Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric diagnoses in the United States, affecting roughly 40 million adults — yet many of those people have exhausted the standard treatment ladder of SSRIs, SNRIs, benzodiazepines, and psychotherapy without arriving at a place where anxiety is genuinely manageable rather than merely suppressed. For patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), the gap between available treatments and adequate relief is similarly stark, with roughly 40 to 60 percent of OCD patients not achieving meaningful remission with first-line pharmacological approaches. At Tri-Cities Infusion and Wellness Clinic in Kennewick, we work with Eastern Washington patients whose anxiety or OCD has not responded well to conventional care — and IV ketamine infusion treatment is one of the tools we bring to that conversation.
How Ketamine Addresses Anxiety and OCD Differently
The relationship between ketamine and anxiety is distinct from the relationship between ketamine and depression, though the two overlap. Anxiety in its most treatment-resistant forms involves hyperactivity in threat-detection circuitry — particularly the amygdala and its connections to the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Standard pharmacological treatments, including SSRIs and SNRIs, modulate serotonin and norepinephrine to reduce that hyperactivity over weeks to months. Benzodiazepines act more quickly through GABA pathways but carry dependency risks and do not address underlying neural patterns. Ketamine, as an NMDA receptor antagonist, works through glutamate pathways and has been studied for its effects on neural rigidity — the entrenched, repetitive neural firing patterns that characterize both treatment-resistant anxiety and OCD.
For OCD specifically, research has pointed toward the glutamatergic system as a potential therapeutic target, and IV ketamine’s effects on this system have generated interest. Studies examining ketamine’s impact on OCD symptomatology have shown rapid and sometimes significant reductions in obsessive thoughts and compulsive urges in some patients — effects that, while transient in many cases, represent a different therapeutic avenue than standard serotonin-modulating agents. It is essential to note that IV ketamine is used off-label for anxiety and OCD; neither indication carries FDA approval, and we are fully transparent about that distinction in every clinical consultation we conduct.
Our Clinical Team and Pre-Treatment Process
At our clinic in Kennewick, IV ketamine infusions are administered by a team that includes Tyler Thornock, ARNP, CRNA, Ben Clark, CRNA, Michelle Perez, NP, and Angela Shaw, NP. The clinical precision our providers bring is particularly important for anxiety patients, who may carry heightened sensitivity to medical environments and a lower threshold for distress during altered states. Our pre-treatment health sync process — which reviews your anxiety history, current medications, and prior treatment experiences — is designed not only to inform dosing decisions but to ensure that you feel genuinely prepared for the infusion experience. We discuss what the dissociative quality of ketamine is like, how long it lasts, and what our monitoring protocol involves, so that the clinical environment is as predictable as possible.
We serve the Kennewick, Richland, and Pasco communities, as well as patients driving in from Yakima, Walla Walla, and elsewhere in Eastern Washington. For many of these patients, access to a specialist who will consider off-label treatment options for complex anxiety has historically required significant travel and waitlists. We understand the cost that poses — in time, in transportation, and in the deferred relief of continuing to suffer while navigating a system that moves slowly. Our goal is to be a direct, accessible resource for Eastern Washington residents who have reached the point where a different clinical approach is warranted. Learn more about whether ketamine can treat anxiety in our in-depth overview.
Medication Interactions and Safety Considerations
One barrier that frequently shapes the initial conversation is medication interaction. Many anxiety patients are already taking SSRIs, SNRIs, or benzodiazepines when they come to us, and the question of how these interact with ketamine is one we take seriously. Our pre-treatment health sync process specifically addresses this: we review every current medication before proceeding with any infusion and flag combinations that require clinical attention. We do not ask patients to discontinue their existing medications without a strong clinical rationale and guidance from the prescribing provider — any decision of that nature is made collaboratively and carefully. Results vary by individual, and we always encourage patients to discuss with your provider whether IV ketamine is the right complement or alternative to their current anxiety regimen.
A second barrier is the fear that ketamine — often associated in the public mind with recreational use or anesthesia — will create dependence or make anxiety worse. We address this directly. Ketamine used at sub-anesthetic doses in a clinical, time-limited infusion series is a different pharmacological context from recreational use, and the risk of dependence in a medically supervised setting is far lower than with chronic benzodiazepine use. That said, we screen every patient for substance use history as part of our pre-treatment health sync, and we are transparent about what clinical contraindications exist. Our approach to anxiety and OCD patients is not just to administer infusions — it is to ensure that the care we provide is genuinely appropriate for each person’s situation. For a broader look at what the research shows, see our post on the benefits of ketamine-assisted care explained.
