Skip to main content

Mood Guide

Find clear information about services, treatments, research, and practical next steps.

Mood Guide provides general information from this website. It is not medical advice. Do not enter personal health information.
Safety Ask Results

No personal health details.

Resources

Patients & Families

Questions worth bringing about SPRAVATO®, TMS, and ketamine pathways

Bring focused questions about visit structure, monitoring, records, scheduling, and how SPRAVATO®, TMS, and IV ketamine differ from oral medication alone.

Content

Lisa Harding MD discusses advanced depression treatment options

The most useful questions about SPRAVATO®, TMS, and IV ketamine are often practical ones: what happens during a visit, what monitoring is involved, and how the pathway fits with your existing care. You do not need to arrive knowing which option you want. A consultation is the place to understand the differences and ask what information a clinician would need before discussing any next step.

Start with the basics. Ask what a typical visit looks like from arrival through departure, how often visits may be scheduled, and whether the clinic has preparation instructions to review in advance. You can ask who may be involved during the visit and how questions are handled afterward. These details matter because TMS, SPRAVATO®, and IV ketamine have different formats and are not simply alternatives to taking an oral medication at home.

Bring what you can about your treatment history. A current medication list, names of prior clinicians, relevant records, and a brief note about what you have tried can help organize the discussion. If you do not have every document, say so. Ask the team which records would be most useful and how your current provider's records office can send them through the clinic's designated process.

Consider adding questions about coordination. For example: How will the consultation relate to the care I already receive? What should I expect before, during, and after a visit? What follow-up questions should I save for the clinician? If a family member is helping you prepare, ask what support they can provide around the practical parts of the visit. MedlinePlus offers general guidance on preparing for conversations with a clinician.

For SPRAVATO®, you may also want to review the public REMS program information so terms such as supervised administration and monitoring are less unfamiliar. That background is not a substitute for a clinical conversation, but it can help you ask clearer questions. Request a consultation when you are ready to review your history, visit expectations, and questions with the care team.

Sources: SPRAVATO REMS public program informationMedlinePlus — Talking with your doctor

Contact Mood Institute

Ready to continue the conversation?