A new hope for depression

For decades, ketamine has been used as a treatment for pain and anesthesia, but in 2000 a Yale University School of Medicine study found that it could also dramatically relieve severe depressive symptoms. Since then, IV ketamine has emerged as an effective, rapidly acting treatment option for depression that does not respond to traditional forms of therapy or medication. 

Unfortunately, IV ketamine is typically not covered by insurance. However, Spravato, an intranasal medication containing esketamine, is FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression, covered by most insurance companies, and the treatment is being offered locally by Strongsville’s Reset Medical and Wellness Center.

“Spravato is self-administered intranasally right here in our office,” explains Michael Louwers, MD, the center’s CEO and medical director. “That means there is no IV. The patient administers the nasal spray themself, then is monitored for the next two hours. It must be done under medical supervision in a certified clinic like ours.” 

Spravato contains esketamine, which works similarly to ketamine, by helping the brain form and strengthen connections that can become disrupted by chronic stress and depression.

“The FDA has approved Spravato for adults with treatment-resistant depression,” Dr. Louwers says. “To qualify, a patient should have failed two anti-depressant medication trials. These include commonly prescribed antidepressants such as Lexapro, Zoloft, and Prozac. While these medications help many people, only about one-third of patients achieve remission with these traditional treatments.”

How It Works 

“Ketamine helps to reconnect portions of our brain that aren’t communicating properly,” Dr. Louwers explains. “Think of brain signals as a city traffic grid. With chronic stress or depression, some of those roads and connections may not work as well as they should. Ketamine helps repair these pathways, build new connections and keep the traffic moving along again.” 

The treatment works even better when used alongside talk therapy. “We encourage patients to combine treatment with talk therapy,” Dr. Louwers adds. “As the brain forms new connections and becomes more adaptable, therapy can help patients process emotions and experiences in new healthy ways. That can be a powerful combination.” 

In addition to Spravato and IV ketamine therapy, Dr. Louwers offers other treatments, including the Neuro Sympathetic Reset, an innovative treatment designed to calm  an overactive fight-or-flight response and improve symptoms associated with trauma, anxiety, and chronic stress. 

During the 20-minute outpatient procedure— also known as a stellate ganglion block—a local anesthetic is injected around a bundle of sympathetic nerves in the neck, to disrupt excessive fight-or-flight signals and reduce the body’s stress response. 

The Right Environment 

You don’t need to know which treatment is right for you before reaching out. Dr. Louwers and his team offer free assessments to help patients understand whether they qualify and which treatment may be the best fit.

Patients travel from across the country to Reset Medical & Wellness Center, with patients from 40 states treated in the past year alone and most coming from outside the local area. Many patients, particularly veterans and first responders, receive grant support from nonprofit partners, so it is worth calling to determine if you qualify.

Just as important as the treatments, the environment matters, too. Reset’s calm, spa-like setting is designed to reduce anxiety and help patients feel comfortable.

“We understand our patients,” Dr. Louwers says. “For someone struggling with depression, anxiety, or trauma, even picking up the phone can be a challenge. Our team takes the time to listen, answer questions, and make patients feel comfortable and cared for.”

Reset Medical & Wellness Center

8370 Dow Circle, Strongsville
1-877-RESET10

TheResetCenter.com.