authorization and talk to your insurer. Approval typically takes three days to two weeks; if denied, we file the appeal.

3

Induction — weeks 1 to 4

Two sessions per week for the first month, alongside your oral antidepressant. Many patients notice a change in the first days.

4

Maintenance & follow-up

Once you are responding, sessions taper to a maintenance schedule set by how you are actually doing — tracked at every visit.

What one session actually looks like

  • You self-administer

    The nasal spray, under the direct supervision of our trained staff.

  • Two-hour monitoring

    In a private room with a recliner. Vital signs checked throughout; most side effects resolve inside this window.

  • Arrange a ride home

    No driving or operating machinery until the next day, after a full night’s sleep.

Our Phoenix clinic

2122 E. Highland Ave, Suite 335, Phoenix, AZ 85016

A woman self-administering an esketamine nasal spray
Self-administered, supervised
Our monitoring room, with recliners, vitals equipment and privacy screens
The monitoring room
The front desk and reception area at our Phoenix office
Reception, never a crowd
Our TMS treatment room, with the Magstim chair and stimulator
TMS and ECT down the same hall
Start with an eligibility check

Or call (602) 824-8404 — Monday to Friday, 8am–5pm.

Insurance

Covered by most plans — with a form we fill in.

The vast majority of commercial plans, Medicare and many Medicaid programs cover SPRAVATO®. What stands between you and approval is a prior authorization — and our care coordinators handle that, start to finish.

Aetna
Ambetter Health
Arizona Complete Health
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona
Care1st Health Plan Arizona
Cigna Healthcare
Curative
Health Net
Humana
Medicare
Mercy Care
Optum
SCAN Health Plan
TRICARE For Life
TriWest Healthcare Alliance
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan
Wellcare By Allwell

Swipe to see all 17 plans →

We file the authorization

Approval typically takes three days to two weeks. We handle the paperwork and talk to your insurer directly, so the wait is on us rather than on you.

Benefits verified first

We confirm what your policy covers — the medication and the observation visit are billed separately — before anything begins. Manufacturer savings programs may apply; we will check.

Medicare & AHCCCS too

Medicare Part B generally covers SPRAVATO® and the observation visits in an outpatient setting. Most Medicaid programs, including Arizona’s AHCCCS, cover it — with prior authorization.

Denied before, or worried you will be? Denials are usually a documentation problem, not a verdict. We file the appeal.

Verify my coverage

Safety

Why it is only given in a clinic.

SPRAVATO® can cause dissociation and raise blood pressure, so it is dispensed only through a REMS-certified center. We are one — trained staff, strict protocols, and a monitoring period that is not optional.

  • Direct supervision

    A clinician is with you while you self-administer.

  • Two-hour monitoring

    After every dose, with vital signs observed.

  • Transportation required

    No driving until the next day, after a full night’s rest.

Common side effects

These usually begin shortly after the dose and resolve the same day — which is exactly what the monitoring period is for.

  • Dissociation
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea
  • Feeling drunk or euphoric
  • Anxiety or numbness
  • Spinning sensation
  • Raised blood pressure
  • Sedation

Who should not take it

Your evaluation screens for all of these before anything is prescribed.

  • Aneurysms or blood vessel disease
  • Abnormal blood vessel connections (AVM)
  • A history of bleeding in the brain
  • An allergy to esketamine or ketamine

SPRAVATO® is not a pain reliever or an anesthetic, and it is never taken home. Tell your provider about every condition and medication you are on — that is how we judge whether it is safe for you specifically. This page is general information, not medical advice, and not a substitute for the full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide your clinician will review with you.

Patient experiences

In their words.

