Table of Contents
Key Points
- Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic used for medical procedures in the past.
- Ketamine is now used for treatment-resistant depression and other conditions, including anxiety and chronic pain.
- Though ketamine has legal uses, it’s a derivative of phencyclidine (PCP) and may be used recreationally.
- Ketamine does have some potential for misuse, abuse, and addiction.
Widely used during the Vietnam War, ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that was used in the 1960s and 70s for medical procedures.[1] Its use has shifted in recent years, however, to treat depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and chronic pain.[2]
Some research suggests that ketamine can be effective for treatment-resistant mental illnesses, but it may have misuse and addiction potential.
What Is Ketamine?
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that was approved in 1970 by the FDA for anesthetic procedures in humans and animals. While it’s since been replaced with other forms of anesthesia, ketamine has been used more recently to manage treatment-resistant depression and other uses, including treating anxiety, bipolar disorder, and chronic pain.
Though ketamine can have beneficial uses, it’s a derivative of phencyclidine (PCP) and may be used as a recreational drug to produce dissociative effects.[3] It’s also used as a date rape drug. Because of its price and access, ketamine has been growing in popularity as an illicit drug known as Special K or other names.
Effects of Ketamine
Ketamine’s effects can vary by individual and dose. Lower doses produce sedative effects and pain relief, while higher doses can bring more dissociative effects. Ketamine’s intoxicating effects can last from 15 minutes to several hours, depending on the dosage and how the drug is used – injected, consumed, smoked, or snorted.
The effects of ketamine may include:[4]
- Dizziness
- Sedation
- Slurred speech
- Clumsiness
- Poor muscle control
- Unresponsiveness to stimuli
- Dangerous slow breathing
- Cardiovascular issues
- Lower urinary tract issues
- Muscle stiffening
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diminished attention
- Memory loss
- Confusion
- Paranoia
- Anxiety
- Hallucinations
In addition to the effects, ketamine can cause powerful hallucinogenic and dissociative effects that may make people engage in dangerous behaviors or situations. As a date-rape drug, ketamine is favorable because it’s odorless, tasteless, and produces amnesia-like effects.
With chronic use, ketamine can have lasting effects like kidney and bladder issues, chronic stomach pain, long-term memory deficits, and depression.[5]
Precautions with Ketamine Treatments
Precautions with Ketamine TreatmentsMisusing ketamine significantly increases the risk of developing an addiction. However, there’s abuse and misuse potential with legal ketamine treatments like some other prescription medications. Here are some precautions to take during ketamine treatment to reduce the risk of abuse:
- Discuss any substance misuse or addiction problems you’ve had in the past to help your doctor determine if ketamine is the right choice for you.
- Start at the lowest dose necessary to relieve your symptoms, and always follow your doctor’s guidelines.
- Never take ketamine at higher doses or more frequently than advised.
- Only seek ketamine treatments that are administered in a clinical setting under the supervision of a medical professional.
- Discuss the risks of ketamine treatment, including the potential for addiction, and follow your doctor’s advice on how to minimize those risks.
- Keep up with your follow-up appointments to monitor progress and assess any signs of addiction or misuse.
Can You Overdose on Ketamine?
Though rare, it’s possible to overdose on ketamine and experience extremely depressed breathing and unconsciousness.[6] However, ketamine is one of the few mind-altering substances with low complication rates.
Combining ketamine with other substances, such as alcohol, can increase the risk of toxicity and potential complications like heart attack, seizure, low blood pressure and heart rate, stupor, and coma.
Ketamine Misuse and Addiction Potential
Ketamine may be misused or abused recreationally for its dissociative effects. Compared to “hard” drugs like cocaine, ketamine has a low price and more access to the illicit market. Pharmaceutical ketamine is legally manufactured, but there’s an illicit supply that’s often stolen from veterinary clinics or other sources.
It was listed as a Schedule III controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act in 1999. It has some therapeutic uses, but it also has a potential for misuse that can increase the risk of adverse effects and dependence.
People who use ketamine recreationally report that the drug produces short-lived, extremely euphoric effects that help in social situations, which can make it difficult to stop.
As a derivative of PCP, ketamine addiction falls under phencyclidine use disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The criteria for a phencyclidine use disorder include:[7]
- Ketamine taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than intended
- A persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control ketamine use
- Spending a lot of time obtaining, using, or recovering from ketamine
- Craving ketamine
- Recurrent ketamine use that interferes with obligations at work, school, or home
- Continued ketamine use despite persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems
- Giving up or cutting back on important social, occupational, or recreational activities for ketamine use
- Using ketamine in situations where it’s physically dangerous
- Continued ketamine use despite persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problems
Treating Ketamine Addiction
Prolonged ketamine use may cause dependence, which is when the body has become accustomed to the presence of a drug and needs it to function properly. If this happens and you stop taking ketamine, you may experience withdrawal symptoms that can be unpleasant and uncomfortable. Some of the common ketamine withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, depression, and cravings.
The first step in addiction treatment is usually medical detox to manage withdrawal. This setting provides a medical team to keep you comfortable and prevent potential complications. Supervision also reduces the risk of relapse while the drug clears your system.
Once detox is complete, it’s important to transition into an addiction treatment program to address the underlying causes of addiction. Your treatment should be tailored to your needs but may include a combination of group and individual therapy, behavioral therapies, and peer support groups.
Get Help for Ketamine Misuse or Addiction
Ketamine may have valid therapeutic effects, but it’s not without risk of misuse and addiction. If you’re misusing ketamine or engaging in ketamine use recreationally, you are at a much higher risk of developing an addiction and serious health effects. If you or a loved one is struggling with ketamine abuse or addiction, get help as early as possible to prevent mental and physical problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding Ketamine addiction
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