Does esketamine treat anxiety directly?

Esketamine is approved for treatment-resistant depression and for major depression with suicidal thoughts or behavior. Many patients with prominent anxiety experience relief as depressive symptoms improve via glutamatergic modulation.

How fast will I feel better?

Some patients notice benefits within hours to days. Most improvements build over the first 2 to 4 weeks, alongside the oral antidepressant.

Is Spravato® covered by insurance for anxious depression?

Coverage depends on your plan and documented criteria for TRD or MDD with suicidality. Our team verifies benefits and assists with prior authorization.

What are common side effects?

Transient dizziness, brief dissociation, nausea, and temporary blood pressure increases. These are monitored and usually resolve within 1 to 2 hours.

Can I drive after treatment?

No. Arrange a safe ride home and avoid driving until the next day.

Spravato® for Anxiety | Florida TMS Clinic

A new option for patients with anxiety and depression

Up to two-thirds of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) also experience clinically significant anxiety. This "anxious depression" often brings more severe symptoms, greater functional impairment, and slower responses to standard medications. That is why more Floridians are looking for esketamine for anxiety, Spravato® treatment in Wesley Chapel, and Tampa esketamine clinics that can help when SSRIs and SNRIs haven't.

Why anxiety makes depression harder to treat

These factors explain why patients seek rapid-acting treatment in Florida that can help both mood and anxiety symptoms.

Higher illness severity and chronicity
Greater risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors
Lower response and remission with monoaminergic antidepressants
Longer time to improvement with standard care

Who may benefit

Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) after at least two antidepressant trials
MDD with prominent anxiety (for example GAD-7 of 10 or higher) or comorbid anxiety disorders
Adults needing faster relief than traditional options provide

How esketamine helps anxiety and depression

Spravato® (esketamine) is the S-enantiomer of ketamine delivered as a nasal spray under medical supervision. Unlike SSRIs or SNRIs, esketamine targets the brain's glutamate system (the NMDA receptor) to rapidly enhance neuroplasticity and rebalance circuits that regulate both mood and anxiety. Many patients report meaningful improvement in hours to days, not weeks.

Benefits patients notice: quicker easing of psychic tension and worry, improved motivation and emotional resilience, and better engagement with psychotherapy and daily routines.

Esketamine is administered in the clinic and paired with an oral antidepressant per FDA labeling.

Clinical evidence in patients with anxiety

A post-hoc analysis of the TRANSFORM-2 randomized trial (Daly et al., Depression & Anxiety, 2021) examined outcomes in adults with TRD with and without comorbid anxiety (defined by GAD-7 of 10 or higher and/or MINI diagnosis). About 72% of participants had comorbid anxiety.

At 4 weeks, esketamine plus antidepressant significantly reduced depression severity versus antidepressant plus placebo regardless of anxiety status.
Mean MADRS change at day 28: -21.0 (with anxiety) and -22.7 (without anxiety) in the esketamine group.
The treatment advantage remained significant whether anxiety was present or not.
Response and remission rates were higher with esketamine even in anxious patients.

Common, transient effects include dizziness, brief dissociation, nausea, and temporary increases in blood pressure; these typically resolve within 1 to 2 hours under supervision.

What to expect at Florida TMS Clinic

We are a certified Spravato® center following all FDA REMS requirements. Vital signs and comfort are monitored throughout. If you are in immediate crisis, call 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or 911.

Private treatment suite and continuous monitoring
Self-administered Spravato® nasal spray under clinician supervision
Each visit is about 2 hours including observation and recovery
Typical schedule: twice weekly during the acute phase, then taper
No driving until the next day after each session

Esketamine in Wesley Chapel and Tampa

Florida TMS Clinic, Tampa: serving Tampa, South Tampa, Downtown, and Westshore. Same-week evaluations often available.

Florida TMS Clinic, Wesley Chapel: serving Wesley Chapel, New Tampa, Lutz, Land O' Lakes, and North Tampa communities.

Take the first step toward relief

If medications haven't helped, esketamine treatment in Wesley Chapel and Tampa may provide the rapid relief you've been seeking. We will personalize your plan, which can include Spravato®, TMS, and psychotherapy when appropriate.

References: Daly EJ et al., Depression & Anxiety, 2021; Popova V et al., Am J Psychiatry, 2019; Spravato® Prescribing Information.