Ketamine use has dramatically increased in the past decade. Originally created for use as an anesthetic, ketamine has been found to be beneficial in the treatment of certain mental health conditions. And while medically administered ketamine therapy is safe and legal, unsupervised and recreational ketamine use can cause life-threatening health conditions. After the 2020 relaxation of regulations around online drug sales, ketamine has become widely available. That’s one reason it’s important to understand the legitimate medical uses of ketamine and the risks associated with the drug’s unregulated, recreational use.
What is Ketamine?
Ketamine is an anesthetic medication that produces hypnotic, analgesic, and amnesic effects. This means it can be used to induce unconsciousness, relieve pain, and create memory loss. It’s often called a dissociative anesthetic because it makes users feel disconnected from their pain and from their surroundings while still appearing awake. The dissociated feeling that ketamine induces has fueled its popularity as a party drug, popular with teenagers and young adults at festivals and dance clubs. Ketamine can also cause hallucinations that distort your perception of sights and sounds. Street names for ketamine include Special K, Vitamin K, KitKat, and Cat Valium.
Ketamine is classified as a Schedule III controlled substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and is approved for use as an anesthetic. However, the “off-label” use of ketamine has gained acceptance for treatment of various mental health conditions. Ketamine therapy is used to treat treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
Ketamine comes in liquid and powdered forms. Usually packaged in glass vials or plastic bags, powdered ketamine is snorted or smoked. Liquid ketamine also comes in glass vials and can be injected or taken orally.
Discovery and Development of Ketamine
Ketamine’s history began in the 1950’s with the discovery of phencyclidine, commonly known as PCP. Phencyclidine was found to have strong anesthetic properties, making it attractive for medical use. But PCP was also discovered to cause intense delirium, putting an end to its potential as an anesthetic. Scientists began to search for a compound that would create the anesthetic effects of PCP without prolonged delirium. In 1962, ketamine was developed. It has a similar structure to PCP and similar anesthetic properties without the same level of potency. The FDA approved ketamine for human use in 1970.
What Does Ketamine Do?
Ketamine works by blocking a neurotransmitter in the brain. It is an NMDA receptor antagonist. It binds to synaptic receptors in the brain and blocks N-methyl-D-aspartate, a neurotransmitter involved in memory formation and the perception of pain. Research suggests that ketamine also has some effect on the brain’s use of other neurotransmitters, including GABA, dopamine, and serotonin.
Is Ketamine an Opioid?
A common misperception is that ketamine is a type of opioid. Ketamine does cause some opioid-like effects, such as sedation. Also, scientists believe ketamine may affect some of the same receptors in the brain that opioids do. But despite these similarities, the answer to the question “is ketamine an opioid?” is a definitive no.
What Is Ketamine Therapy? Ketamine’s Legitimate Medical Uses
Ketamine was first developed as an anesthetic and is still used that way today. Administered intravenously, ketamine is a safe, fast-acting anesthetic that wears off quickly, so it is often used in emergency situations and on pediatric patients. It is FDA-approved as a sole general anesthetic for procedures that don’t require muscle relaxation. Ketamine is also used to supplement other anesthetic medications.
In recent years, ketamine therapy has gained popularity for treating certain mental health conditions. In 2019, the FDA approved a prescription version of ketamine for treating treatment-resistant depression. Unlike other antidepressant medications which can take weeks to be effective, this ketamine nasal spray provides relief very rapidly. Patients prescribed ketamine for depression can begin to feel the beneficial effects within hours. In recent studies, ketamine has also shown promise as an effective treatment for bipolar disorder and suicidal ideation.
When ketamine is used to treat mental health conditions, it is typically delivered via ketamine infusion therapy. Ketamine infusion therapy may involve a single infusion or multiple infusions of lower-dose ketamine administered through an IV line. Patients who receive a single dose of ketamine may only experience the beneficial effects for a few hours to a couple of weeks. Patients who undergo a series of ketamine infusions tend to experience longer-lasting antidepressant effects. Some ketamine infusion therapy patients may require follow-up booster treatments. Because ketamine isn’t approved by the FDA for this use, ketamine infusion therapy isn’t typically covered by insurance.
Ketamine is also used to treat some chronic pain syndromes, such as those caused by fibromyalgia, cancer, sickle cell disease, and complex regional pain syndrome.
