Ketamine for Anxiety
For some adults with certain anxiety symptoms, a licensed provider may consider ketamine within a structured, monitored plan — never as a guaranteed solution.
If you are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, this is an emergency. Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or call 911. Bravely Balanced is not an emergency service, and the candidate assessment is not a crisis intervention.
Anxiety disorders involve persistent worry, tension, physical symptoms, and avoidance that can interfere with daily life. Many people benefit from psychotherapy and standard medications, but some do not achieve adequate relief. For certain adults, clinicians have explored ketamine as an additional option within a comprehensive plan.
What the evidence suggests
Evidence suggests ketamine may be associated with reduction of anxiety symptoms in some individuals, though research is still developing and responses vary. Ketamine is not a guaranteed treatment and is not appropriate for everyone. It is used as part of a structured plan with required follow-up.
Why evaluation comes first
Bravely Balanced does not prescribe ketamine for anxiety without a thorough psychiatric evaluation. Anxiety takes many forms, and appropriateness depends on your specific diagnosis, history, current medications, and safety screening. Your provider determines whether ketamine may be considered or whether another approach is safer.
Who may be considered
Ketamine for anxiety may be appropriate for certain adults whose symptoms have not responded adequately to standard approaches. It is not a first-line option, and being considered does not mean treatment is appropriate.
What to expect
If your provider determines ketamine may be appropriate, you receive an individualized treatment plan delivered through secure telehealth, with at-home administration when appropriate. A structured safety framework, a support person, and required follow-up are part of care. Your provider monitors your response and adjusts the plan accordingly.
Not a cure, and not for everyone
Ketamine is not a cure for anxiety, and individual results vary. Some patients benefit; others do not. If ketamine is not appropriate — for example, due to certain medical or psychiatric conditions — your provider will discuss alternatives and, when possible, referrals.
Important context about ketamine. Ketamine is FDA-approved as an anesthetic. The use of compounded racemic ketamine for psychiatric conditions is off-label, and compounded medications are not FDA-approved products. Compounded ketamine nasal spray is not the same as FDA-approved esketamine (Spravato®).
Treatment is not appropriate for everyone. A licensed clinician independently determines whether prescribing is appropriate. No prescription is guaranteed, and completing an assessment does not equal clinical eligibility.
About this page
- Written by:
- Bravely Balanced Clinical Education Team
- Medical review:
- Pending — this content has not yet been reviewed by a licensed clinician.
- Last updated:
- 2026-08-27
This page is educational and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice. All treatment decisions are made by a licensed provider based on your individual evaluation.
Selected references for further reading
- American Psychiatric Association. Consensus Statement on the Use of Ketamine in Psychiatric Disorders. 2017.
- Sanacora G, et al. A Consensus Statement on the Use of Ketamine in the Treatment of Mood Disorders. JAMA Psychiatry. 2017;74(4):399-405.
References are provided for educational purposes and do not constitute an endorsement.