How IV Ketamine Affects Anxiety
Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions worldwide. While many people benefit from therapy and medications such as SSRIs or benzodiazepines, others continue to struggle. Researchers are now studying IV ketamine as a potential option for anxiety that has not improved with standard treatments.
Why Researchers Are Interested in Ketamine
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that has been used safely in medical settings for decades (DEA). In recent years, it has drawn attention for its rapid effects on depression, especially in people who did not respond to traditional antidepressants (Harvard Health). Because anxiety and depression often overlap, researchers began asking whether ketamine might also benefit people with severe anxiety.
How IV Ketamine May Work in the Brain
Unlike traditional anxiety medications that primarily act on serotonin or GABA, ketamine works on the brain’s glutamate system. By blocking NMDA receptors, ketamine triggers a surge in glutamate. This process stimulates neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to form new connections (NIMH).
For people with anxiety disorders, this may “reset” overactive brain circuits and create new, healthier pathways. The effect may translate into reduced worry, less hypervigilance, and improved emotional regulation.
Research on Ketamine and Anxiety
While most studies focus on depression, a growing number of trials suggest ketamine may help with specific anxiety disorders:
- Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD): A small randomized trial found that a single IV ketamine infusion reduced symptoms of social anxiety within hours, with effects lasting up to a week in some participants (Glue et al., 2017).
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Preliminary studies suggest ketamine infusions may reduce chronic worry and tension, though results vary and long-term data are limited (Shadli et al., 2018).
- Comorbid Depression and Anxiety: Many patients receiving IV ketamine for treatment-resistant depression also report improvements in anxiety symptoms, suggesting overlap in its therapeutic effects (Harvard Health).
These findings are encouraging, but the evidence is still considered preliminary. Larger, long-term studies are needed to confirm ketamine’s role in treating anxiety disorders.
Potential Benefits
IV ketamine may:
- Provide rapid relief of anxiety symptoms
- Improve mood and functioning in people with overlapping depression and anxiety
- Help patients who have not responded to standard treatments
Because anxiety can interfere with work, relationships, and overall quality of life, even short-term relief may provide an opportunity for patients to re-engage with therapy and recovery efforts.
Safety and Considerations
Like any medical treatment, IV ketamine carries risks. Possible side effects include dissociation, dizziness, increased blood pressure, and nausea. These effects are usually short-lived, but medical monitoring during and after the infusion is essential (FDA Label).
Ketamine is not considered a first-line treatment for anxiety. It may be appropriate only for people who have not improved with standard therapies and who are carefully evaluated by a medical professional.
The Bottom Line
IV ketamine may offer rapid symptom relief for some individuals with anxiety disorders, particularly those who have not responded to traditional treatments. Early research suggests benefits for conditions like social anxiety and generalized anxiety disorder, but more studies are needed to understand long-term outcomes.
For now, ketamine therapy should be seen as a promising but experimental option—one that may give patients new hope when other treatments have not worked.
If you’re struggling with treatment-resistant depression and feel ready to explore IV ketamine therapy, we’re here to help. Schedule a free virtual consultation to discuss your specific situation with our medical team. Together, we can determine if IV ketamine therapy might be the breakthrough you’ve been seeking.
