Home

/

Services

/

Spravato Therapy

Spravato Therapy in La Crosse, WI: FDA-Approved Relief for Treatment-Resistant Depression

Spravato (esketamine) is the first FDA-approved nasal spray for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder with suicidal ideation. Available at Relevate Ketafusion and covered by most major insurance plans.

Depression Treatment That Works Differently

If antidepressants haven’t worked for you, it’s not because you’re beyond help. Treatment-resistant depression means the conventional routes haven’t been the right fit, not that relief isn’t possible. Spravato therapy offers a clinically proven alternative that works on an entirely different pathway in the brain, often delivering results within hours to days rather than weeks.

At Relevate Ketafusion, we administer Spravato in a safe, medically supervised environment right here in La Crosse. You self-administer the nasal spray under our direct supervision, then rest in our clinic for a monitored observation period. Our team stays with you throughout the entire process.

Unlike IV ketamine, Spravato is covered by most major insurance plans, making it a more accessible option for many patients. We’ll work with you to verify your coverage before your first session so there are no surprises.

What Is Spravato? The Science Behind the FDA Approval

Spravato is the brand name for esketamine, a nasal spray derived from ketamine that the FDA approved in 2019 specifically for treatment-resistant depression. In 2020, the FDA granted a second approval for major depressive disorder with active suicidal ideation or behavior, making it the first medication of its kind approved for that indication.

Where traditional antidepressants work by adjusting serotonin levels, Spravato targets the brain’s glutamate system, blocking NMDA receptors and triggering rapid growth of new neural connections. For many patients who’ve spent years waiting for antidepressants to work, the speed of Spravato’s effects is striking.

At Relevate Ketafusion, Spravato is always administered in our clinic under continuous medical supervision. You never take it alone at home. Sessions follow a structured protocol, and our team monitors your response at every visit.

FDA-approved in 2019 for treatment-resistant depression

FDA-approved in 2020 for major depressive disorder with suicidal ideation or behavior

Targets glutamate and NMDA receptors, not serotonin like traditional antidepressants

Delivers results within hours to days rather than the weeks traditional antidepressants require

Covered by most major insurance plans

Always administered in-clinic under direct medical supervision

Hear from Those Who've Found Hope

The team here made me feel safe and supported throughout the entire process. This treatment saved my life.

The medical team monitored me closely and made me feel valued and heard. This treatment is truly life-saving.

Ketamine therapy at Relevate Ketafusion, combined with integration sessions, helped me process trauma in ways talk therapy never could.

The racing thoughts quieted, the physical symptoms of anxiety decreased, and I can now do normal activities without fear.

The team here made me feel safe and supported throughout the entire process. This treatment saved my life.

The medical team monitored me closely and made me feel valued and heard. This treatment is truly life-saving.

Ketamine therapy at Relevate Ketafusion, combined with integration sessions, helped me process trauma in ways talk therapy never could.

The racing thoughts quieted, the physical symptoms of anxiety decreased, and I can now do normal activities without fear.

Address

2309 State Road La Crosse, 
WI 54601

Working hours

Mon-Thu: 7:30 am - 7:30 pm
Fri-Sat: 7:30 am - 12:30 pm

Book Your Consultation

Fill out the form below, and we’ll contact you shortly. 

Conditions We Treat with Spravato Therapy

Spravato carries two specific FDA approvals, but its benefits extend across a range of conditions rooted in treatment-resistant depression. Here's where our team uses it most.

Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD)

Spravato is FDA-approved specifically for adults with treatment-resistant depression, defined as depression that hasn't responded to at least two different antidepressants. If that sounds like your experience, Spravato was designed with you in mind. Most patients begin an initial series of twice-weekly sessions, then taper to weekly and eventually monthly maintenance.

Learn More

Major Depressive Disorder with Suicidal Ideation

For patients experiencing major depressive disorder alongside active suicidal thoughts or behavior, Spravato is the only FDA-approved medication specifically indicated for this combination. When waiting weeks for a traditional antidepressant to kick in isn't safe, Spravato offers rapid intervention backed by rigorous clinical evidence.

Learn More

Depression with Anxiety

Depression and anxiety frequently travel together, each making the other harder to treat. Spravato's action on the glutamate system can help calm the overactive neural circuits driving both conditions, giving patients meaningful relief across symptoms that traditional medications often address separately.

