A Guide to Ketamine for Anxiety Treatment

Ketamine treatment may ease anxiety for some adults, especially when anxiety comes with depression that has not improved with standard antidepressants. At Revival Psychiatry, we offer ketamine treatment through Spravato, a prescription esketamine nasal spray given in our office under clinical observation. Spravato is approved for treatment-resistant depression. Many of our patients live with both depression and anxiety, and our providers look at both when building a plan. This article is a guide to ketamine for anxiety treatment. It explains what ketamine is, how it may help with anxiety, who may be a good fit and what treatment looks like with our team.

Understanding Ketamine and Anxiety

What Is Ketamine?

Ketamine is a medication first used in anesthesia. At lower doses, researchers found it can affect mood quickly. Esketamine is a closely related form of ketamine. Spravato delivers esketamine as a nasal spray.

The form of ketamine we use is Spravato. It is a prescription medication, which means a provider must decide whether it fits your health history. It is given only in a clinical setting, and you never take it home. Ketamine works differently from most medications used for anxiety and depression. Standard antidepressants often take weeks to show an effect. Ketamine may work on a faster timeline for some people, which is why our team describes it as a path toward rapid relief.

How Ketamine Works in the Brain

Most common antidepressants work on serotonin, norepinephrine or dopamine. Ketamine acts on a different chemical system that involves glutamate, one of the brain’s main signaling chemicals. Glutamate helps brain cells communicate and form new connections. Chronic stress, depression and long-term anxiety may weaken some of those connections. Ketamine is thought to trigger a short burst of glutamate activity. This may help the brain build and strengthen connections between cells. Researchers are still studying exactly how this process works. The key idea is that ketamine may help the brain shift out of fixed patterns, rather than simply adjusting the level of one chemical.

How Ketamine May Help with Anxiety

Anxiety often shows up as constant worry, racing thoughts, tension and trouble sleeping. When anxiety and depression appear together, each can make the other worse. A person may feel both on edge and drained at the same time. Because ketamine works on a different system than standard medications, it may offer another option when other treatments have not helped. Some patients describe feeling less stuck in repeating worries. Others notice that their mood and energy improve, which can make anxiety easier to manage. Ketamine is not a cure. It works as one part of a full treatment plan. That plan may also include medication management and therapy services. You can learn more about how we approach anxiety on our Anxiety Treatment.

Who May Benefit from Ketamine Therapy for Anxiety

Ketamine treatment is not a first step for most people. It is usually considered when other approaches have not brought enough relief. You may be a candidate if you:

• Live with depression and anxiety together
• Have tried one or more antidepressants without enough improvement
• Feel that symptoms are affecting your work, relationships or sleep
• Are willing to attend treatment in our office and follow safety steps
• Are an adult who can commit to a structured treatment schedule

Many of our patients are high-functioning professionals. They keep up at work and at home, yet they feel worn down by burnout, worry and low mood. From the outside, they may look like they are doing fine. Ketamine treatment may offer these patients a form of active recovery that helps them return to the parts of life that matter. Ketamine is not right for everyone. Certain heart, blood vessel or blood pressure conditions, a history of psychosis or active substance misuse may mean another treatment is a better fit. Pregnancy is also a factor our providers will discuss. A full psychiatric evaluation helps our team decide whether ketamine is a safe choice for you.

Ketamine Treatment Options

In-Clinic Ketamine Therapy

All ketamine treatment at Revival Psychiatry happens in our office. We do this so a provider can monitor you during and after each session. This setting gives you a calm, supervised space to receive treatment.

IV Ketamine Infusions

Our office does not offer IV infusions. Our in-clinic ketamine option is Spravato, a nasal spray. Spravato lets you give yourself the medication under direct supervision, with no IV line needed.

Guided and Semi-Guided Ketamine Therapy

Some people want support that goes beyond the medication itself. At our office, ketamine treatment fits within a broader psychiatric plan. Our psychiatric nurse practitioners manage the medication side. Our lead therapist provides talk therapy that can help you build on any changes you notice. Combining these services may help patients turn short-term relief into lasting coping skills.

