Ketamine Addiction: Signs and Side Effects of Ketamine Use

Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic with legitimate medical uses, but some people misuse it recreationally to experience dissociation and hallucination-like effects. Common street names include Special K, Vitamin K and Kit Kat. When used for medical purposes, ketamine is sold under the names esketamine, Spravato and Ketalar.

This guide explains why ketamine can be addictive, what happens during the withdrawal process and what makes ketamine abuse different from addiction. Since it focuses on the signs and side effects of ketamine misuse, it doesn’t discuss treatment options or rehab programs.

Ketamine works on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the brain, so it can affect glutamate availability. Glutamate is a neurotransmitter involved in memory, learning and brain development. When ketamine binds with NMDA receptors, it blocks pain signals.

It also creates rapid shifts in perception, mood and emotional detachment. Some people come to rely on these effects, reinforcing continued use. Using ketamine to escape stress, anxiety or trauma-related discomfort can also create a harmful coping pattern that’s difficult to break.

Over time, it’s possible to develop ketamine tolerance, which is when you no longer get the same dissociative effects at your original dose. To counteract tolerance, some people start taking higher doses or using it more often.

It’s also common to develop cue-based cravings, which are a strong desire for ketamine in certain situations or places. Examples include parties and music venues. You may even have cravings when spending time with specific friends.

Frequent ketamine use may increase impairment, leading to risky decision-making. This can strengthen compulsive patterns, causing you to continue using it even if you want to stop.

When comparing ketamine abuse vs. addiction, there are some subtle differences. An accurate comparison begins with understanding current addiction terminology.

Phrases such as substance abuse, drug abuse and addiction imply that someone is choosing to use substances even when they cause harm. In reality, addiction is a chronic brain disease with many biological and environmental factors. For that reason, clinicians are now using the terms substance misuse and substance use disorder (SUD) to reflect the biological and psychological aspects of the disease.

Ketamine Misuse

Ketamine misuse sometimes starts as occasional party use before shifting into regular use for emotional escape or sleep problems.

Examples of ketamine abuse include:

• Planning weekends around it
• Spending more money than intended when purchasing ketamine
• Hiding use
• Continuing to use despite health scares

One of the major dangers associated with ketamine use disorder is potential exposure to illicit products. For example, it may be mixed with other drugs, increasing the risk of toxicity. If you don’t know what you’re taking, it’s difficult to predict the effects.

Some people develop psychological ketamine dependence, which makes them feel as if they’re unable to cope, relax or disconnect without it. Repeated use can create strong ketamine cravings, causing you to use ketamine in social settings or when you need stress relief. This becomes a habit loop that’s difficult to break.

It’s also possible to experience withdrawal-like symptoms after stopping heavy use. However, ketamine withdrawal is very different from opioid withdrawal, which typically causes flu-like symptoms and restlessness. Dependence isn’t the same as addiction, but it may be a sign that occasional use is about to turn into compulsive use.

Although ketamine use disorder is different from other types of addiction, it can cause some similar behavioral signs.

They include:

• Using more than intended
• Spending a lot of time getting ketamine, using it or recovering from it
• Having several unsuccessful attempts to cut back

If you become dependent on ketamine, you may also exhibit new pattern signs. Increasing frequency helps achieve the same hallucinogenic effects that you used to get with smaller doses.

Using alone is another potential sign of addiction. Many people don’t want their loved ones to see them misusing substances or detaching from reality, so they start spending more time in their rooms or leaving the house to use ketamine elsewhere.

You may also have an addiction if you use it to manage emotions instead of limiting your use to social situations. Relying on ketamine for emotional coping can create a cycle of continuing use.

Physical Signs of Ketamine Addiction

Due to its effects on your nervous system, ketamine addiction causes several physical signs, including:

• Unsteady walking
• Slow reaction times
• Slurred speech

Cognitive, Mood and Mental Health Signs of Ketamine Addiction

Ketamine affects your cognitive functions, which are the processes involved in acquiring information, solving problems and remembering things. As a result, ketamine addiction can cause mood and mental health symptoms.

Some people experience irritability or anxiety between doses. You may also have memory loss or feel detached from daily life without ketamine.