A Realistic Perspective on Ketamine for OCD
For OCD patients specifically, many of whom have found that even high doses of SSRIs and augmentation strategies have not quieted the intrusive thoughts that govern their daily life, the possibility of a rapid-acting intervention — even if temporary — represents something meaningful. We do not position IV ketamine as a cure for OCD. We position it as a component of a broader treatment approach that patients and their mental health providers evaluate together. The clinical data on ketamine for OCD is promising but still developing, and we hold that nuance carefully in how we communicate with patients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is IV ketamine approved for anxiety or OCD treatment?
No — IV ketamine is used off-label for anxiety and OCD. There is no FDA approval for these specific indications. The off-label use is guided by emerging clinical research and individualized medical judgment, and we discuss this context fully in every pre-treatment consultation.
How does ketamine affect anxiety differently from antidepressants?
Antidepressants like SSRIs and SNRIs modulate serotonin and norepinephrine systems over weeks. Ketamine acts on NMDA glutamate receptors and may affect neural plasticity more rapidly. For some patients with anxiety or OCD, this mechanism offers a response pathway that serotonin modulation has not provided. Results vary by individual.
Can I take my anxiety medication during ketamine treatment?
This depends on the specific medications involved. Our pre-treatment health sync includes a detailed medication review, and we address any interactions before scheduling an infusion. We do not recommend discontinuing existing medications without careful coordination with your prescribing provider.
What does the ketamine infusion experience feel like for an anxious patient?
Ketamine produces mild dissociation that resolves by the end of the infusion. Many anxiety patients find the experience calming rather than distressing, particularly with clinical support present. Our CRNA monitors you continuously throughout every session, and we prepare patients thoroughly so the experience is not surprising.
How many infusions are recommended for anxiety or OCD?
A standard series typically includes six infusions over two to three weeks. The protocol is individualized based on your diagnosis and clinical history. Some patients respond after just a few infusions; others require a full series before noticing a shift.
Key Takeaways
- Anxiety disorders and OCD affect tens of millions of Americans, and a significant proportion do not achieve adequate relief through first-line pharmacological treatments.
- IV ketamine acts on glutamate pathways through NMDA receptor antagonism and is used off-label for anxiety and OCD — neither indication carries FDA approval.
- All infusions at Tri-Cities Infusion and Wellness Clinic are administered by a clinical team that includes Tyler Thornock, ARNP, CRNA, Ben Clark, CRNA, Michelle Perez, NP, and Angela Shaw, NP, with continuous monitoring and individualized pre-treatment health syncs.
- Medication interactions are assessed thoroughly before any infusion is scheduled; patients should not discontinue existing anxiety medications without clinical guidance.
- Results vary by individual, and patients are encouraged to discuss with your provider whether IV ketamine is an appropriate next step in their anxiety or OCD treatment.
Conclusion
Anxiety and OCD that have not responded to conventional care deserve a more creative clinical approach — and IV ketamine, delivered by a CRNA-trained team in a carefully managed clinical environment, represents a meaningful option for Eastern Washington patients who have reached that point. At Tri-Cities Infusion and Wellness Clinic, we take the time to understand your full treatment history before recommending a path forward. If you are ready to explore whether ketamine therapy fits your situation, contact us in Kennewick to schedule a consultation with our clinical team.
About Our Providers
Tri-Cities Infusion and Wellness Clinic is led by Tyler Thornock, ARNP, CRNA, and Ben Clark, CRNA — certified registered nurse anesthetists who bring extensive backgrounds in anesthesia, IV pharmacology, and patient safety to every infusion they administer. Michelle Perez, NP, and Angela Shaw, NP, round out the clinical team, contributing to the individualized, patient-centered care that defines every visit at our Kennewick clinic. Together, our providers conduct thorough pre-treatment health syncs — reviewing medical history, current medications, and prior treatment responses — before proceeding with any care. The clinic specializes in OCD treatment in Kennewick, WA, as well as ketamine therapy for treatment-resistant depression and chronic pain conditions including CRPS, fibromyalgia, and neuropathy, with individualized protocols and insurance coverage through Asuris, Providence, Cigna, Premera, and others.
References
Anxiety and Depression Association of America — https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety
International OCD Foundation — https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/
National Institute of Mental Health — https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd
National Institutes of Health / PubMed — https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23736920/
Medical Disclaimer
The content on this page is provided by Tri-Cities Infusion and Wellness Clinic for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or a treatment recommendation. IV ketamine is used off-label for anxiety and OCD and is not FDA-approved for these indications. Results vary by individual, and not all patients will experience symptom relief from ketamine therapy. Please discuss with your provider whether IV ketamine is appropriate for your specific diagnosis, current medications, and treatment history. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions about your mental health care.
