The U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanded approval for Johnson & Johnson’s nasal spray, Spravato, to allow it to be used as a standalone treatment for patients with severe depression, the company said on Tuesday.

Here's what MDs want you to know about Spravato, the latest FDA-approved standalone nasal spray for depression.

Because it is still awaiting approval, Medicare does not typically cover the use of ketamine infusion for treating mental health conditions. However, they may cover the FDA-approved nasal spray, Spravato, which contains a derivative of ketamine called esketamine.

Respondents who said they used other drugs recreationally were also likelier to say they used ketamine during the past year than those who reported no past-year drug use.

Johnson & Johnson has announced the FDA’s approval of a first-of-its-kind, esketamine nasal spray called Spravato for the standalone treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), PTSD, and similar psychiatric conditions.

Celebrities like Chrissy Teigen and Matthew Perry have been open about using ketamine for their mental health – here's what they've said

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Spravato, a nasal spray developed by Johnson & Johnson, as a standalone treatment for adults with major depressive disorder who have not responded to at least two other antidepressants.

"Treatment-resistant depression can be very complicated, especially for patients who do not respond to oral antidepressants or cannot tolerate them. For too long, health care providers have had few options to offer patients much-needed symptom improvement,

The FDA approves Spravato, a nasal spray derived from Ketamine, to help some people treat depression. Dr. Bill Hartman from UW Health shares more.

The following is a summary of “Intranasal racemic ketamine maintenance therapy for patients with treatment-resistant depression: a naturalistic feasibility study,” published in the January 2025 issue of Psychiatry by Halpape et al.

A multidisciplinary approach, including ketamine withdrawal and symptom management, is essential to mitigate long-term complications.