Ketamine Addiction & Treatment

What is Ketamine?

Ketamine is a medication used for anesthesia in medical procedures and to treat pain. It is more commonly used in veterinary clinics, however, for humans, it can be beneficial when sedation is needed but a strong anesthetic may be too much. Recently, there has been a strong case of using ketamine for depression. Ketamine is a schedule III controlled substance, meaning it has a moderate potential for abuse and addiction. It is available as an intramuscular injection, IV therapy, nasal spray, or oral tablet or liquid in medical settings. Illegal or street ketamine comes as a white or off-white powder that is usually snorted, ingested orally, or injected. Some brand name ketamine includes:

• Narkamon
• Ketalar
• Ketaject
• Ketaset
• Ketanest
• Vetalar

Ketamine street names include:

• K
• Special K
• KitKat
• Lady K
• Vitamin K
• Jet K
• Cat Valium

Ketamine Effects

This medication is a sedative, but other ketamine effects include:

• Out-of-body feeling
• Detached feelings from surroundings and self
• Feeling happy and relaxed
• Anxiety, panic, and violence
• Inability to move
• Distorted sights and sounds
• Visual and auditory hallucinations
• Anxiety, panic, and violence
• Slurred speech
• Confusion and clumsiness
• Blurred vision
• Vomiting
• Increase heart rate and blood pressure

Signs of Ketamine Abuse and Addiction

Ketamine can lead to dependence, abuse, and addiction easily. Signs and symptoms of ketamine addiction can be obvious and include:

• Reduced ability to feel physical pain
• Incontinence
• Bladder pain
• Frequently distracted
• Slurred speech
• Skin redness
• Insomnia
• Difficulty concentrating
• Fatigue and lack of motivation
• Loss of coordination

Ketamine Withdrawal Symptoms

Abusing ketamine frequently can lead to physical dependence which means the body and brain have come to rely on it to function properly. When the user attempts to stop after a prolonged period of abuse, the body starts to exhibit withdrawal symptoms. Unlike some other drugs or alcohol, withdrawal symptoms from ketamine are not life-threatening but do have very unpleasant psychological effects and strong cravings. Stopping ketamine use on your own can be highly difficult and medically assisted drug detox may be necessary to complete the withdrawal process successfully. Ketamine withdrawal symptoms include:

• Confusion and cognitive impairment
• Nightmares and unpleasant dreams
• Strong cravings for ketamine
• Loss of motor skills
• Shaking
• Chills and sweats
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Agitation
• No appetite
• Fatigue
• Irregular and rapid heartbeat
• Decreased respiratory and cardiac function
• Psychosis including hallucinations and delusion

Long-Term Side Effects of Ketamine Abuse

Abusing ketamine for a long period of time can lead to several negative health effects, including:

• Tolerance, needing more to get the same effect
• Ketamine dependence and addiction
• Abdominal pain
• Poor memory
• Mood and personality changes
• Depression
• Flashbacks
• Abnormal liver or kidney function

Ketamine Addiction Treatment

There are several addiction treatment options to overcome ketamine addiction and addiction recovery is possible. The first step in an addiction treatment program may be a medically assisted drug detox to help the user go through withdrawal symptoms comfortably and successfully. After drug detox, you can transition into drug rehab which can provide several evidence-based treatments aimed at managing many of the psychological components of drug and alcohol addiction.

Successful addiction recovery may be rooted in finding the right level of care to start and tapering down slowly to support you while you transition back into your everyday life. Levels of care include residential inpatient treatment, intensive outpatient program (IOP), partial hospitalization program (PHP), and other outpatient treatment options. Residential inpatient treatment is recommended for severe forms of drug addiction to fully immerse into addiction treatment programs and avoid any outside distractions or temptations. It is important to note that drug and alcohol addiction is a life-long, chronic disorder and you are not cured at the end of drug rehab. Aftercare programs for abuse and addiction are recommended to continue successful sobriety.

Dual diagnosis programs are also critical when it comes to treating substance abuse with underlying mental health disorders that may have been present before or brought on by ketamine abuse. A treatment facility with dual diagnosis programming will treat co-occurring disorders such as bipolar disorder, anxiety, or depression simultaneously through medication-assisted treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, group therapy, holistic therapies, and other forms of individual therapy.

Treatment centers will also include relapse prevention programs that help to develop healthy habits, identify triggers, create outside support systems, and how to create a relapse prevention plan when cravings happen. DayBreak Treatment Solutions is available to answer any questions about drug rehab for you or your loved ones.