Understanding Ketamine and How to Quit
Ketamine is a dissociative drug, which means it can cause the user to feel disconnected from himself and reality.1,2 Ketamine can have a very significant impact on the body and mind and is especially dangerous when taken with other drugs that cause respiratory depression, such as alcohol.1 Are you regularly using ketamine and interested in quitting? If so, you might be concerned about the possible risks of withdrawal. Understanding what to expect during detox from this dissociative drug and how to mitigate the risks can boost your confidence in quitting for good.
What Does Ketamine Do to the Body?
Ketamine can cause the following short-term side effects:1
- Increased blood pressure
- Abnormally slow breathing
- Sedation
- Loss of consciousness
- Problems paying attention, learning, and retaining information*
- Amnesia
- Confusion
- Hallucinations
- Feeling as though you are in a dream
Some issues that may arise with consistent ketamine use include:1
- Kidney problems.
- Abdominal pain.
- Bladder problems, including pain and ulcers.
- Depression.
*Research has found that dissociative drugs, such as ketamine, alter the activity of the brain chemical glutamate at certain sites known as NMDA receptors.2 As a neurotransmitter, glutamate is involved in a wide range of physiological functions, and this disruption can significantly impact a person’s perception of pain, their emotions, their ability to learn, and their memory.2
Tolerance and Dependence to Ketamine
Studies show that tolerance to ketamine can develop rapidly, which means that in order to continue experiencing the desired effects of the drug, the user must continually increase the dose and/or regularity with which they consume ketamine.3
Case report evidence supports the phenomenon of physical dependence development in association with ketamine use, though the extent to which users become dependent on ketamine is not well studied.3
With many drugs, a substance-dependent person will depend on the drug to feel normal and avoid withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety and shaking, have been noted in regular ketamine users who begin a period of abstinence, indicating the drug may be associated with some degree of physical dependence.3
Many frequent users are concerned about addiction and report trying but failing to stop using ketamine. While there are many diagnostic criteria for addiction, the hallmark of this disease is the compulsive use of a substance despite all of the current or probable negative consequences.4
For example, if ketamine use is negatively impacting someone’s school performance, leads to job loss, creates tension within the person’s important relationships, causes significant financial stress, or creates legal issues, but the person continues to use in light of these problems, it is likely that they are struggling with addiction.4
Addiction to any substance is a challenging condition to overcome, but with treatment it can be managed.
What Are the Withdrawal Symptoms of Ketamine?
Users who abruptly discontinue their ketamine use may experience symptoms such as:3
- Cravings.
- Shakiness.
- Excessive sweating.
- Irregular heartbeat.
Some users going through ketamine withdrawal may also show signs of anxiety. While the existence of a concrete withdrawal syndrome for ketamine is debated, one study showed that 28 of 30 daily ketamine users reported failed attempts to stop using ketamine. Every one of these 28 users blamed cravings for their inability to quit ketamine.3
Cravings combined with anxiety and the physical symptoms above can harm even the strongest-willed person in their attempts to get clean. However, professionals in detox and addiction treatment programs can provide emotional support and sometimes medication to manage these symptoms and help the individual begin a meaningful period of recovery.
How Is Ketamine Treated?
Numerous treatment options exist for those addicted to ketamine. For many, the first step is a detoxification program. During detoxification, support and sometimes medications are offered to increase the comfort and safety of the individual going through withdrawal.5
Withdrawal can put the detoxing individual under a lot of physical and psychological stress. For some drugs, it can be a dangerous process, while for others it will mainly be uncomfortable. For withdrawal syndromes where the symptoms are not medically severe, such as ketamine, a non-medical detox is an option. Often called “social” detox, this approach relies on emotional support and a non-stimulating environment rather than medications.
Medical detox options that utilize medications to alleviate symptoms, provide continuous monitoring, and prevent any potential complications include:5
- Hospital settings.
- Stand-alone detox facilities.
- Inpatient rehab programs that incorporate this kind of detox.
A great benefit of detoxing in an inpatient rehab that offers care during acute withdrawal is that you won’t have to transfer from one facility to another; you’ll instead experience a smooth transition to ongoing treatment, which may lower the risk of relapse during this period.
Detox may also take place on an outpatient basis. This may involve regular visits to a hospital or treatment center for sessions usually lasting under an hour, with the exception of the initial assessment that may take longer.9
Though it is certainly possible to overcome ketamine dependence on your own, having outside help can make the withdrawal process much easier to manage. Sometimes, the cravings and other uncomfortable symptoms of withdrawal will lead to relapse, which is why it is so important to receive help during detox.
Despite the clear benefits in promoting early sobriety, it’s important to realize that detox is not the only step to getting and staying clean; it is the first.5 Once this process is complete, the real work of recovery can begin.
After Detox: What Happens?
At the end of the detoxification process, the physical dependence to ketamine is no longer be an issue; however, cravings for ketamine can persist. Attending further treatment can help a newly sober person understand their addiction and address any behavioral and psychological issues that fuel their urges to use ketamine.
Like detox, substance abuse treatment programs may take place in inpatient/residential or outpatient settings:
- Inpatient rehab programs offer intensive treatment in a live-in facility. Recovering individuals attending inpatient rehab will participate in many types of treatment. For example, they might participate in group therapy sessions, individual therapy sessions, addiction education classes, and life skills training.
- Outpatient rehab, like outpatient detox, offers the individual recurring treatment sessions, but the crux of treatment will be therapy as opposed to the management of substance withdrawal. This is a good option for people who can’t afford the time and/or money required to attend an inpatient program, though people with very debilitating addictions may need the structure and intensive treatment of a live-in rehab program.
Attending a support group may also be extremely beneficial to someone who is in recovery and, often, these are incorporated into other forms of treatment. Those who attend such groups are encouraged to share their experiences regarding substance use with other group members, listen to others while they share, and give back by supporting others new to recovery.
| Ketamine Information at a Glance | |
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| Medication Name, Costs | Class of Medicine |
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| Form, Intake and Dosage | Interactions and Complications |
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| Effects and Adverse Reactions | Substance Abuse |
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| Physiological Problem Signs and Symptoms | Dependence and Addiction Issues |
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| Legal Schedules and Ratings | |
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