Ketamine Addiction & Misuse
Ketamine is a schedule III controlled substance that is approved for medical use as a general anesthetic in procedures in human medicine. It is also used in veterinary medicine and sometimes used as “off-label” by physicians to help with treatment resistant depression. Although safe to use in medical practices when administered by a licensed health professional, ketamine can be dangerous when it is misused as a recreational drug. Recreational use is illegal and can have serious health consequences.1 If you use ketamine, you should be aware of its potential health effects and dangers. Keep reading to learn about ketamine, how it is used, the risks of ketamine use, and how to find ketamine rehab near you.
What Is Ketamine?
Ketamine is a fast-acting dissociative anesthetic used during surgery that has hallucinogenic and dissociative effects.2 When misused it is used in powder form.3 People may inject, snort, smoke, or swallow ketamine when they misuse it.3 But all methods of misuse are not safe and can have negative consequences.
Common street names for ketamine include:1
- Special K
- K
- Kit Kat
- Cat Valium
- Super Acid
- Special La Coke
- Purple
- Jet
- Vitamin K
What Is Ketamine Used For?
In medical settings, ketamine is used to inhibit pain and cause a dissociative state during short surgical procedures.2 Unlike other commonly used anesthetics, it does not impair a person’s reflexes, allowing them to breathe and maintain their heart rate during surgical procedures.2
Since 2019, esketamine, a ketamine derivative, has also been prescribed as an outpatient medication to manage treatment-resistant depression.1 With similar chemical structures, both forms of the drug can be misused, resulting in serious consequences.1
How Does Ketamine Work?
Ketamine is an NMDA receptor antagonist meaning that it binds to the NMDA receptors in the brain and blocks the activation of glutamate, a neurotransmitter. It is believed that this helps with antidepressant symptoms. Ketamine also has activity on the brain and body’s opioid receptors. Ketamine acts similar to PCP on the brain but is less potent.1
Side Effects of Ketamine
Because of its dissociative and hallucinogenic effects, ketamine is often misused as a recreational drug. Many users are attracted to the thrilling psychedelic experience but the recreational use of ketamine does not come without harmful side effects.4 The following effects may be experienced during ketamine use and shortly after:2,3
- Dissociative, dream-like state
- Hallucinations
- Sedation
- Memory loss
- Increase in blood pressure
- Loss of consciousness
- Significantly slowed breathing
- Attention, learning, and memory problems
- Analgesia
- Nightmares
Ketamine can be unpredictable when misused. The side-effects vary based on health differences and other factors.5 Factors that affect ketamine symptoms include:4
- Potency and dosage of ketamine taken
- Person’s age.
- Unique biological and genetic factors.
- Person’s sex.
- Personality.
- Past and current use of other substances.
- Current mood.
- Expectations.
- Current mindset.
- Environmental setting and surroundings.
It can be difficult to know exactly how a drug will interact in your body, in varying circumstances. If a person takes ketamine with other substances, at different doses, or on different occasions, the effects could be mild one day and severe the next time.
Is Ketamine Addictive?
Ketamine misuse presents a higher risk of dependence and addiction than other hallucinogens, but it is still rare compared to other substance use disorders (SUDs).2 It is classified as a Schedule III drug of misuse because it has a low to moderate potential for physical and psychological dependence with misuse.3,5
Addiction to ketamine is clinically classified as a phencyclidine use disorder (PUD) due to its pharmacological similarity to PCP as a dissociative drug.4,6 PUD is diagnosed by mental health professionals using the following 10 criteria:6
- Taking more of the drug or taking it for longer periods than initially intended
- Having a persistent desire to cut back or control ketamine use but being unable to
- Spending increasing amounts of time obtaining, using, or recovering from ketamine
- Experiencing cravings for the drug
- Failing to fulfill major duties at home, at work, or school due to ongoing ketamine use
- Continuing to use ketamine despite recurrent social or relational problems caused or worsened by its use
- Giving up previously important social, occupational, or recreational activities instead of ketamine use
- Repeatedly using the drug in physically hazardous situations
- Continued ketamine use despite knowing it is causing or worsening ongoing physical or psychological problems
- Developing tolerance, the need to use increased amounts of ketamine to achieve the desired effects, or a loss of effect as a person uses the same dose repeatedly
Recognizing the above symptoms can help you determine if you or a loved one needs help with ketamine misuse. However, it is important to remember that only a mental health professional can make a diagnosis, and it is best to seek a professional assessment.
