Ketamine Withdrawal Symptoms, Timeline, Causes and Treatment

1. Causes, Signs and Symptoms of Ketamine Withdrawal
2. Symptoms of Withdrawal from Ketamine
3. Severity of Withdrawal Symptoms
4. Treatment for Withdrawal
5. Inpatient vs. Outpatient Programs
6. Help Someone Through Withdrawal

What is Ketamine? Are There Withdrawals from Ketamine Use?

Ketamine is a medication with clinical uses—such as initiation of anesthesia, sedation, and analgesia (relief from pain)—as well as recreational uses.

Causes, Signs and Symptoms of Ketamine Withdrawal

Tolerance to ketamine after prolonged use develops rather quickly.

Ketamine is currently a Schedule III drug in the US, placed on the list as illicit uses increased in the 1990’s (moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence).

Ketamine is considered a “club drug” for its hallucinogenic effects, and is typically injected as a liquid or snorted as a powder.

While some may consider ketamine to have a moderate to low risk of dependence, ketamine addiction with an accompanying withdrawal syndrome, has been observed.

Tolerance to ketamine after prolonged use develops rather quickly, and many users stop ketamine use because of the larger amounts needed to achieve the same effects. However, some users continue use and develop tolerance and dependence, as well as withdrawal symptoms upon stopping or reducing ketamine use.

How Does Ketamine Work?

Ketamine functions primarily by acting on the NMDA receptor in the brain; however, ketamine has a multitude of other molecular targets that makes its mechanisms of action very complex.

Ketamine has an inhibitory effect on the reuptake of neurotransmitters such as:

• Serotonin.
• Dopamine.
• Norepinephrine.

When all of these systems in the brain and spinal cord are constitutively active by ketamine abuse and frequent administration, withdrawal symptoms appear when that input is no longer available. The body acclimates to the increased stimulation from the ketamine and becomes unbalanced if ketamine is abruptly discontinued.

Symptoms of Withdrawal from Ketamine

Excitotoxicity can result from ketamine withdrawal, which occurs as a result of long-term ketamine abuse but manifests itself during withdrawals.

Excitotoxicity is the degeneration and damage of nerve cells as a result of increased exposure to neurotransmitters. This nerve cell damage is most often permanent.

Other symptoms that characterize ketamine withdrawal include:

• Depression.
• Anxiety.
• Insomnia.
• Problems with coordination and motor skills.
• Tachycardia (increased heart rate).
• Tachypnea (rapid breathing).
• Double vision.

Severity of Withdrawal Symptoms

Because ketamine is considered a club drug, it is often combined with other drugs in this setting.

Withdrawal symptoms of ketamine abuse will be more severe if:

• Larger doses were taken.
• Use was frequent.
• Other substances were used at the same time (poly-drug use).

If an abuser takes ketamine and mixes it with alcohol, and tries to stop using both at the same time, both ketamine and alcohol withdrawal symptoms will occur (remember, alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening and a health care professional should be consulted prior to attempting to stop use on your own).

If you have questions about how to stop using ketamine or how to lessen the severity of withdrawal symptoms, please call one of our treatment support specialists today at 1-888-993-3112Who Answers?.

Treatment for Withdrawal

Inpatient vs. Outpatient Programs

There are 2 options for treatment during ketamine withdrawal and detox:

• Inpatient.
• Outpatient.

• 

  Inpatient Treatment

  Inpatient treatment is more expensive, more intensive, and more closely monitored than outpatient treatment.

  The neutral setting is often appreciated, as environmental cues that may trigger a relapse are safely absent from the treatment setting.

  Close monitoring by medical professionals is also available during inpatient treatment, which may be necessary if there is a co-occurring medical or mental health disorder or abuse of multiple substances.

• 

  Outpatient Treatment

  Outpatient treatment is also a viable option and is often the better choice for people wishing to minimally disrupt their lives (continuing work and school, family obligations, etc.).

  Oversight by a health care professional is a common feature, as they can ensure that withdrawals are occurring in a safe fashion and prescribe medications that help ease withdrawal symptoms, reducing the chances for relapse to alleviate withdrawal symptoms.

Help Someone Through Withdrawal