Ketamine Drug Addiction & Harmful Effects

Why Ketamine Drug is Addictive?

Ketamine drug is a dissociative anesthetic that has some hallucinogenic effects.

It distorts perceptions of sight and sound and makes the user feel detached and not in control.

This drug is an injectable, short-acting sedative for use in humans and animals.

It is a “dissociative anesthetic” because it makes patients or users disconnected from their pain and environment.

Ketamine drug is a dissociative anesthetic that has some hallucinogenic effects. It distorts perceptions of sight and sound and makes the user feel detached and not in control.

Ketamine drug can provoke a state of sedation to make someone feel calm and relaxed, immobility, relief from pain, and amnesia;

having no memory of events while under the influence of the drug.

It is misused or abused for its capacity to produce dissociative sensations and hallucinations.

Ketamine has also been used to facilitate sexual assault. [1]

Dissociative ketamine drug is also referred to as Special K and Vitamin K.

Anesthetic Ketamine Drug

Ketamine is a potent drug that is likely the most commonly used anesthetic.

It is categorized as an essential drug, which means that adequate quantities should be available at all times to meet healthcare needs.

The substance is also suitable for pain relief. It is perhaps the most common sedative in veterinary surgery.

In 1985, ketamine drug was added to the WHO (World Health Organization) Model List of Essential Medicines and the Model List of Essential Medicines for Children.

In addition, drug abuse and maltreatment have been the researching targets involving substance use for anxiety disorders and epilepsy ketamine drug abuse in recent years.

Those who abuse dissociative drugs sense themselves differently and perceive their surroundings differently because of ketamine abuse.

Therefore, it is not regarded as a narcotic or barbiturate, even though it is listed as Schedule III on the federally regulated substance list.

Use and Abuse of Ketamine Drug

A typical use of ketamine drug during a surgical procedure is to produce a sedative effect, which is reasonably effective in relieving the sensation of pain.

However, apart from sedating the body, the drug interferes with normal motor functions, and one cannot move.

Therefore, the risk of overdosing always exists when abused.

Most ketamine exists in powder form, which is snorted or swallowed. It may also be dissolvable to be injected.

The drug, which came in tablet form, has fallen out of favor with the clubbers since its early days.

Unfortunately, though, many still mix the tablets with other stimulants, usually caffeinated ones.

A Pharmacopoeia drug is a liquid sedative form for medics & vets’ use.

Signs of Addiction

The other name of the drug is “K-hole.” Because it stops pain receptors while on it.

For instance, people get injuries while on the drug, but they do not realize it. Moreover, ketamine abuse or dependency can manifest in many ways.

Here are some symptoms to watch out for:

Slurred Speech
Moving is difficult for some people
Depression
Tolerance
Getting preoccupied with the drug
Skin Flushing or Redness
Overcoming withdrawal symptoms by continuing its use
Anxiousness
Having a strong urge for it
Unsuccessful attempts to stop taking the drug
There’s a craving to the drug during sociable time

Health Effects & Hazards Associated with Ketamine

Short-Term:

Increased Blood Pressure
Difficulty Concentrating
Slowed Breathing
Paranoia
Reduced Appetite
Grogginess
Disorientation

Long-Term:

Blister Ulcers
Kidney Problems
Stomachache
Depression
Poor mental judgment

Limitations and Warnings

According to National Center for Biotechnology Information [2], here are the warnings for using ketamine drug:

The increase in muscle tone produced by ketamine makes it unsuitable for operations where muscle relaxation is needed.
It is not indicated in conditions like hypertension, schizophrenia, and raised intraocular pressure
Though this drug well maintains the airway, some form of airway compromise needing manipulation can occur
The increase in salivation produced by ketamine can be troublesome and may produce laryngospasm in children. Premedication with an antisialogogue may be advisable.
It produces dose-dependent psychological manifestations like emergence reactions, dreams, hallucinations, and long-term psychotomimetic effects.
Ketamine is popular as a “vet medicine,” and many people consider this as a stigma.
Ketamine has the potential to cause addiction.
Ulcerative cystitis, secondary renal damage, and hepatic failure can occur with high doses of oral ketamine.
Frequent ketamine abuse can cause long-standing memory impairment.
Anesthetic concentrations of ketamine could exert negative actions on both μ and k opioid receptors, and hence high doses of ketamine may not be an appropriate addition to opioids.
Epidural and spinal routes of administration of the drug are generally not recommendable due to unclear toxicity issues.
High-dose of the drug emphasizes apoptosis in the newborn brain of animals. The release of neurotoxic mediators may cause neuronal apoptosis and consequent neuronal damage in humans.

