Ketamine Withdrawal: Find Relief and Recovery
Table of Contents
Ketamine belongs to a class of drugs known as dissociative anaesthetics. Given in small doses, it can be used to manage pain which hasn’t responded to standard treatment. However, it isn’t commonly used and will only be prescribed following advice from a specialist. More often, it is used as a tranquilliser in veterinary settings.
Because of its hallucinogenic and psychedelic nature, ketamine is also abused. When used recreationally, it can cause people to feel calm, euphoric and even enter into a trance-like state. Ketamine is an addictive substance and both those who use it recreationally, as well as those that have been prescribed it, are at risk of addiction. In this article, we’ll take a look at how people can break the cycle of ketamine addiction.
First, we’ll look at why ketamine use leads to withdrawal and how long the withdrawal period lasts. Next, we’ll explore some of the main physical and psychological symptoms of ketamine withdrawal and look at whether a medical detox is necessary and if so, what that looks like. We’ll touch on the risks of ketamine withdrawal and medicines that can support detox and wrap up by looking at how you can get help for ketamine addiction.
How Does Ketamine Use Lead to Withdrawal?
Abusing ketamine can result in dependence on the drug. This is because as your body gets used to the drug, its tolerance to ketamine increases which means you’ll need to take bigger doses or more frequently and this can quickly lead to addiction. At this stage, you will likely experience withdrawal when you try to stop using ketamine.
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How Long Does Ketamine Withdrawal Last?
The length of withdrawal will depend on several factors, such as how long you have been abusing ketamine and in what quantities. Generally speaking, the withdrawal process can last from about three days to several weeks.
Ketamine Withdrawal Timeline
There is no set time frame when it comes to ketamine withdrawal and everyone’s experience will vary to some degree. However, we have laid out a rough idea of what you can expect below.
Days 1-3
You can expect the onset of withdrawal symptoms to kick in around 1 – 3 days after you last use ketamine. This is known as the acute withdrawal phase and you may experience a range of symptoms from fatigue, depression and double vision to hallucinations, tremors and hearing loss.
Days 4-14
Depending on the severity of your addiction, you may continue to experience these withdrawal symptoms for up to two weeks. In most cases, they begin to reduce in intensity and clear up after around two weeks.
Days 15+
By this point, most people experience less withdrawal symptoms. Depending on the amount of ketamine taken, and the time frame it was taken over, you may have some ongoing damage in the brain that makes it take longer to heal.
Research has found frequent use is associated with neurocognitive impairment, most commonly causing problems with both working and episodic memory. You may also notice you have ongoing psychological symptoms, which you will need to seek further treatment for.
Common Ketamine Withdrawal Symptoms
Research looking at ketamine users who received inpatient treatment for ketamine withdrawal found one of the most common withdrawal symptoms was depression. The report stated: “Fifty-nine (59%) and 38 (38.7%) of our patients reported moderate-to-severe depression and anxiety symptoms, respectively. Patients with greater cravings reported spending more days on ketamine in the preceding month and displayed severe depressive symptoms than those with lower cravings.
The withdrawal symptoms you do experience may vary depending on other factors too, such as whether you’re female or male. Research has found a sex-based difference in the type of symptoms experienced. For example, female ketamine users presented significantly more discontinuation symptoms such as anxiety, dysphoria, and tremors compared with male users. As well as that, the same research found female ketamine users self-reported significantly greater levels of severity in cognitive impairment and urinary discomforts compared with male users.
Physical Symptoms of Ketamine Withdrawal
Interestingly, most withdrawal symptoms you’ll experience on a ketamine detox are psychological. Research found that withdrawing from ketamine is similar to detoxing from many other drugs and that while you will likely experience strong cravings, you do not often experience physical symptoms.
However, some of the physical symptoms of withdrawal reported include:
- Nausea
- Shaking
- Sweating
- Heart palpitations
- Hotter body temperature
- Hearing loss
Psychological Symptoms of Ketamine Withdrawal
Psychological symptoms are much more common and can include:
- Cravings
- Mood swings
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Agitation
- Rage
- Loss of motor skills
- Cognitive impairment
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
- Psychosis
Is Medical Supervision Necessary for Ketamine Detox?
If you are battling a ketamine addiction, the first step to breaking free is to go through a detox period. During this time the drug is removed from your body, allowing your body and brain to repair and learn how to work without it.
Because ketamine withdrawal doesn’t typically include physical symptoms, you can sometimes stop taking it ‘cold turkey’. This isn’t appropriate in every case and may be used where stopping quickly is a key priority, as might be the case in a chronic user with damage to the urinary tract.
Going down this route is not for the faint-hearted, as stopping abruptly can be highly uncomfortable and result in intense cravings. Because of this, you should ideally carry out this detox alongside medical professionals who can keep you safe and prescribe medication to make the process more tolerable.
If you are likely to experience a lot of psychological withdrawal symptoms, as is the case with chronic ketamine users, you may be better off taking a tapered approach to detox. This is a gentler approach that allows your body to gradually adjust.
It is worth discussing both options with a healthcare professional before embarking on any detox.
What to Expect During Medically Supervised Ketamine Detox
The exact process will likely vary from rehab to rehab, but here at Smarmore Castle detox is a medically managed process and the first line of treatment when it comes to addiction treatment.
Our medically managed detoxes are run by a specialist medical team with years of experience helping patients to detox from all manner of substances, including ketamine. Doctors and nurses are on call 24 hours a day to help you feel more comfortable, maintain dignity and provide support and encouragement throughout the process.
We can also help you to ease your cravings by prescribing medication. These won’t entirely erase the cravings, but they will make them a bit easier to bear. Alongside medical management, you will also have access to your therapy programme as soon as you feel stable enough for it.
What Are the Risks of Ketamine Withdrawal?
Withdrawing from ketamine alone might be unpleasant, but it is rarely fatal. You may suffer a range of physical withdrawal symptoms ranging from nausea to seizure-like activity. You could also experience mental health issues, especially anxiety and depression, but also hallucinations and delusions.
What Causes Ketamine Withdrawal?
But why does stopping ketamine cause withdrawal symptoms? Using ketamine changes the way certain receptors work in the brain and can impact neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine and glutamate, which are linked with mood, euphoric and feelings of intoxication. The brain gets used to this and when it suddenly stops, it can cause intense withdrawal symptoms as it struggles to adjust.
Medicines That Can Support Ketamine Detox
In most cases, you will be able to come off of ketamine instantly, otherwise known as going cold turkey. While there isn’t a specific medication for ketamine withdrawal, there is a range of medications suitable for targeting individual symptoms. For example, changes in blood pressure or anxiety can be treated with meditation and dehydration could be treated with intravenous fluids.
Inpatient Rehab Programs
Inpatient rehab is a holistic approach to ketamine addiction. During this time period, you will move onsite and spend time in an environment that is not only free from triggers and responsibilities but has been purposefully designed with recovery in mind.
Under the experienced care of professionals, you will be able to access all the treatments you need, from the initial medically managed detox to various forms of therapy along with support groups and alternative complementary therapies.
Inpatient treatment will vary in length. At Smarmore Castle, our treatment programmes start at four weeks but are flexible in length allowing you to extend this for a longer period if you feel you need it.
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Getting Help for Ketamine Addiction
The first step in getting help for ketamine addiction is admitting you have a problem. In a bid to push down uncomfortable feelings of blame and shame, overwhelm and anxiety, this can be a difficult place to arrive at.
But once you are ready to take that first step, the journey has begun! While it is normal to feel overwhelmed in the beginning, the good news is there is plenty of support available. You could speak with a local healthcare professional, such as your GP, who will be able to signpost you to relevant local services. You could also access a peer support group, such as Narcotics Anonymous. This is often a less overwhelming first step, and such continued support has been proven to help minimise the risk of relapse.
FAQs
Will Coming off Ketamine Kill Me?
Detoxing from ketamine is rarely lethal, but withdrawal can be deeply unpleasant and is best managed with the help of professionals.
How Do I Cope With Triggers?
You will likely have several different triggers for ketamine use. The first step in overcoming them is to identify them, which therapy can play a useful role in, as well as a mindfulness practice. The second step is to develop healthier coping strategies. For example, instead of giving in to a trigger and seeking out ketamine you might journal, call a friend or do some exercise.
What Is the Point of Kicking Ketamine if I’m Still Addicted to Alcohol?
Battling two addictions at once can prove too challenging. Breaking down your problems into manageable chunks may make your chances of success higher. With the right treatment, you may find some of the tools you develop to help you beat your ketamine addiction will help you eventually beat your alcohol addiction too.
How Can I Help Someone Who Is Addicted to Ketamine?
You can support them but refuse to engage in behaviour that enables their addiction. This could include signposting them to available support.
- How to Access Rehab With Health Insurance
For those experiencing existing mental health conditions in Ireland, there are private medical insurers who can help you cover treatment. As addiction experts, we know that receiving the appropriate care and support when you have a mental health disorder is pivotal to attaining long-lasting recovery. Below, we will go through the various health insurance options to help you understand your options when it comes to seeking private residential care for substance abuse. Please note that there is no guarantee that you can be covered for all addiction problems as policies are always assessed on a case-by-case basis. Find Out More
- My Loved One Doesn’t Want Help, What Do I Do?
You can’t force someone to go to rehab. At the end of the day, it needs to be their decision because they are the ones that need to be open to turning their lives around. There are ways in which you can encourage someone to enter treatment, one of these ways is via an intervention with a trained interventionist, who facilitates an honest discussion between family members and the addict. This is something Smarmore Castle can arrange – contact us today.
- Which Drugs Does Smarmore Castle Detox From?
We can detox people from any drugs whether they are illegal drugs such as cocaine, heroin, ketamine; or prescription drugs such as benzodiazepines or zopiclone, oxycodone, zolpidem, klonopin, methadone, cannabis; and legal drugs such as alcohol.
- How Long Is the Treatment Programme?
Our treatment programme starts at 4 weeks and is flexible in length, giving you the opportunity to extend for a longer period if you need it.
- Do You Treat Dual Diagnosis?
All patients are reviewed by a consultant psychiatrist in the first week and we can diagnose and provide treatment for a number of co-occurring mental health conditions.
- Do I Need to Be Abstinent Before Admission?
Our medically managed detoxification with 24/7 medical cover means that we can perform complete and complex detoxes at Smarmore Castle. You don’t need to be abstinent before arrival.
- How Do I Get To Rehab Safely?
Smarmore Castle is one hour north of Dublin international airport and we can arrange a driver to collect you and bring you straight to us for free.
We can also arrange a ‘sober transport’ service with a trusted driver, from anywhere in Ireland or Northern Ireland, at an additional cost.