Health Risks of Ketamine
Chronic ketamine use can have long-term effects on your health.3 Though rare, these effects may include:3,4
- Ulcers and bladder pain.
- Kidney problems.
- Stomach pain.
- Depression.
- Memory impairment.
- Increased risk of blood-borne infections with injection use (such as HIV, hepatitis, and others).
- Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD).
Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder may occur with ongoing misuse of any hallucinogen but can cause a nightmarish state for those who are affected. For some, HPPD may occur for a week or less as brief, mild “flashbacks” of the images, scenes, and mood changes they experienced while under the influence of a hallucinogenic drug.4 Other people report recurrent flashbacks that can recur for years after their hallucinogenic experience, causing distress and a more significant impact on their lives.4
Can You Overdose on Ketamine?
Overdose on ketamine is possible but rare.2 This is largely because people who misuse ketamine often take lower doses than are necessary for anesthetic effects.2 However, on high doses or in combination with other drugs or alcohol, people can experience more dangerous effects.2
As the dose increases, people taking ketamine may experience:2
- Difficulty moving.
- Problems breathing.
- Seizures.
- Nausea.
- Complete dissociation from reality.
- Loss of consciousness.
- Out-of-body experiences.
- “Near-death” experiences (also known as the “K-hole”).
Death from ketamine overdose alone typically occurs from respiratory depression, or no longer breathing automatically.2 More frequently, ketamine overdose occurs when a person is taking multiple substances.7 Alongside alcohol, ketamine use can increase the risk of overdose and damage to the following systems:7
- Liver and biliary system (resulting in liver cell death, weakening of gallbladder, dilated bile duct, or increased liver enzymes)
- Heart and lungs (resulting in inflammation of heart muscle, high blood pressure, increase of heart rate, dangerously slow breathing)
- Urinary system (resulting in painful urination, blood in urine, kidney failure, bladder inflammation)
Other examples of more severe effects when taking ketamine with other drugs include:2
- Increased liver toxicity with cocaine.
- Increased sedation and longer effects with diazepam (a benzodiazepine).
- Decreased adverse effects of opioids.
These interactions with other drugs can increase the risk of serious long-term damage or fatal outcomes in the case of overdose.2
Rehab and Treatment for Ketamine Misuse
If you or someone you love is experiencing difficulty controlling your ketamine use, treatment options are available. Many substance use disorder treatment facilities systems are located throughout the country, including American Addiction Centers (AAC) rehabs. AAC rehabs offer evidence-based treatment for all levels of care for ketamine misuse and addiction.
Whether you need help with ketamine, other hallucinogens, or polysubstance use with ketamine, you can get started with one of the following levels of care:
- Medical detox
- Inpatient drug and alcohol rehab
- Intensive outpatient addiction treatment programs
- Partial hospitalization rehab programs
- Outpatient addiction treatment program
Asking your primary care physician or a mental health professional can help you decide where to begin. Each person’s journey is different, and there is no wrong starting place.
Start Your Journey to Recovery
The journey to recovery can begin anytime. It’s never too late. AAC treatment centers are located in several states across the country and have multiple levels of care and a variety of amenities. There is hope for a new beginning with substance use disorders, including ketamine misuse and addiction.
Contact one of AAC’s compassionate admissions navigators, available 24/7, to explore any questions you may have about treatment. They can help you get connected with a rehab that fits your needs, clarify information about levels of treatment, and guide you through health insurance coverage for addiction treatment.
Call and start the admissions process. Your new life could begin today.