Your nervous system is stuck in overdrive.
IV ketamine works through the glutamate system to rapidly modulate anxiety pathways in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex, with significant reductions in GAD, social anxiety, and PTSD-related anxiety within 24 hours (CNS Spectrums, 2024). Standard protocol at Music City Ketamine: 6 infusions over 2-3 weeks at $475 per session, personally administered by Marla Peterson, CRNA in Franklin, TN.
Anxiety disorders involve a fear circuit stuck in overdrive. The amygdala — your brain's threat detection center — fires alarm signals even when there's no real danger, while the prefrontal cortex, which should be regulating those signals, can't keep up. The result is a nervous system that never fully stands down.
Traditional anti-anxiety medications like benzodiazepines work by suppressing symptoms — quieting the alarm without fixing the wiring. Ketamine takes a fundamentally different approach by addressing the underlying circuit dysfunction.
Ketamine also modulates GABA, the brain's primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, helping to quiet the neural noise that keeps anxiety running in the background. By blocking NMDA receptors and activating AMPA receptors, it opens a neuroplasticity window where the brain can begin forming calmer, more regulated patterns of response.
At Music City Ketamine in Franklin, TN, Marla Peterson, CRNA administers every infusion in a private suite with real-time monitoring. You'll have a weighted blanket, eye mask, and calming music — and Walter or Wilma may stop by to offer some quiet, grounding company.
Ready to explore whether ketamine therapy is right for you?
Schedule a Consultation"I've had generalized anxiety for as long as I can remember. The constant racing thoughts, the tightness in my chest — it was just my normal. After my third infusion with Marla, I realized I was sitting in silence and not filling it with worry. I didn't know my brain could be this quiet."
"I was nervous about the infusion itself — ironic, I know. But the space felt safe from the moment I walked in. Wilma curled up next to me, and Marla talked me through everything. I felt held the entire time. That sense of safety is something I hadn't felt in years."
Yes, ketamine works on the glutamate system and promotes neuroplasticity in the prefrontal cortex, which helps restore regulation of fear and anxiety circuits. Clinical evidence shows significant reductions in anxiety symptoms across multiple anxiety disorders.
Marla Peterson, CRNA monitors you throughout and can adjust the dose in real time. Most patients describe the experience as deeply calming. The private suite at Music City Ketamine in Franklin, TN includes weighted blankets, eye masks, and calming music.
Most patients notice improvement after 1-2 infusions. The standard protocol is 6 sessions over 2-3 weeks, with maintenance sessions based on individual response. At Music City Ketamine, Marla Peterson, CRNA creates a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
20+ years of anesthesia experience. Member, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). Marla personally administers and monitors every infusion at Music City Ketamine. Read her full bio →
Common questions about IV ketamine therapy for Anxiety at Music City Ketamine.
Yes. IV ketamine modulates glutamate signaling in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex — the brain regions central to anxiety. A 2024 CNS Spectrums analysis found significant reductions in GAD, social anxiety, and PTSD-related anxiety within 24 hours, compared to 4-8 weeks for SSRIs.
Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Ativan) work on GABA and provide short-term sedation but carry dependence risk. SSRIs adjust serotonin slowly over weeks. IV ketamine works on glutamate and neuroplasticity, often producing rapid relief without daily medication dependence.
The standard protocol is 6 IV ketamine infusions over 2-3 weeks. Many anxiety patients respond after 1-3 sessions. Maintenance is individualized — some return monthly, others quarterly.
Possible but uncommon, and managed in real time. Marla Peterson, CRNA monitors your vital signs continuously and can adjust the infusion rate immediately if anxiety spikes. A weighted blanket, eye mask, and calming music are provided. The setting is designed for safety and calm, not stimulation.
Ketamine is administered in a controlled clinical setting under monitoring, not taken daily at home. It does not produce the dependence pattern seen with chronic benzodiazepine use. For chronic anxiety, IV ketamine is generally considered to have a more favorable long-term safety profile than chronic benzo use.
If anxiety medication hasn't been enough to quiet the noise, it might be time to try a different approach. Let's talk about whether ketamine therapy at Music City Ketamine in Franklin, TN is right for you.
Schedule a Conversation Text (615) 988-4600