Learn More

Postpartum Depression (PPD)

New mothers struggling with severe postpartum depression need fast, effective relief. Spravato offers a clinically supported option that doesn't require the weeks-long wait of conventional antidepressants, helping mothers get back to themselves and their families sooner.

Learn More

Burnout and Chronic Fatigue

When burnout crosses into clinical depression and conventional treatments haven't made a dent, Spravato can help restore neural pathways worn down by chronic stress. Patients often describe a noticeable lift in mood and energy in the early stages of treatment.

Learn More

PTSD-Related Depression

Many patients with PTSD carry a persistent depressive component that doesn't respond well to standard antidepressants. Spravato's rapid-acting mechanism can help address this layer of the condition, complementing trauma-focused therapy and other PTSD treatment approaches.

Learn More

Your Spravato Therapy Journey at Relevate Ketafusion

From your first conversation to your ongoing maintenance sessions, our team guides you through every step.

01

Initial Consultation

Your journey starts with a virtual consultation. We'll review your diagnosis, your treatment history, and your goals to determine whether Spravato is the right fit. We'll also begin the insurance verification process, walking you through what your plan covers and what to expect cost-wise before you commit to anything.

02

Personalized Treatment Plan

Every Spravato protocol follows an FDA-approved dosing schedule, but we personalize the details around your specific condition and response. Typically the induction phase runs twice-weekly sessions for four weeks, followed by weekly sessions, then monthly maintenance. We'll map out your full timeline and set clear expectations from the start.

03

Treatment Sessions

You'll self-administer the Spravato nasal spray under the direct supervision of our medical team in a private, comfortable treatment room. Sessions last approximately two hours from start to finish, including the required post-dose monitoring period. You'll need someone to drive you home afterward, so plan accordingly.

04

Monitoring and Maintenance

We monitor your response closely throughout your treatment series, adjusting the plan as needed based on how you're doing. Once you complete the induction phase and move into maintenance, our goal is to sustain the progress you've made with the least frequent dosing that keeps you feeling well.

The Science Behind Spravato for Treatment-Resistant Depression

For decades, antidepressants have worked by adjusting serotonin, norepinephrine, or dopamine levels in the brain. For roughly 30% of people with depression, that approach simply doesn’t produce adequate relief. Spravato takes a fundamentally different route.

By blocking NMDA receptors and acting on the glutamate system, the brain’s primary excitatory neurotransmitter pathway, Spravato triggers a rapid burst of synaptic growth. It helps the brain rebuild the neural connections that depression has worn down. The result is relief that comes far faster than anything targeting serotonin can achieve.

Key research points:

FDA-approved through two rigorous Phase III clinical trial programs

Shown to reduce depressive symptoms significantly within 24 hours in clinical studies

Long-term studies confirm sustained remission with maintenance treatment

Works in combination with an oral antidepressant for enhanced, lasting results

Why Choose Relevate Ketafusion for Spravato Therapy

01

La Crosse's Only Certified Spravato Provider

Spravato can only be dispensed through a certified healthcare setting enrolled in the FDA’s REMS program. Relevate Ketafusion is fully certified, meaning you can access this treatment right here in La Crosse without driving to Madison or beyond.

02

Insurance Accepted

Unlike most ketamine treatments, Spravato is covered by most major insurance plans. Our team handles the verification process upfront so you know exactly what to expect before your first session. We’ll help you navigate prior authorization and any other requirements your plan may have.

03

Continuous Medical Supervision

Every Spravato session happens under direct medical supervision with continuous monitoring. You’re never alone, and our team responds in real time throughout your observation period. Safety is built into every step of the process.

04

A Space Designed for Healing

Our clinic doesn’t feel like a clinic. Private treatment rooms, calming decor, ambient lighting, and soothing music create an environment that supports the therapeutic process rather than working against it. Patients consistently say the atmosphere itself makes a difference.

05

A Medical Team With Real Depth

Dr. Howard Schumaker brings dual board certifications in Family and Emergency Medicine, plus a chemical engineering background that means he understands esketamine at the molecular level. Our nurse practitioners hold dual FNP and PMHNP certifications, giving you a team that combines psychiatric expertise with deep clinical experience.

06

Founded by a Patient Who's Been There

Tina Schumaker, our CEO and co-founder, built Relevate after experiencing treatment-resistant depression and PTSD firsthand. She knows what it feels like to run out of options and then find one that finally works. That experience shapes everything about how we care for our patients.

Book Now (608) 518-3915