GJ

Gary Johnson

10 reviews · June 2026

Dr. Gomez is incredible. He took the time to really understand my situation, medical history, and what I was trying to accomplish. He was empathetic, caring, and listened without judgement. I highly recommend him and his staff.
Google review Dr. Gomez
MS

Michael Stella

Local Guide · 26 reviews · May 2026

The care I received her was far different past experiences with other providers, since Jessica took the time to hear all of my concerns, and fully took them into consideration as we developed a treatment plan. It was much appreciated!
Google review Jessica Cruz, NP
SB

Sandra Bennewitz

Local Guide · 25 reviews · June 2026

Dr. Gomez is SO kind, thoughtful and smart. He really listens and is so helpful. His office staff is competent and very caring. I highly recommend Dr. Gomez.
Google review Dr. Gomez
L

Logan

7 reviews · April 2026

I’ve had a wonderful experience with all staff members. The whole office has been helpful, especially with handling any insurance issues that have surfaced. I’m grateful to have found this office and its staff and I would highly recommend the facility to others!
Google review Our team
BE

Benjamin Ernyei

Local Guide · 13 reviews · November 2025

Dr Gomez and the staff at Interventional Psychiatry of AZ have been my best choice in care in the past couple years. Dr Gomez always listens to my issues and has made several recommendations in my care and treatment for my mental health best concerns. His staff is very supportive and I have always recommended Dr Gomez to anyone looking for an excellent, respectful, and supportive psychiatrist.
Google review Dr. Gomez
WE

Walker Eltife

5 reviews · September 2025

Dr. Gomez is an amazing man and doctor. He took me on when I moved to Arizona. I was patient of his for roughly 3 years he was always professional, compassionate, insightful and understanding. He played a huge part in helping me continue my sobriety while in Arizona. His staff is informative and kind as well and is always quick to lend a hand or answer any questions. I would send my own family Dr Gomez.
Google review Dr. Gomez

Reviews are reproduced as published by their authors on Google and describe care at this practice generally, not SPRAVATO® treatment specifically. Individual results vary.

Questions

Good to know before you call.

Ask us directly

(602) 824-8404

Monday to Friday, 8am–5pm

Check my eligibility

For most patients, yes. The majority of commercial plans, Medicare and many Medicaid programs — including Arizona’s AHCCCS — cover SPRAVATO® for treatment-resistant depression. Coverage is not automatic: insurers require a prior authorization first. Our care coordinators handle that paperwork and talk to your insurer directly.

There are two parts to the bill: the medication itself, and the two-hour observation visit, which is billed under your medical benefits. After insurance you may still owe a deductible, copay or coinsurance. We verify your benefits and tell you what your policy covers before treatment begins. Manufacturer savings programs may also apply for eligible patients with commercial insurance, and our team can check whether you qualify.

Much faster than a standard antidepressant. Where oral medications typically take weeks or months to show an effect, many patients notice a reduction in symptoms within 24 hours to a few days of their first treatment. That speed is why it is used for severe depression and for depressive symptoms with suicidal thoughts.

You self-administer the nasal spray under the direct supervision of our staff, then stay with us for a two-hour monitoring period in a private room with a recliner. Vital signs are checked throughout. Most side effects appear during that window and resolve the same day.

No. You will need someone to drive you, and you should not drive or operate machinery until the next day, after a full night’s sleep. We will tell you this again at scheduling so you can plan the day.

Dissociation, dizziness, fatigue, nausea or vomiting, a feeling of being drunk or euphoric, anxiety or numbness, and a spinning sensation. They usually begin shortly after the dose and resolve the same day, which is what the monitoring period is for.

Prior authorization usually takes three days to two weeks. Denials do happen, most often because of missing documentation — if that happens, our team files the appeal on your behalf with the additional clinical evidence.

No referral is needed to schedule with us. If you already have a therapist or primary care provider, we are glad to coordinate so everyone stays aligned.

Get started

You have waited long enough.

Prior authorization takes three days to two weeks. The sooner we start it, the sooner you can start treatment — and the first conversation costs you nothing.

Call (602) 824-8404 Check my eligibility

In crisis? Call 911, or call or text 988 for the 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

2122 E. Highland Ave, Suite 335
Phoenix, AZ 85016

Mon–Fri
8am–5pm