Anxiety can affect sleep, concentration, relationships, physical comfort, and the ability to manage everyday responsibilities. When anxiety occurs alongside persistent depression, the combination can feel especially difficult to treat. Some individuals continue experiencing significant symptoms even after trying several medications, therapy, or other forms of psychiatric care.
At Pacific Mind Health, we offer Spravato® therapy for qualifying adults with treatment-resistant depression. While Spravato is not currently FDA-approved specifically for anxiety disorders, it may be considered when anxiety symptoms occur alongside an approved depressive condition.
Our clinicians evaluate each person carefully before recommending treatment. By reviewing your diagnosis, symptoms, health history, previous medications, and current needs, we can help determine whether Spravato belongs in a broader plan for your mental health.
To discuss your symptoms and treatment history, complete our new patient request form.
Spravato® is the brand name for esketamine, a prescription nasal spray that works differently from conventional antidepressants. It influences the brain’s glutamate system, which is involved in mood, learning, memory, and the way the brain adapts to new experiences.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Spravato for adults with treatment-resistant depression, either by itself or in combination with an oral antidepressant. It is also approved with an oral antidepressant for depressive symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder who are experiencing acute suicidal thoughts or behavior.
Spravato has not been approved as an independent treatment for generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety, or other primary anxiety conditions. However, some people with treatment-resistant depression also experience substantial anxiety. Research involving this population suggests that esketamine may remain effective for depressive symptoms even when anxiety is also present.
Our dedicated Spravato therapy page explains the medication, clinical process, and approved uses in greater detail.
Anxiety and depression frequently overlap. A person may experience excessive worry, fear, tension, restlessness, or panic while also struggling with low mood, reduced motivation, hopelessness, and difficulty enjoying life.
Symptoms may include:
For some people, anxiety becomes more intense as depression continues. Others may have an established anxiety disorder alongside treatment-resistant depression.
A thorough psychiatric evaluation helps us understand which condition is driving your symptoms and which treatment options are clinically appropriate.
Spravato for anxiety symptoms may only be considered when the individual also meets the clinical criteria for an FDA-approved depressive indication. Experiencing anxiety alone does not automatically make someone eligible.
You may be evaluated for Spravato when:
Our psychiatric providers assess the whole clinical picture rather than focusing on one symptom or diagnosis. We will also discuss current medications, physical health concerns, substance use history, blood pressure, and previous responses to treatment.
Spravato is not prescribed for use at home. Each dose is self-administered through a nasal spray under professional supervision at an approved healthcare setting.
Before treatment, our team checks your blood pressure and reviews how you are feeling. After administering the medication, you remain onsite for at least two hours so we can monitor your response.
Temporary effects may include:
Because some treatment effects can impair alertness, you must arrange for someone to drive you home. You should not drive, operate machinery, or complete activities requiring full attention until the following day after a restful night of sleep.
Our main Long Beach office provides a calm, professionally monitored environment for every appointment. Before your first session, we explain the process in detail so you can arrive prepared.
Spravato may address the depressive component of a patient’s condition, but additional support is often needed to manage worry, avoidance, panic, relationship stress, and other anxiety symptoms.
Your individualized plan may include medication management to evaluate existing prescriptions and coordinate your broader psychiatric care. Some patients also benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy, which can help identify anxious thought patterns and build practical coping strategies.
Depending on your symptoms and goals, treatment may focus on:
We offer a range of mental health treatment services so that care can be adapted as your symptoms and needs change.
Spravato is one possible treatment, not the only path forward. If you do not qualify or would prefer another approach, our clinicians can help you explore appropriate alternatives.
For individuals whose depression has not improved with medication, TMS therapy may offer a noninvasive treatment that uses magnetic stimulation rather than a prescription nasal spray. We also provide Accelerated TMS for patients who qualify for a condensed treatment schedule.
Ketamine therapy may also be considered for select patients. Although ketamine is related to esketamine, it is a different medication with its own dosing, administration methods, potential risks, and clinical considerations. Ketamine is not FDA-approved specifically for anxiety or other psychiatric conditions, so any psychiatric use is considered off-label and requires a careful evaluation by a qualified provider.
Therapy, psychiatric medication, lifestyle support, or a combination of services may also be recommended. Our goal is to help you understand your options without presenting any single treatment as the right choice for everyone.
You can learn more about our personalized approach and clinical philosophy on our About Pacific Mind Health page.
Living with both anxiety and persistent depression can make it difficult to believe that meaningful improvement is possible. A limited response to previous medications, however, does not mean that you have exhausted every treatment option.
At Pacific Mind Health, we provide careful evaluations, honest clinical guidance, and compassionate support. We will explain what Spravato can and cannot treat, review the potential benefits and risks, and help you decide whether it belongs in your care plan.
Complete our new patient request form to connect with our team. We will review your information and help you explore the next appropriate step for your anxiety, depression, and overall mental health.