Potential Safety Issues

Once ketamine misuse turns into compulsive use, it can put your safety at risk. Common warning signs include driving while impaired, using it in dangerous environments or using it with alcohol, opioids or sedatives.

Although ketamine affects opioid receptors, it primarily influences glutamate levels by binding with NMDA receptors. This makes the ketamine withdrawal process much different from opioid withdrawal.

For example, it’s more common to experience psychological and functional symptoms than physical ones. You may feel anxious, restless or irritable in the first few days after stopping ketamine. Low mood, sleep problems and cravings are also possible.

Some people experience cognitive symptoms, such as difficulty concentrating, reduced motivation and a “foggy feeling.” Others have severe depression or panic symptoms, particularly if they’ve been using ketamine heavily or mixing it with other substances.

Ketamine abuse causes a variety of short-term and long-term side effects.

Shortly after using ketamine, you may experience:

• Dissociation
• Confusion
• Impaired coordination
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Vomiting

It’s also common to have mental health side effects, such as panic, paranoia and hallucination-like experiences. While intoxicated, you may participate in unsafe risk-taking, such as hitchhiking or driving.

Ketamine stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, which is involved in regulating your body’s response to stress or fear. Taking it may increase your blood pressure and heart rate. Ketamine also increases cardiac output.

If you have a heart condition, these effects can be dangerous. Researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine report that ketamine can cause reduced blood flow to the heart or other vital organs.

Ketamine can impair your judgment, increasing the risk of injuries associated with falls and auto accidents. Injuries are more likely if you use ketamine in unfamiliar settings or crowded music venues.

Heavy use also comes with some long-term risks. Some people experience abdominal pain or urinary problems, while others have memory or attention issues.

A risk factor is a characteristic, behavior or condition that increases the risk of developing a disease or injury. These are some of the most common risk factors for ketamine addiction.

Mental Health

Some people with mental health conditions use substances as a form of self-medication. This allows them to numb unpleasant emotions or temporarily escape their psychological pain. Anxiety, depression and chronic stress all increase the risk of ketamine use disorder.

Social and Environmental

Your lifestyle and social network can affect your risk of developing a ketamine addiction. For example, going to clubs or attending festivals regularly makes it more likely that your occasional use will shift to compulsive use.

Peer influence and easy access to ketamine are also common risk factors. If you spend time with people who use it, you’ll naturally have more access to it. You may even start misusing ketamine if a household member has some left over from a party.

Substance Use

Prior substance use increases the risk for substance use, especially if you have a history of alcohol, stimulant or sedative misuse disorder. Polysubstance use is also a common risk factor. This is when you use multiple substances at the same time or within a short period.

Coping Patterns

Occasional experimentation is risky on its own. However, the risk of ketamine use disorder increases if you start using it to manage your emotions. You may also develop a ketamine addiction if you start using it for numbing or insomnia.

Access to Ketamine

The easier it is to access ketamine, the more likely it is that someone will develop a substance use disorder. Diverting ketamine from medical settings and repeated exposure through your social circle are major risk factors.

Diagnosing ketamine addiction involves examining your use patterns. It’s possible to misuse it without developing an addiction, so healthcare providers are looking for things such as loss of control, intense cravings and tolerance.

A ketamine addiction assessment also helps medical professionals determine whether you’re engaging in risky use, have withdrawal-like symptoms when you attempt to stop using ketamine or continue using it despite experiencing harmful consequences.

You may also undergo a mental health and substance use screening. This specialized assessment helps the treatment team determine if you have any co-occurring disorders that could be contributing to your ketamine use. It also identifies potentially dangerous interactions between ketamine and other substances.

It’s possible to detect ketamine in the urine, but drug testing doesn’t provide any information about your use patterns. Testing may also pick up other substances, especially if you’ve been using illicit products. Therefore, clinicians don’t use drug tests to diagnose ketamine use disorder.

Ketamine misuse often builds gradually, especially if you started using it to relieve pain, cope with stress or disconnect from life. You may benefit from professional support if you’ve had health scares, bladder symptoms or concerns about escalating use. Structured care is also a potential fit for individuals experiencing frequent dissociation or repeated failed attempts to cut back on ketamine.

Help.org is a free, confidential resource designed to help you find help for ketamine addiction. Use it to identify addiction treatment programs that match your goals, preferences and location.