Ketamine Addiction: Definition, Causes, Signs, Effects, and Treatment Methods

Ketamine-related emergency department visits often involved other drugs, with 71.5% of ketamine-related visits in the United States in 2011 involving alcohol (Drug Abuse Warning Network, 2011). In the United Kingdom, where ketamine has been classified as a Class C drug since 2006,9 ketamine misuse has also decreased during the 21st century. Research has not yet established the side effects of long-term ketamine therapy, but older studies of recreational users offer some insight on heavy, extended dosing.

Ketamine Addiction And Abuse

The most efficient administration route is intravenously with a bioavailability of 99%, compared to intramuscular and epidural administration (with bioavailability of 93% and 77%, respectively) 8,9,10. After intravenous bolus injection, maximum plasma concentration is achieved after 60 s, with a duration of action of 10–15 min. The intranasal route of application is easy and promotes fast systemic absorption, due to rich vascularization and the permeability of the nasal mucosa 11,12,13. Oral administered ketamine has a delayed effect of 15–30 min which is the result of first-pass metabolism in the liver.

Psychedelic and Dissociative Drugs

An overdose of ketamine can cause unconsciousness or slowed breathing, which is very dangerous. After a few minutes, your heart rate speeds up and your blood pressure begins to go down. Rehabilitation centers can help with different treatment options, detox programs, and other necessary assistance for overcoming dependency. This leaves plenty of room for excessive amounts of ketamine to be taken, amounts which can lead to an overdose.

• In both fetal and neonatal development, a 5 h exposure may be sufficient to induce a significant neuroapoptotic response because of the brain’s susceptibility to the apoptogenic effects of ketamine.
• Ketamine also has a use in psychiatry, providing rapid psychological relief to individuals with severe mental health conditions.
• After the peak, users may feel disoriented, with effects gradually diminishing.
• To kickstart the recovery process and prevent any further damage to your health, stopping using the drug and seeking professional advice is the best way to go.
• Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic drug that is abused by some for its hallucinogenic properties.

Ketamine Addiction

Over time, the bladder loses its ability to stretch, shrinking to a fraction of its usual capacity. The end result for some has been life-altering surgery, including bladder removal or kidney transplants. When administered under medical supervision with pharmaceutical-grade products, ketamine has a safety net. Outside those settings, the drug is taken in unmeasured amounts, with no oversight and no guarantee of purity. What is sold as a white crystalline powder on the street could contain adulterants or stronger concentrations than expected, leaving users exposed to significant risk. It can sound strange to hear that anyone would want to use ketamine, especially when it has long been described as a horse tranquilliser.

What Are The Signs Of A Ketamine Addiction?

Reese Ormand, CEO of Neuroglow, is an what is alcoholism entrepreneur with a UT McCombs School of Business background. His leadership and commitment to psychedelic medicine contribute to the organization’s trustworthiness. Ketamine triggers activity of a neurotransmitter called glutamate in the frontal cortex of your brain. It also allows more synapses, which allow information to flow inside your brain, to form in the same area. By Elizabeth PlumptreElizabeth is a freelance health and wellness writer. She helps brands craft factual, yet relatable content that resonates with diverse audiences.

The severity and duration of these effects often correlate with the duration and intensity of previous use. Many users experience delayed effects that can last hours or even days after use. Understanding these delayed effects is crucial for recognising the full impact of ketamine abuse.

Therefore, the combination of ketamine ketamine abuse with benzodiazepine could be used for traumatic brain injury, such as intracranial hypertension in emergencies 81. Ketamine exerts its sedative effect by enhancing the endogenous antinociceptive system, thereby increasing the descending inhibitory serotonergic pathway 78,79. The sedative and analgesic effects of ketamine are used in burn patients because of the drug’s ability to maintain respiratory function 80. Ketamine’s pharmacokinetic characteristics are not changed due to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) because it is less lipophile than other sedative agents and has minor protein binding 73.

• The withdrawal symptoms of Ketamine addiction are nightmares, insomnia, delirium, paranoia, suicidal thoughts, and increased heart rate.
• If you or someone you love struggles with ketamine abuse or addiction, help is available at the Carolina Center for Recovery.
• The primary factor behind the antidepressant effects is the inhibition of NMDA receptors, leading to the activation of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors.
• Signs of ketamine addiction include cravings, social withdrawal, increased tolerance, and neglect of responsibilities.
• You should never attempt to treat yourself for a mental health condition with ketamine or any other substance because it can be harmful and set you up for a possible addiction.

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Dark web markets now enable easier ketamine access, while street purity has jumped from 60% to 90%, sharply increasing overdose risks. Frequent mixing with synthetic cathinone (“bath salts“) appears in toxicology reports, creating dangerous combinations. These trends demand immediate public health action through prevention programs and harm reduction strategies before usage patterns become entrenched. Many users also endure “K-Cramps,” excruciating abdominal pain from bile duct damage that often requires emergency care.

• Where possible, the support of friends and family is also fundamental when recovering from ketamine addiction.
• The legal U.S. ketamine clinic industry of infusion clinics is growing and is expected to top $6.90 billion in revenue by 2030, according to Grandview Research.
• Early exposure to substances, high-stress environments, and easy access to ketamine further increase the risk of habitual use.
• Those with high blood pressure should be carefully monitored if they use ketamine, or Ketamine can also cause heart rhythms to get irregular, known as arrhythmias.

A user’s normal sense of reality may also change under the influence of ketamine. This commonly includes a distorted sense of time and space and changed ways of thinking. Ketamine’s interaction with NMDA receptors are thought to play a crucial role in its therapeutic effects. This is because NMDA receptors are involved in synaptic plasticity, the process of forming new memories, and mood regulation. “Ketamine abuse can stop a person from being able to function normally, and even lead to organ failure, heart attacks and death in some circumstances,” the Priory said. “Over time, these symptoms can worsen, resulting in a significantly reduced bladder capacity, where even small amounts of urine trigger an intense need to urinate.

Specialized Treatments & Detox

It is well-known that actor Matthew Perry died from ketamine overdose in 2023. In one 2023 study, researchers reported 312 ketamine overdose cases, including 138 deaths. In death reports and overdose cases, ketamine was the primary drug in 89.1 percent and 79 percent of cases, respectively.