Ketamine: Short- and Long-Term Effects of Ketamine

Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic drug that shares many chemical similarities with phencyclidine (PCP). Though ketamine has approved medical use, much of the illicit supply of the drug is diverted from veterinary sources.^1,2 Illicit misuse of ketamine has increased in the United States since the 1980s, though on a smaller scale than more prevalently used drugs such as marijuana.²

In this article, you’ll learn what ketamine is, its short-term and long-term effects, and how to seek treatment if you or a loved one are struggling with ketamine misuse.

What is Ketamine?

Ketamine is a dissociative drug with the ability to distort sensory perception and impart a feeling of detachment from oneself and the environment.¹ Since the 1970s, ketamine has been used as an anesthetic during both human and veterinary medical procedures.³ Since 1999, ketamine has been classified as a Schedule III controlled substance, making it illegal for non-medical use.³

On the illicit market, ketamine is commonly encountered as either a clear liquid or a white powder, sometimes pressed into capsule form.³ Diverted pharmaceutical ketamine is sometimes evaporated down from a liquid solution to powder form.^3,4 Powdered ketamine can be snorted, rolled into joints along with marijuana or tobacco, or mixed into drinks, as it is odorless and tasteless.^3,4

In relatively recent years, ketamine has gained popularity as a “club drug” used by teenagers and young adults at raves or parties.³ A national survey of American youth in 2023, estimated that nearly 1% of all high school seniors had used ketamine in the past year.⁴

Short-Term Adverse Effects of Ketamine

Ketamine’s effects may be felt within minutes of use. The range of effects felt can be somewhat unpredictable and may vary in severity based on the amount of the drug consumed. Though the acute effects may last for several hours, some people report effects that persisted for several days.⁴ At relatively low doses, these effects may include:³

• Disorientation, confusion, or loss of motor coordination.
• Dizziness, nausea, or vomiting.
• Increased blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, or body temperature.
• Changes in sensory perceptions, including visual or auditory hallucinations.
• Feeling detached from yourself, your surroundings, or your environment.

Sometimes, people use ketamine in conjunction with other drugs such as MDMA, amphetamine, methamphetamine, or cocaine.³ It can be additionally dangerous to use ketamine with other drugs. For example, using ketamine with alcohol or other central nervous system (CNS) depressants can result in profound respiratory depression and death.³

Long-Term Effects and Dangers of Ketamine

The effects of long-term use of dissociative drugs have not been exhaustively studied.⁴ However, one long-term risk stems from the fact that ketamine use is thought to be reinforcing, which could be associated with the development of a substance use disorder.¹

Additionally, ketamine use is thought to lead to some degree of tolerance, physical dependence, and an associated discontinuation syndrome or withdrawal syndrome when use suddenly stops.^1,7 Ketamine withdrawal syndrome may include symptoms such as depression, excessive sleepiness, and drug cravings.⁷

Furthermore, research indicates that long-term ketamine misuse may have some neurological risks. A 2022 review of research into prolonged recreational ketamine use found that using high volumes of the drug over longer periods of time was associated with certain structure and function changes in the brain.⁵

Though the review urges caution in asserting a causal link, the observed differences could explain some of the long-term adverse effects of ketamine, including memory impairments and declines in executive functioning.⁵ Additionally, some of the brain effects of long-term ketamine use could result in cognitive and emotional changes that predispose someone to develop a ketamine addiction or addiction to other substances, though this hypothesis is still being studied.⁵

Ketamine Addiction, Treatment, and Outlook

It is possible to develop patterns of compulsive misuse and, ultimately, a substance use disorder, in association with long-term use of dissociative drugs like ketamine.⁴ A supervised medical detoxification from ketamine may be helpful for some people in managing ketamine withdrawal syndromes at the start of recovery.^6,7

If you are struggling with ketamine misuse, treatment can help. Contact American Addiction Centers (AAC) by reaching out and connecting with an admissions navigator, who can answer your questions, explain your options, and help you get the help you need.