Ketamine Therapy for
Anxiety
What is anxiety and how is it treated?
-
Clinical name
There are various types of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) -
Prevalence
Affects over 40 million adults in the U.S -
Onset
Childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood -
Key symptoms
Persistent worry, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, sleep disturbances, and physical symptoms such as rapid breathing or increased heart rate -
Standard treatment
Psychotherapy (especially cognitive behavioral therapy) and medications such as SSRIs -
Diagnostic criteria
Excessive anxiety that is difficult to control and occurs most days for at least six months (for GAD) -
Treatment gap
About 30% of patients do not respond adequately to traditional treatments
- Persistent worry
- Restlessness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Appetite/weight changes
- Sleep disturbances
- Rapid breathing
- Increased heart rate
How ketamine treats anxiety
“For many patients, relief begins within hours of their first session — not weeks.”
Ketamine therapy offers a groundbreaking treatment approach that can provide patients with relief from their symptoms, starting at the very first treatment. Studies have shown that IV ketamine therapy is a highly effective solution for patients with anxiety. Traditional antidepressants affect your brain’s levels of serotonin and norepinephrine, chemicals that influence feelings and mood.
- Glutamate
- NMDA receptor
- New pathways
- Onset of relief
- Primary mechanism
- Neuroplasticity effect
- Serotonin
- Dopamine
- Onset of relief
- Primary mechanism
- Neuroplasticity effect
The ketamine treatment process
01
Schedule free consultation
02
Begin treatment
03
During treatment
04
Regular sessions
Rapid relief for anxiety
Feel better in hours to days — not weeks. Here’s what the research shows.
20%
of Americans suffer from an anxiety disorder.
1/3
of people don’t respond to conventional medications.
24 Hours
As early as until patients report improvement
What our patients are saying
Treatment options
We offer two evidence-based ketamine treatments: Spravato® nasal spray, for patients with treatment-resistant depression, and IV ketamine infusions. Both are administered under medical supervision.
Spravato®
Esketamine nasal spray
- FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression
- Based on a ketamine derivative
- In-clinic treatment under physician supervision
- Insurance-covered
- Most patients pay $0–$50 per visit after insurance coverage and available assistance programs.
IV ketamine
Intravenous ketamine infusion
- Treats depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, postpartum depression, AUD, and other mental health disorders
- Available to patients not eligible for Spravato
- Delivered under physician supervision
- Self-pay treatment
- $500 per session
If you’re not sure, we’ll help you understand which option is right for you.
Research on ketamine therapy & anxiety
Ketamine for Social Anxiety Disorder: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial
Many patients with social anxiety disorder (SAD) experience inadequate symptom relief from available treatments. Ketamine is a potent N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist with a potentially novel mechanism of action for the treatment of anxiety disorders.
Ketamine treatment for refractory anxiety: A systematic review
There is a growing interest in the psychiatric properties of the dissociative anaesthetic ketamine, as single doses have been shown to have fast-acting mood-enhancing and anxiolytic effects, which persist for up to a week after the main psychoactive symptoms have diminished.
The effects of ketamine on symptoms of depression and anxiety
Retrospective controlled analysis showing significant symptom reduction in routine care settings.
FAQs
Yes, when administered under medical supervision by trained physicians, ketamine therapy is safe. At Keta Medical Center, our team is led by emergency medicine physicians with extensive training, ensuring that every treatment adheres to the highest standards of medical safety.
Side effects may include mild nausea, dizziness, feelings of dissociation, anxiety or increased blood pressure. These typically resolve shortly after the treatment session. Our medical team monitors patients closely to manage any side effects effectively.
Insurance coverage for anxiety depends on the type of ketamine treatment you receive:
Spravato® (esketamine) is FDA-approved and many insurance providers will cover it for depression related to anxiety. Keta Medical Center will work with your insurer to complete the required prior authorization and provide documentation of your treatment history.
IV ketamine is considered an off-label treatment, so most insurance plans do not cover it. Therefore, it is typically an out-of-pocket service. Superbills for patients to submit to insurance providers are available.
Ketamine reduces anxiety by blocking NMDA receptors, which increases glutamate and triggers rapid neuroplastic changes that help form new neural connections. This helps people reframe their thinking and responses, often helping them get “unstuck” and help alleviate the weight they feel, thus finding more joy in their daily lives.
SSRIs work more slowly by adjusting serotonin and norepinephrine levels, often taking weeks to alter mood, whereas ketamine typically produces faster symptom relief through a different glutamate-driven pathway.
Yes, certain conditions medical conditions that might not be compatible with ketamine therapy include:
- History of psychosis (such as schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder)
- Active substance use disorder (especially involving ketamine or dissociatives)
- People with uncontrolled hypertension
- Patients with history of aneurism
- Patients with allergy to ketamine
- individuals with a history of psychosis or active mania
- Pregnant individuals
All potential risk factors are identified during the consultation. Have questions? Schedule a consultation and we can help clarify.
When used medically and in controlled doses, ketamine therapy is not considered addictive for most patients. Here’s what you should know:
- Medical ketamine is given in low, controlled doses under clinician supervision
- There is no evidence that clinically administered ketamine for anxiety or depression leads to dependence in patients
- Clinics carefully monitor dosage, frequency, and response to ensure safety
- Treatments are scheduled over time and there is no take-home ketamine, which greatly reduces any misuse risk
- The scientific studies support that in the long term when medically supervised, ketamine has not been shown to be addictive
At Keta Medical Center, ketamine therapy for anxiety is safe, non-habit-forming, and designed to avoid patterns that could lead to dependence.
Many patients report improvement within hours to days, with some noting changes in 2–4 hours after a session, and many feeling better after several treatments. The duration of benefit varies by person.
Improvements often last weeks to months and can be prolonged with individualized maintenance sessions and integrated therapy.
Not sure yet?
Explore the resources on our site to find out how ketamine treatment can help you heal.