The Ketamine Comedown

Even after using the drug for a short period, there is a high possibility that a user will undergo a “comedown.”

This comedown is a drug-induced equivalent to a hangover and can be intense and dangerous.

Since ketamine is a sedative, it is very apparent for users to experience extreme confusion and delirium when the initial feeling of being “high” disappears.

These individuals may also experience physical and muscle weakness, anxiety, and feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.

They also may encounter numbness, impaired vision, and severe confusion that often leads to aggressive behavior, amnesia, and delirium.

In addition, these symptoms are more likely to happen at higher doses of the drug, with frequent use over too many hours, or combining the drug with alcohol or other illicit drugs.

The Dangers of Ketamine Drug

The drug is a schedule III substance, making it illegal for recreational use.

Schedule III drugs are likely to cause psychological dependence and may cause physical dependence.

When someone uses the drug recreationally, they may experience severe side effects, such as:

Disorientation
Respiratory Distress
Nausea and Vomiting
Psychotic Episodes and Hallucinations
Slowed Movement
Impaired Cognitive Function
Numbness
Elevated Heart Rate and Blood Pressure
Slurred Speech
Impaired Judgment
Impaired Motor Function
Distorted perceptions of sight and sound

Bladder impairment is common in ketamine addicts. Twenty-five percent of ketamine drug users report pain related to emptying their bladder, the urine often containing blood.

Even users who only take Ketamine hardly report the sensation of “ket cramps,”

or pain while urinating due to the harsh nature of the chemicals passing through their kidneys and urinary tract.

Given that, in only months of heavy use, it will impair the bladder.

To emphasize, when you abuse Ketamine for a long period, these side effects can last well over a year.

Brain damage and impaired cognitive function can be permanent, such as kidney damage.

In addition, respiratory failure and increased heart rate can result in death.

Ketamine Drug Addiction Effects

Ketamine has several desired and adverse effects on the mind and body, which can be dangerous.

Short-Term Effects

The short-term or immediate effects of Ketamine drug use are:

Sedation
Orientation
Hallucinations
Changes in perception of sound, time, surroundings, and body
Feelings of invulnerability
Reduced awareness of the environment
Dream-like state
Increased distractibility
Impaired thinking
Out-of-body experiences
Reduced pain perception

The “K-hole” is a hallucinogenic state associated with high doses of Ketamine.

It is often described as a frightening or near-death experience, though it can be spiritual.

Side Effects

Side effects are undesired, secondary effects that can be harmful or dangerous. Side effects of Ketamine abuse include:

Anxiety
Delirium
Psychotic symptoms, including paranoia and delusions
Flashbacks
Increased heart rate and blood pressure
Heart palpitations
Chest pain
Increased salivation
Vomiting
Slurred speech
Coordination problems
Dizziness
Cataplexy (physical collapse due to intense emotions)
Dystonia (involuntary muscle spasms or contractions, which can be painful)
Rhabdomyolysis (breakdown of muscle tissue, which can result in kidney failure or shock)
Seizures

Long-Term Effects

Long-term consequences of Ketamine drug abuse is limited. However, preliminary findings point to the following potential effects of chronic use:

Impaired memory and cognition
Diminished executive functioning: includes higher-level skills such as problem-solving, attention, planning, abstract thinking, self-control, decision-making, emotional regulation, and moral reasoning
Impaired psychological wellbeing
Delusional thinking, even after abstinence
Depressive and dissociative symptoms
Visual disturbances or problems
White matter degeneration in the brain
Psychological dependence
Painful urination
Stomach pain is commonly referred to as “K-cramps.”

In addition to the Ketamine-specific mental and physical effects,

there are several commonly encountered consequences of substance addiction – a chronic condition characterized by continued use despite negative consequences.

These may include:

Occupational problems or losing a job
Academic suspensions or expulsion
Relationship difficulties
Financial hardships
Abandonment of previously enjoyed hobbies

Rehab for Drug Addiction

Someone who has abused this drug over a long period may experience dangerous withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit.

Because drug addiction is primarily psychological, the withdrawal symptoms are mainly present too in discontinuation.

Common symptoms include paranoia, depression, and emotional imbalance.

Physical Withdrawal Symptoms

Hearing Loss
Rapid Heartbeat
Loss of Motor Skills
Double Vision
Loss of Coordination
Rapid Breathing

Although these withdrawal symptoms can be distressing, most doctors don’t suggest a taper-down method.

Most detox programs use a cold turkey approach, but this is advisable in a medically supervised setting due to the unpredictable nature of the ketamine withdrawal symptoms.