Author: Alex Thompson

Ketamine Addiction: Definition, Symptoms, Effects, and Treatment

This leaves plenty of room for excessive amounts of ketamine to be taken, amounts which can lead to an overdose. Likewise, snorting and injecting ketamine are common ways to consume ketamine, so this permits quick entry into the bloodstream. As a Schedule III drug, ketamine is available for medicinal use with a prescription. It is sometimes used off-label for pain relief and can provide sedative effects. We may receive advertising fees if you follow links to promoted online therapy websites.

Ketamine addiction also makes it difficult for people to function as they normally do in their daily life and activities. If substance misuse disrupts work, school, and personal relationships, it can indicate a ketamine addiction. Despite recent advancements in behavioral and pharmacologic therapies, up to 35% of patients with major depressive disorder fail to respond to drug therapy (1).

Causes, Signs and Symptoms of Ketamine Withdrawal

Ensuring that environmental cues that may cause a craving for ketamine are out of sight is also important, as relapse during this period is a risk. Because ketamine is considered a club drug, it is often combined with other drugs in this setting. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Getting professional treatment is the best way to ensure a successful recovery, but this requires the user to be totally committed to stopping use of Ketamine.

However, some users continue use and develop tolerance and dependence, as well as withdrawal symptoms upon stopping or reducing ketamine use. Ketamine is a medication intended to be used only in hospital and clinical settings. It creates a trance-like state in patients undergoing procedures, and it also produces pain relief and memory loss. Ketamine can have fewer risks than other anesthetics because it doesn’t slow breathing. Ketamine is referred to by street names like Special K and Vitamin K. It has dissociative effects, and it’s similar to the club drug PCP.

1. Many times, a co-occurring disorder or multiple drug dependencies are present, requiring a high level of care.
2. Sharing experiences, challenges, and triumphs with peers can be incredibly therapeutic.
3. Ketamine is available as an injectable liquid but is also abused in powder form.
4. Withdrawal symptoms occur because the Ketamine has altered Opioid receptors in the brain.
5. While ketamine isn’t the most fatal of substances when used alone, developing an addiction to this drug can greatly affect quality of life.

During the withdrawal process, the user will become more emotionally unstable and may need to be isolated in order to protect others. Professional supervision for Ketamine withdrawal is recommended for a safer, more controlled withdrawal and detox process. Often, the simple act of sharing one’s struggles can be a salve for the soul. Opening up can lighten the burden and remind one that one isn’t alone in this battle, whether it’s a trusted friend, family member, or therapist. This period is crucial for building or rebuilding relationships and seeking therapeutic interventions, if necessary.

Excitotoxicity can result from ketamine withdrawal, which occurs as a result of long-term ketamine abuse but manifests itself during withdrawals. While some may consider ketamine to have a moderate to low risk of dependence, ketamine addiction with an accompanying withdrawal syndrome, has been observed. Although it is not generally life-threatening, it can be quite uncomfortable. Symptoms typically set in between 24 to 72 hours after the last dose of Ketamine. How long it lasts is determined by the amount of drugs in the addict’s body, their tolerance level, how long they had been using the drug, and if they also used other drugs. Just as individuals have varied reasons for using ketamine, their experiences during withdrawal can be equally diverse.

Days 4-10: Navigating the Continuation of the Detox Journey

Even when effective, medications can take weeks or months to achieve optimal dosage and improve symptoms (2). It has been shown that even after two or more unsuccessful antidepressant trials, the rate of remission in a subsequent trial is only 13% (3). A dose of 10 mg of olanzapine led to a further decrease in agitation, so the patient was started on 10 mg h.s. The next day, staff noted that he was calmer, more cooperative, and less labile, although he still reported racing thoughts.

He stated that his medication regimen did not alleviate his depression and that suicidal ideation had increased in frequency to multiple times a day, so he came to the emergency department seeking admission. Of zolpidem as needed for sleep, and 1 mg/day of lorazepam as needed for anxiety. In addition, he reported taking large amounts of ketamine from a prescriber outside the VA system. Along with ketamine’s own withdrawal symptoms, more research is being done to look at the potential for ketamine to be used during opiate withdrawal.

Realizing that one isn’t alone in this journey can be a monumental step towards healing. Rehab centers are structured environments dedicated to helping individuals break free from addiction. They have programs to empower individuals to learn to identify triggers, cope with cravings, and build resilience against relapse.

Cognitive behavioral therapy can assist with changing the thought patterns that play a role in supporting drug use and addiction. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that, when injected, lethal doses of ketamine begin around 11 mg/kg of body weight. A ketamine overdose can occur when the substances is taken in large amounts or when combined with other substances. Mr. A arrived on the unit that evening, approximately 24 hours after initial presentation.

Ketamine Detox and Withdrawal: Signs & Symptoms

Since ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic, the brain may experience a “rebounding effect.” When one returns to their baseline state, they can feel moments of disconnectedness and confusion. Because of its addictive nature, this drug is more commonly used in veterinary clinics to sedate animals. Ketamine is available as an injectable liquid but is also abused in powder form. In addition, the FDA now recognizes the antidepressant benefits of ketamine when it is combined with oral depressants. The other authors report no financial relationships with commercial interests. MentalHelp may receive marketing compensation from the above-listed companies should you choose to use their services.

Individual Therapy and Group Counseling

Typically, the user’s respiratory function and heart rate will be monitored closely during the early days of Ketamine detox. Some medications are available to help minimize Ketamine withdrawal symptoms. Detoxing from Ketamine is rarely deadly, but the symptoms of withdrawal can be uncomfortable. Sharing experiences, challenges, and triumphs with peers can be incredibly therapeutic.

Severity of Withdrawal Symptoms

Widely known for its medicinal properties, ketamine’s effects have made it a popular addition to the party scene. It has also joined the ranks of GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate) and Rohypnol (Flunitrazepam) as a date rape drug. John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The mind and body start to find balance, having weathered the storm of the initial withdrawals, and many people have an increase in their energy levels and appetite again. Like any psychoactive substance, quitting or reducing intake after habitual use can lead to withdrawal symptoms. Ketamine, known to some as a horse tranquilizer and to others as a groundbreaking depression treatment, is a unique player in the world of drugs.