*This page was medically reviewed by Dr Robert Lefever in April 2021.
If you think you or a loved one may be addicted to ketamine, getting help is the best step you can take.
At Help4Addiction, we can find you the best ketamine addiction treatment for you and your circumstances. This page will tell you all about ketamine addiction and the ketamine addiction treatment process.
What is Ketamine?
Ketamine is known as a ‘party drug’, and has been on the recreational drug scene for decades.
Although ketamine is illegal for recreational use in the UK, it is commonly used in the medical and veterinary fields (e.g veterinary clinics) – used as a dissociative anaesthetic and an analgesic.
The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 states that it should be a controlled substance [i] – and is placed as a Class B drug.
Scientifically speaking, ketamine is a dissociative anaesthetic. This means that it can make you feel ‘zoned out’ – having an out of body experience and experiencing feelings of sedation.
However, there is a whole range of effects you may experience when taking ketamine – for example:
- Feeling relaxed
- Feeling detached
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Reduced sensations
- Pain relief/ numbness
- Agitation
- Altered perception of time
- ‘K hole’ [ii]
You may experience adverse reactions to the drug. Ketamine can also have long term effects on your physical health and your mental health.
If you take ketamine regularly or are addicted to ketamine, you may experience panic attacks, agitation, and depression.
Long term ketamine use can also cause depression or worsen existing mental health issues. Because ketamine can cause sedation, it has a history of being used as a date rape drug.
Like many illegal drugs, ketamine has a variety of street names. You may have heard ketamine being referred to as ‘Ket’, ‘K’, ‘Special K’ ‘Vitamin K’, ‘Cat Valium’, or ‘Purple’. [iii]
Ketamine Overdose
Taking too much ketamine can lead to a ketamine overdose – which can have dangerous and life-threatening symptoms.
Some common signs of ketamine poisoning include:
- High blood pressure
- Increased or irregular heart rate
- Chest pain
- Violence
- Loss of consciousness
- Comatose state
- Paralysis
- Confusion
- Nausea and/ or vomiting
- Difficulty breathing
- Severe abdominal cramps
A ketamine overdose can be fatal, particularly when mixing ketamine with other drugs or other substances.
Ketamine abuse and ketamine misuse can cause vomiting and unconsciousness, paralysis, or coma – which can lead to you choking on your own vomit.
If you or somebody you are with is experiencing an overdose, seek professional medical advice and treat it as a medical emergency.
Is Ketamine Addictive?
Regular ketamine use can lead to ketamine dependency and ultimately ketamine addiction – which is a form of substance use disorder.
It is an addictive substance as it alters the chemistry of your brain – which can lead to you developing a tolerance to ketamine and ultimately a psychological dependence. You may crave more of the drug to soothe the feelings of withdrawal or the ‘crash’.
The changes in the brain produced by ketamine are similar to the changes that other drugs such as amphetamines and cocaine cause, due to the similar chemical structure.
Although ketamine may be used in the medical field, it is a controlled substance that is no less dangerous than other ‘hard’ drugs or other addictive drugs.
This is one of the reasons that ketamine was upgraded from a Class C to a Class B drug in the UK back in 2014. [iv] As well as this, people who had taken high doses of the drug needed bladder removals, making it a dangerous drug.
Symptoms of Ketamine Addiction
Ketamine addiction is characterised by the continuous use of ketamine despite the negative physical, mental, social, and financial effects it may present.
Somebody who has a ketamine addiction may want to or try to stop using ketamine, but end up relapsing. This is why ketamine rehabilitation is so important.
Here are some other signs and symptoms of ketamine addiction, ketamine abuse, and ketamine use disorder.
- Feeling tired
- Difficulty sleeping
- Trouble concentrating
- Numbness to physical pain
- Pain in bladder
- Unexplained injuries (e.g bruises)
- Reddened skin
- Poor motor coordination
- Apathy
- Salivating more than normal
- Weaker bladder [v]
If you experience these symptoms after ketamine use, we recommend that you contact us to find the right treatment centre for you – whether it be on an inpatient basis (residential rehab) or an outpatient basis.
Ketamine Addiction vs Ketamine Abuse
Although some people may use the terms interchangeably, substance abuse and substance addiction are not the same things – despite both being harmful.
Ketamine abuse is the act of using ketamine in a manner other than recommended or intended. If you abuse ketamine, you may become irritable or moody, isolate yourself, or stop partaking in hobbies you previously enjoyed.
Ketamine addiction, however, is classed as a chronic brain disease according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Drug addiction tends to be a severe outcome of drug abuse – so if you abuse ketamine, you may end up addicted to ketamine.
Ketamine Withdrawal Explained
As ketamine is an addictive drug, you may experience drug withdrawal symptoms when you lower your usual dose or stop taking it after excessive ketamine abuse.
As your tolerance to ketamine grows, you will feel the need to take a higher dose to feel the same effect. This is because ketamine alters the opioid receptors in your brain.
Withdrawal Symptoms
Ketamine withdrawal symptoms can be unpleasant – you may experience a range of psychological withdrawal symptoms, physical symptoms, and behavioural symptoms when you undergo a ketamine detox or you lower your usual dose.
However, physical symptoms have been reported but not yet scientifically proven.
Some common ketamine withdrawal symptoms include:
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Tiredness
- Insomnia
- Agitation
- Psychosis/ psychotic episodes (including hallucinations)
- Confusion
- Breathing difficulties
- Severe depression
Some of these withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous, which is why you may wish to seek treatment at a residential rehab facility with medical supervision.
Ketamine Addiction Treatment
There are a variety of different treatments for ketamine addiction – some people prefer inpatient treatment, whereas others may benefit more from outpatient rehab treatment.
Most ketamine addiction treatments begin with detox and end with secondary treatment. At Help4Addiction, we can find the best ketamine addiction treatment for you – so contact us today to discuss your treatment options.
Detox
You may benefit from completing a ketamine detox with medical supervision, as some withdrawal symptoms can be unpleasant.
Once you have successfully detoxed from ketamine, you can move on to the next stage of ketamine addiction treatment.
Therapy
Therapy can help you to gain an understanding of your addiction, your triggers, and the thoughts and behaviours that may have led to you being addicted to ketamine.
CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) is a popular form of therapy during ketamine rehab. It is based on the idea that our thoughts, actions, and behaviours are linked. [vi]
Aftercare
Your treatment doesn’t end once you complete ketamine detox and therapy – you may wish to continue your treatment to prevent relapse.
Rehab clinics offer aftercare which usually involves further treatment such as support groups, group therapy, and extra counselling. This can help to prevent relapse, encouraging you to live a drug-free life.
[i] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ketamine
[ii] https://www.talktofrank.com/drug/ketamine
[iii] https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_chem_info/ketamine.pdf
[iv] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26151459
[v] https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-ketamine-addiction-5210391
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ketamine?
What taking ketamine do to you?
Why is ketamine dangerous?
Is Ketamine illegal?
Can you overdose on Ketamine?
Can using ketamine kill you?
What is a K-Cramp?
Can Ketamine cause psychological or mental health issues?
Is Ketamine addictive?
How do I help someone who is addicted to ket?