At-Home Ketamine Therapy

How At-Home Ketamine Programs Work

You may have seen ads for ketamine programs that send medication to your home. These programs typically involve a remote screening and medication taken without a provider in the room. We do not offer at-home ketamine treatment. Spravato must be given in a certified clinical setting, and it is never sent home with patients.

Safety Protocols for At-Home Therapy

Ketamine can cause changes in perception, drowsiness and shifts in blood pressure. For this reason, we believe in-office monitoring matters. When treatment happens in our office, a provider can watch how you respond and address any concerns right away. You also leave only when you are ready, with a ride home already arranged.

Comparing Ketamine Therapy Options

When weighing ketamine options, consider these points:

• Setting: Spravato is given in our office. Other forms may be given in a clinic or at home, depending on the provider.
• Supervision: With Spravato, you are monitored during and after each dose.
• Delivery: Spravato is a nasal spray, with no IV required.
• Support: Our ketamine patients can also access medication management and therapy within the same team.

Your provider will help you understand which approach fits your health history and goals.

The Ketamine for Anxiety Treatment Process

Initial Consultation and Candidacy Evaluation

Treatment starts with a ketamine consultation with one of our psychiatric nurse practitioners, Erin Jones or Avery Booth. During this visit, your provider will review:

• Your current symptoms of anxiety and depression
• Past medications and how you responded to them
• Your medical history, including heart and blood pressure concerns
• Any history of substance use, trauma or other mental health conditions
• Your goals for treatment

From there, your provider will explain whether Spravato is a good option for you. If it is, you will leave knowing what a treatment schedule may look like, what safety steps to expect and how ketamine fits with your other care. If ketamine is not a good fit, your provider will talk through other options, such as medication changes or therapy.

What to Expect During Infusion Sessions

Because we use Spravato, your sessions involve a nasal spray rather than an infusion. You will give yourself the spray in our office while a member of our team supervises. Afterward, you stay in our office for a required observation period so we can monitor how you feel. During this time, some patients feel relaxed, dreamy or slightly detached. These effects usually fade during the observation period. Many patients find it helpful to rest quietly or listen to calming music. You should not drive after a session. Plan ahead and arrange a ride home before each visit. This simple step helps keep you safe and lets you focus on your treatment.

Key Features and Benefits of Ketamine Therapy

Benefits of Ketamine Therapy

Ketamine treatment through Spravato may offer several benefits:

• Faster timeline: Some patients notice changes sooner than with standard antidepressants.
• A different approach: Ketamine acts on the glutamate system, which may help when other medications have not worked.
• Supervised care: Each session happens in our office with monitoring.
• No IV needed: Spravato is a nasal spray.
• Integrated support: Patients can combine ketamine with medication management and therapy through our team.

For people with depression and anxiety who feel stuck, these features may open a new path forward.

Important Safety Information

Like any medication, Spravato can cause side effects. Common effects may include feeling detached or dreamy, dizziness, nausea, drowsiness and a short-term rise in blood pressure. Your provider will review the full list of possible effects with you before treatment begins. Ketamine has potential for misuse, which is another reason we only provide it in our office. Your provider will review your history carefully and monitor you throughout treatment. Revival Psychiatry is an outpatient clinic. We do not offer same-day or emergency appointments. If you are in crisis, call or text 988, text HOME to 741741, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Mind 24-7 psychiatric urgent care is also available for immediate help.

Verified Ketamine Treatment Providers

Our team includes three providers who work together on your care:

• Erin Jones, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, FNP, PMHNP: Erin is the founder of Revival Psychiatry. She provides psychiatric care, including ketamine consultations and Spravato treatment.
• Avery Booth, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, PMHNP-BC: Avery provides psychiatric care, including ketamine consultations and medication management.
• Jasmine Lucas, Lead Therapist, LPC: Jasmine provides therapy, which can support patients before, during and after ketamine treatment.

You can learn more about each provider on our meet our team page.

Conclusion

Ketamine treatment may offer relief for adults whose anxiety comes with depression that has not responded to standard antidepressants. At Revival Psychiatry, we provide Spravato in our office with in-person observation at every session. Our psychiatric nurse practitioners evaluate each patient carefully, and our lead therapist offers support alongside treatment. We hope this guide has helped you understand how ketamine works, who it may help and what treatment involves. Learn more on our Ketamine Treatment.