Mind Space Ketamine
- •Offering Spravato (esketamine treatment)
- •For those who suffer from treatment-resistant depression
Major Depressive Disorder affects more than 21 million adults and is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States, affecting about 8.3% of the population. Even with treatment, 1 out of 3 patients have treatment resistant depression, which is defined as still having depressive symptoms after failing two or more oral antidepressants. There are new treatments that can help.
Mission
To transform lives through compassionate, personalized, and comprehensive care by delivering innovative treatments and access to cutting-edged treatments in order to overcome depression and achieve mental wellness.
What is ketamine?
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that has some hallucinogenic effects. Ketamine distorts the perception of sight and sound and makes the user feel disconnected and not in control. It is referred to as a "dissociative anesthetic hallucinogen" because it makes patients feel detached from their pain and environment.
What is Spravato®?
Spravato is the active form of the drug used as a nasal spray for treatment resistant depression.
How does it feel when you take SPRAVATO®?
A feeling of relaxtion, euphoria, calming and could also cause dissociation or dizziness.
How long do treatments take?
Through preparation, administraion, obeservation, and post-treatment it would be at most 2 hours.
Do patients need a ride to/from appointments or can they drive?
Yes, patients do need a ride as SPRAVATO can cause sedation, dizziness, and impaired ability to drive.
Our Doctors
Medical Director
Dr. Hank Lai
Psychiatry
Hank Lai, M.D. is a board-certified general psychiatrist with passion for understanding the intricate workings of the human mind and its profound influence on behavior. His journey into the realm of psychiatry began with his medical degree from Albany Medical College in New York, followed by a rigorous psychiatry residency at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center, and VA Long Beach.
Throughout his career, Dr. Lai has honed his expertise across diverse healthcare settings, including hospitals and community-based clinics. This diverse experience has equipped him with a comprehensive understanding of mental health disorders and substance use disorders and their impact on individuals from all walks of life.
Driven by his curiosity about the complexities of neurobiology and its intricate interplay with our physical well-being, Dr. Lai is committed to providing evidence-based care integrates with patient education. He believes that empowering patients with knowledge is crucial for their therapeutic journey and fosters a sense of ownership in their mental health recovery. He recognizes that each patient's struggles are unique and strives to be their ally on their path towards overcoming obstacles and achieving their personal goals.
Medical Director
Dr. Hailong Vu
Psychiatry
Hailong Vu, M.D. is a board-certified general psychiatrist. He graduated from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine with a medical degree, and completed his rigorous psychiatry residency at Harbor UCLA. Dr. Vu provides treatment for a wide range of complex mental issues using psychotherapy, medications, and other alternative modalities of treatment.
Dr. Vu believes in the optimization of medication management while minimizing polypharmacy. He strongly encourages a collaborative model in a comprehensive mental health treatment.
Medical Director
Dr. Charles Nguyen
Psychiatry
Charles Nguyen, MD, DFAPA is a board-certified psychiatrist with over 25 years of experience. Dr. Nguyen earned his medical degree and completed a residency in Psychiatry at the UC Irvine School of Medicine. He later served as the Psychiatry Residency Training Director.
An active researcher, Dr. Nguyen participates in research trials in post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder. Dr. Nguyen has been an invited lecturer, speaking on schizophrenia, weight gain management with antipsychotics, and obesity treatment.
Dr. Nguyen has won the UC Irvine Psychiatry Residency Teacher of the Year and the School of Medicine Excellence in Teaching Award, including the highly prestigious Golden Apple Award given to the best teacher at the UC Irvine Medical Center.
He is an author of The Thinsulin Program: A Breakthrough Solution to Help You Lose Weight and Stay Thin that was voted by the LA Times to be one of the top diet books in 2016.
Dr. Nguyen takes a comprehensive approach that includes educating his patients on their illness and their treatment options. He treats each of his patients as unique individuals and work with them as collaborators of their care to develop a personalized treatment plan that gives them the tools to enhance well-being, minimize stress, and improve their quality of life.
Schedule an appointment by calling:
(949) 392-0159
Hours of operation at the Laguna Beach Clinic:
Monday to Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm
What is Spravato™?▼
Spravato™, a FDA-approved medication administered as a nasal spray, is a new option for millions of Americans suffering from depression, commonly used alongside oral antidepressants in clinic settings.
Where do I get Spravato™?▼
Although Spravato™ esketamine is administered as a nasal spray, people are not permitted to purchase it for home use. Patients may receive Spravato under medical supervision at a clinic or doctor's office that has been certified by the maker of Spravato™ as an authorized provider. Mind Space Ketamine is a certified authorized provider of Spravato™.
How do I qualify for Spravato™?▼
Spravato™ is not for everyone. Spravato™ is only approved for adults suffering from Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD). Our doctors will To determine if you qualify, your doctor will work with you to see if you qualify for treatment. Contact our team at Mind Space Ketamine to learn more about the treatment options and discussion your specific situation.
Does my insurance cover Spravato™?▼
Spravato™ is covered by most insurance. Mind Space Ketamine has a team to determine insurance coverage and manage related paperwork so that you so that you can focus on getting better. Our team will work with you and your insurance to ensure treatments are available to you as quickly as possible and with minimal out-of-pocket cost.
Mind Space Ketamine offers FREE insurance verification to ensure your coverage and guide you through the next steps.
What happens during treatment?▼
You will receive the intranasal Spravato™. A healthcare professional will monitor you for at least 2 hours. You won't be able to drive or operate machinery that requires you to be completely alert until the next day, following a restful sleep.
How do I get more information about Spravato?▼
Call Mind Space Ketamine to learn more about Spravato™. For additional information about Spravato™ from Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the maker of Spravato™, visit www.spravato.com
What is the difference between Spravato™ and Ketamine?▼
Ketamine is what is known as an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist. NMDA receptor are thought to play a major role in depression. Ketamine is infused intravenously at low doses. It's not approved by the FDA for the treatment of treatment resistant depression (TRD).
Spravato™, generically known as Esketamine, is the S-enantiomer of racemic ketamine, which is a mixture of R-ketamine and S-ketamine. racemic isomer. This FDA-approved Ketamine treatment is the first of its kind and can help adults who have struggled with depression and have failed at least 2 oral antidepressants.
The safety and efficacy of esketamine (Spravato™) is supported by many short-term and long term studies. A 2020 study by Papakostas studied the use of esketamine in 774 people who were involved in 5 trials and showed that patients with MDD or MDSI who received Spravato treatments had a better outcome than those who received placebo.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
SPRAVATO® can cause serious side effects. Please consult with your healthcare provider for complete safety information.