This dissociative anesthetic can alter perception, leading to an out-of-body experience or detachment from reality. Prolonged use may cause depression, further complicating the recovery of an individual. Ketamine is a compound with many potential benefits for the treatment of mental disorders as well as many risks, making it a «hot topic» in the field of psychiatry. Ketamine was first used in medical procedures for anesthesia in the 1960s.

What are the Side Effects of Ketamine Abuse?

Cognitive behavioral therapy can assist with changing the thought patterns that play a role in supporting drug use and addiction. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that, when injected, lethal doses of ketamine begin around 11 mg/kg of body weight. This leaves plenty of room for excessive amounts of ketamine to be taken, amounts which can lead to an overdose.

Behavioral Signs of Ketamine Abuse

Seeking treatment services from a healthcare professional is crucial for those facing ketamine abuse, as it can have serious health consequences. Therapy is used to help people recognize and modify the thoughts and behaviors contributing to their substance abuse. Whether residential or outpatient addiction treatment is ketamine addiction right for you, therapy will be part of the treatment.

• Those struggling with ketamine addiction might exhibit behavioral changes, such as withdrawal symptoms and aggressive behavior, when not using the drug.
• Common signs of a ketamine overdose include respiratory depression, a serious condition affecting breathing.
• Furthermore, to understand optimal procedures for ketamine treatment protocols, we need ongoing research.
• In 2014, however, the Misuse of Drugs Act reclassified ketamine, moving it from Class C to a Class B, hoping to send a message that the drug was harmful and not to underestimate its dangers.
• I applaud certain CEOs, like Juan Cappello, for taking an ethical stance and bringing attention to this problem.

Understanding Ketamine Abuse

Although Ketamine was originally developed for surgery, it is a commonly abused recreational drug. If these signs are present, seeking professional help from addiction specialists or healthcare providers is crucial. If you or someone close to you is struggling, you’re not alone, and help is available. Westwind Recovery® offers caring and personalized support to help you or your loved one move toward a healthier, happier, drug-free life. Their compassionate team is ready to help you every step of the way, offering tailored programs and counseling to rebuild a life full of hope and possibility. Although these withdrawal symptoms can be uncomfortable, most doctors don’t recommend a taper-down method.

• Olney and colleagues108 also noted that the immature human brain (from 6 months of gestation through to several years after birth) is especially vulnerable to apoptosis and neuronal death from NMDA antagonist or GABA-like exposure.
• If you or someone close to you is struggling, you’re not alone, and help is available.
• Ketamine can be ingested orally by mixing the powder with a liquid, such as water, or by consuming capsules or tablets that contain the drug.
• If the patient develops severe symptoms or complications, the patient should be placed on a monitor and admitted for observation.
• Bladder issues may also lead to renal (kidney) damage, which makes your body dependent on dialysis.
• People who misuse liquid ketamine may inject it intravenously or intramuscularly, or they may ingest it orally.

Ketamine use in psychiatry

You can suffer from accidents, overdose, or hurt other people during this time. Taking too much ketamine can increase your tolerance for it, making you need more of it to feel the same effects. This can lead to ketamine dependence which makes your body need the drug to function normally. This is because your body Halfway house has grown so used to the drug that it has depended on it to do the heavy lifting. Without it, your body perceives the lack of the drug as an imbalance, which causes withdrawal symptoms. If you or a loved one are exhibiting these signs, get medical intervention immediately.