Prescription medication · NMDA Receptor Antagonist (Nasal Spray)
esketamine
Also sold as Spravato. Spravato is used to treat treatment-resistant depression in adults.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 15,846
- FDA reportsModerately reported
- 1
- InteractionFew interactions
- $373.45
- Brand price (NADAC)
What the data shows
esketamine (Spravato) is a prescription NMDA Receptor Antagonist (Nasal Spray), reported at a middle-of-the-pack volume (15,846 FDA reports), with 1 documented drug interaction.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
esketamine (Spravato) is a prescription NMDA Receptor Antagonist (Nasal Spray). Spravato is used to treat treatment-resistant depression in adults.
Spravato is a nasal spray medicine used to treat depression. It contains esketamine and affects certain receptors in the brain.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$373.45/unit
Generic Available
No
JANSSEN PHARMS
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Spravato is used to treat treatment-resistant depression in adults.
Common side effects
Feeling disconnected from yourself or your surroundings, Dizziness, Nausea
Key warnings
Spravato can cause sleepiness, feeling disconnected, and breathing problems.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from esketamine's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Spravato is a type of medicine called an NMDA receptor antagonist. It works by affecting certain receptors in the brain. These receptors are involved in regulating mood and emotions.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 15,846 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for esketamine, by number of reports
- Dissociation
Dissociation
3,351 reports
- Sedation
Sedation
2,465 reports
- Suicidal Ideation 1,233
Suicidal Ideation
1,233 reports
- Nausea 876
Nausea
876 reports
- Depression 808
Depression
808 reports
- Hospitalisation 702
Hospitalisation
702 reports
- Hypertension 688
Hypertension
688 reports
- Anxiety 681
Anxiety
681 reports
- Vomiting 643
Vomiting
643 reports
- Dizziness 597
Dizziness
597 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for esketamine each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where esketamine sits
esketamine has more FDA adverse-event reports than 50% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is esketamine; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 15,846 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2015–2025.
Total Reports
15,846
Reports Mentioning Death
641
4.0% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
2,714
Top Indication
Depression
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DISSOCIATION | 3,351 |
| 2 | SEDATION | 2,465 |
| 3 | SUICIDAL IDEATION | 1,233 |
| 5 | NAUSEA | 876 |
| 6 | DEPRESSION | 808 |
| 8 | HOSPITALISATION | 702 |
| 9 | HYPERTENSION | 688 |
| 10 | ANXIETY | 681 |
| 11 | VOMITING | 643 |
| 12 | DIZZINESS | 597 |
| 13 | BLOOD PRESSURE INCREASED | 518 |
| 14 | FEELING ABNORMAL | 455 |
| 16 | HEADACHE | 306 |
| 17 | DEATH | 291 |
| 18 | SUICIDE ATTEMPT | 289 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Spravato can cause sleepiness, feeling disconnected, and breathing problems. You will be monitored for these side effects. Spravato has the potential for abuse and misuse. Spravato may increase suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young adults. Spravato is only available through a special program.
Known Drug Interactions
7.2 Psychostimulants Concomitant use with psychostimulants (e.g., amphetamines, methylphenidate, modafinil, armodafinil) may increase blood pressure [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] .
Mechanism: Taking these two medicines together can cause your blood pressure to go up higher than usual.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
Can Spravato prevent suicide?
Can I drive after taking Spravato?
What if my blood pressure is high?
Is Spravato safe for children?
What should I avoid before taking Spravato?
Can I take other medicines with Spravato?
How long will I be monitored after taking Spravato?
What if I feel sleepy after taking Spravato?
How is Spravato supplied?
What does Spravato contain?
What are the common side effects of esketamine?
Does esketamine interact with other medications?
What drug class is esketamine?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for esketamine?
Related Medications in NMDA Receptor Antagonist (Nasal Spray)
Other drugs grouped near esketamine - same-class peers and common alternatives.
acamprosate
Campral
Acamprosate is a medicine that can help you stay away from alcohol if you are alcohol-dependent and have already stopped drinking.
Compare with esketamine →
alprazolam
Xanax
Alprazolam (Xanax) is a medication that can help you with anxiety and panic disorders.
Compare with esketamine →
amitriptyline
Elavil
Amitriptyline is a medicine used to treat depression.
Compare with esketamine →
amphetamine/dextroamphetamine
Adderall, Adderall XR
Adderall XR is a stimulant medicine.
Compare with esketamine →
aripiprazole
Abilify
Aripiprazole (Abilify) is a medicine used to treat certain mental disorders and mood problems.
Compare with esketamine →
Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for esketamine: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 15,846.
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 4.05%.
- linaclotide Δ 0.09 pts · 24,979 reports · Guanylate Cyclase-C Agonist 3.96%death share
- desonide Δ 0.10 pts · 4,709 reports · Topical Corticosteroid 3.95%death share
- plecanatide Δ 0.11 pts · 1,831 reports · Guanylate Cyclase-C Agonist 3.93%death share
- adalimumab Δ 0.12 pts · 695,825 reports · TNF-Alpha Inhibitor (Biologic) 4.16%death share
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for esketamine
The FDA label for esketamine (sold under brand names such as Spravato) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the NMDA Receptor Antagonist (Nasal Spray) class. Spravato is used to treat treatment-resistant depression in adults. Official labeling lists 12 commonly reported side effects, including Feeling disconnected from yourself or your surroundings, Dizziness, Nausea.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 15,846 voluntary reports. The database also lists 1 documented drug interaction derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. NADAC pricing from CMS.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: August 26, 2025
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages