Author: Gary Jackson

A Complete Guide To Ketamine Withdrawal & Addiction

Although the majority of Ketamine withdrawal symptoms are not physical in nature, they still make it difficult for the average user who is addicted to the drug to simply “throw in the towel” and quit using Ketamine abruptly. Symptoms of withdrawal can make it difficult to remain sober and cravings may lead the user right back to his or her previous behavior of drug abuse. Unfortunately, the only way for the symptoms of Ketamine withdrawal to go away is for the user to remain abstinent from the drug and allow the symptoms to run their course or to use the drug and then start the process all over again. The strategy is so new, however, that the doctors are still divided on exactly why it’s so effective. One straightforward theory is that ketamine has anesthetic and sedative properties — the perfect treatment for withdrawal. Hutch, however, is skeptical, arguing that the dose is simply too small to have any pain-alleviating effect.

• Rehabilitation centers can help with different treatment options, detox programs, and other necessary assistance for overcoming dependency.
• Following the first phase of screening, 45 reports were deemed eligible for full-text appraisal.
• Intense cravings can occur as the user goes through the psychological discomforts experienced in detox.
• The data revealed successful treatment responses for most individuals, with ≈60% (N≈6/10) maintaining sobriety one year post-intervention.
• Many inpatient rehabs offer treatment programs for Ketamine addiction that can range from 28 days to several months.

Though reduced from the initial days, these psychological urges are a stark reminder of the physical and mental recovery process dichotomy. The sharp edges of emotion that were much more prominent during the initial withdrawal phase can start to mellow out here, though some people describe a sense of mental cloudiness or difficulty concentrating during this period. Since ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic, the brain may experience a “rebounding effect.” When one returns to their baseline state, they can feel moments of disconnectedness and confusion. She helps brands craft factual, yet relatable content that resonates with diverse audiences. This leaves plenty of room for excessive amounts of ketamine to be taken, amounts which can lead to an overdose. Likewise, snorting and injecting ketamine are common ways to consume ketamine, so this permits quick entry into the bloodstream.

Data availability

Ketamine is a difficult drug to detox from due to the highly unpredictable psychotic behaviors that can present during withdrawal and detoxification and the intense cravings. Get professional help from an online addiction and mental health counselor from BetterHelp. Detoxing from Ketamine is rarely deadly, but the symptoms of withdrawal can be uncomfortable. Polydrug use — the simultaneous or sequential abuse of multiple substances — adds complexity to the recovery journey. The intertwined dependencies demand a multifaceted approach, targeting each substance while understanding their combined impact. Recovery from ketamine addiction, or any addiction, isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon.

• Like depression, AUD is a chronic condition and may thus require repeat infusions to achieve a cumulative and sustained effect on sobriety [1,2].
• During the withdrawal process, the user will become more emotionally unstable and may need to be isolated in order to protect others.
• The maximum effects of ketamine infusion were observed at 24 h post-infusion, with antidepressant effects lasting three to seven days [23].
• As moving through the initial — and often the most tumultuous — first three days of ketamine withdrawal, the journey takes a slightly different, albeit still challenging, turn.

Although the evidence is limited to expert recommendations, clinical experience, and preliminary research evidence, this discussion can help clinicians currently pondering effective treatment strategies for maintaining antidepressant response. Despite the growing clinical evidence reviewed below, ketamine is FDA-approved for anesthetic purposes but not for the treatment of psychiatric conditions. Nevertheless, the paradigm shifting nature of ketamine’s effects—with antidepressant response manifesting within hours rather than weeks—furthered the discovery and research of novel compounds with mechanisms of action similar to those of ketamine.

The mechanism of action underlying ketamine’s antidepressant effects

In the first double-blind, placebo-controlled human study of ketamine for the treatment of MDD, seven patients received a single intravenous (IV) infusion of ketamine (0.5 mg/kg). Compared to saline infusion, ketamine significantly improved depressive symptoms within 72 h [22]. The maximum effects of ketamine infusion were observed at 24 h post-infusion, with antidepressant effects lasting three to seven days [23].

Additionally, the influence of ketamine treatment on cravings is unclear, with two studies supporting reduced urges to drink [40,41], whereas other studies found no significant differences between the ketamine and control groups [42-44]. Outcome measures for alcohol withdrawal were also mixed, with Dakwar et al. [42] and Rothberg et al. [43] reporting no significant difference across groups. In contrast, three prospective cohort studies show beneficial effects regarding the use of ketamine as an adjunct to benzodiazepines for the management of alcohol withdrawal [37-39].

Associated Data

He has assigned his patent rights to the US government but will share a percentage of any royalties that may be received by the government. All other authors have no conflict of interest to disclose, financial or otherwise. The clinical use of ketamine is rapidly expanding, underscoring the need for standardized guidelines to direct its use.

• Likewise, we excluded studies that focused on ketamine metabolites only or examined pathology unrelated to the treatment of AUD, heavy drinking, or withdrawal symptoms.
• Recognizing and navigating these moments is crucial, especially as they can arise unexpectedly.
• In recent years, ketamine has also been pursued as a potential treatment for several other psychiatric diagnoses.
• A recent study evaluated the efficacy of esketamine nasal spray (84 mg) administered twice a week versus placebo for four weeks in MDD patients with suicidal ideation in conjunction with standard care [43].
• Just as individuals have varied reasons for using ketamine, their experiences during withdrawal can be equally diverse.
• Compared to saline infusion, ketamine significantly improved depressive symptoms within 72 h [22].

Duplicate items were removed in Zotero and Microsoft Excel 2021, resulting in 291 unique records that were screened for relevance based on title and abstract review. Following the first phase of screening, 45 reports were deemed eligible for full-text appraisal. In total, 11 studies met the inclusion criteria for qualitative synthesis [34-44]. As advocates of mental health and wellness, we take great pride in educating our readers on the various online therapy providers available. MentalHelp has partnered with several thought leaders in the mental health and wellness space, so we can help you make informed decisions on your wellness journey. MentalHelp may receive marketing compensation from these companies should you choose to use their services.

MDD

With determination, support, and the right tools, coming out of ketamine addiction is possible. Over time and with continued use, the body becomes more accustomed to ketamine, necessitating higher doses to achieve the same effects. This increased tolerance can amplify withdrawal’s severity when the drug is discontinued. Just as individuals have varied reasons for using ketamine, their experiences during withdrawal can be equally diverse.

In addition to presenting a novel and valuable treatment option, studying ketamine also has the potential to transform our understanding of the mechanisms underlying mood disorders and the development of novel therapeutics. Within the past three years, several studies have shown promising results as per improvement in alcohol abstinence days [42-44] and consumption/heavy drinking days [41-43]. The findings from these RCTs imply that there are synergistic actions between psychological therapy and ketamine, which may lead to higher rates of abstinence than with either treatment alone for patients with AUD [42-44]. This suggests that ketamine functions as a “psychoplastogen,” thus enhancing neuroplasticity and synaptogenesis and creating a window of time during which behavioral interventions may be more effective [46-48]. Thus, combined treatment with ketamine and psychotherapy can lead to longer-lasting clinical benefits, foster treatment engagement, and promote abstinence. The authors agree that therapy sessions should occur prior to ketamine initiation, during ketamine infusions, and post-intervention to maximize therapeutic efficacy.