Recreational Use of Ketamine
Ketamine is safe when administered at low doses by a medical professional. But when taken outside of a medical setting at high doses, ketamine causes users to experience a dissociative, out-of-body feeling known as a K-hole. When experiencing a K-hole, users may feel powerless over their own bodies, unable to speak or move. Ketamine can also cause hallucinations, confusion, and the sensation that you’re floating. Because ketamine is tasteless and odorless, it is often rolled into marijuana joints, tobacco cigarettes, or mixed into beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Ketamine’s ability to be concealed in another substance combined its sedative effects has led to its use as a predatory or “date rape” drug.
Because ketamine is fast-acting and wears off relatively quickly, it has become a popular party drug, often found at clubs and festivals. The rise of unregulated online sales has also fueled the drug’s prevalence.
The Difference Between Medical and Recreational Ketamine
Because ketamine is commonly used in medical settings, people mistakenly believe that any form of ketamine is safe to use. But the production of medical ketamine is regulated and evaluated by the FDA. This means that FDA experts have reviewed medical ketamine for safety, quality, and effectiveness. Street ketamine isn’t regulated, so there’s no way to know how strong it is, if it’s been mixed with other drugs, if it’s been contaminated, or even if was produced for human use. This makes using street ketamine very dangerous because you don’t really know what you’re taking.
Ketamine Side Effects
The side effects of ketamine depend on what dose you’ve taken and how you took it (e.g. intravenously, snorted, etc.). Taking a higher dose of ketamine causes more intense side effects.
Short-term ketamine side effects include:
- Confusion
- Short-term memory loss
- Feelings of dissociation (being unattached to your body)
- Hallucinations
- Paranoia
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Nausea and vomiting
- Increased heart rate
- Dizziness
- Increased blood pressure
- Irregular heartbeat
- Loss of muscle control
- Slurred speech
- Loss of consciousness
- Respiratory depression
- Abdominal pain (aka K-cramps)
Ketamine use can also cause serious health issues that persist long after use. Long-term ketamine side effects include:
- Long-term memory loss
- Depression
- Bladder issues including pain, pressure, and increased urge to urinate and even bladder cystitis and fibrosis
- Kidney issues that affect your kidneys’ ability to clean your blood and produce urine
Using Ketamine with Alcohol and Opioids
Because ketamine is a sedative, mixing it with alcohol or opiates can have life-threatening effects. Combining ketamine with alcohol or opioids can slow your central nervous system to the point where your body cannot function normally. Risks of using ketamine with another sedative include:
- Cardiovascular issues such as dangerously low blood pressure, reduced heart rate, and even heart attack
- Respiratory distress
- Seizures
- Coma
Is Ketamine Addictive?
Ketamine is classified as a controlled substance because its use can lead to dependence and addiction. Tolerance to ketamine tends to build up quickly, so you need more and more of the drug to feel the same effects. The following symptoms may indicate an addiction to ketamine:
- Cravings for the drug
- Preoccupation with getting or using ketamine
- Hallucinations
- Nightmares
- Memory loss
- Urinary issues
- Depression
Can You Overdose on Ketamine?
Ketamine overdose is possible if you take too much of the drug. Signs of ketamine overdose include:
- Dangerously slowed or stopped breathing
- Loss of consciousness
- Convulsions and/or seizures
- Paralysis
- Dangerously high blood pressure
- Irregular or rapid heart rate
- Chest pain
- Nausea or vomiting
If you suspect that you or someone you know is experiencing ketamine overdose, call 911 and seek medical help right away.
Ketamine Withdrawal
Research has shown that ketamine doesn’t cause physical dependence in the way that opioids and benzodiazepines do. But it does cause psychological dependence that can result in distressing and uncomfortable symptoms when you stop using the drug. Ketamine withdrawal symptoms include:
- Overwhelming anxiety
- Extreme restlessness
- Drug cravings
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Tremors
- Excessive perspiration
- Irregular heart rate
- Fever
If you want to stop using ketamine but don’t know how, we’re here to help. Our experienced, compassionate care team will keep you as comfortable as possible as your body adjusts to being drug-free. We offer 24/7 care and support throughout the detox process to give you the tools you need to achieve lasting recovery from ketamine addiction. If you’re ready to start your journey towards the life you deserve, call Brentwood Springs Detox anytime day or night at (615) 560-9686.
