Regional West Physicians Clinic-Psychiatry & Behavioral Health Introduces Spravato®, a New Option for Treatment-Resistant Depression

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., ― Regional West Physicians Clinic-Psychiatry & Behavioral Health has recently introduced Spravato®, a medication used to help treat adults with treatment-resistant depression.

Spravato® is a Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved prescription nasal spray for patients 18 and older who have tried two or more antidepressants and have not achieved their desired results. It is thought to work by targeting glutamate, a chemical messenger in the brain that may help regulate depression. Over the course of eight weeks, patients receive doses of the spray in a two-hour treatment monitored by physicians. The treatment may be repeated as needed.

Psychiatry & Behavioral Health clinic physician Joe Angel Espinoza Jr., MD, said that unlike most other medications, there is evidence to suggest that patients can expect improvement of symptoms within days.

“As part of our efforts to expand the treatment options available at the Psychiatry & Behavioral Health clinic, we are proud to bring Spravato® to Regional West. This medication is different from most other treatment options currently available as it does not require individuals to take a pill daily for the treatment of major depressive disorder,” he said. “We are excited to take another step towards our goal of being a center of excellence in the treatment of psychiatric conditions.”

According to Mental Health America, depression affects more than 21 million American adults each year, and can occur in anyone, at any age, from any race or ethnic group. Regional West Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health Medical Director Rami Zanoun, MD, noted that medications like Spravato® are a tool used best with other forms of mental health treatment.

“Medications are effective in treating mental health conditions, but they are only part of a comprehensive plan that includes therapy, nutrition, sleep, and exercise. Patients are unique in the symptoms they experience and their individual responses to medications. Ultimately, our most important asset in treatment is the therapeutic alliance we forge with our patients.”

Serving the region’s patients of all ages, the physicians and providers at Regional West Physicians Clinic-Psychiatry & Behavioral Health offer in-person and telehealth services, working closely with each patient to develop comprehensive and individualized treatment plans. As western Nebraska’s exclusive provider of inpatient behavioral health services, Regional West’s Behavioral Health Unit provides services for patients from western Nebraska, eastern Wyoming, and northeastern Colorado who are experiencing acute symptoms of psychiatric disorders.

Referrals are required for Spravato® treatment. To see if you may be a candidate, visit with your primary care physician or call the Psychiatry & Behavioral Health Clinic at 308-635-3888 to schedule an appointment for an evaluation.

About Regional West

Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff, Nebraska is the parent company of Regional West Medical Center, the only advanced trauma hospital in Nebraska west of North Platte. Since 1924, Regional West has served the people of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming through innovative healthcare services. As the region’s sole tertiary medical center, Regional West offers an expansive array of medical specialties and numerous physician clinics.