A Journey Through Ketamine Withdrawal: What to Expect & How to Overcome It

One of the most common withdrawal symptoms of ketamine is a powerful craving for the drug. Cravings can feel overwhelming, often driving individuals back to use even after they’ve decided to quit. People also frequently experience mood swings, anxiety, and depression during withdrawal from ketamine. These emotional struggles can be compounded by difficulty sleeping, fatigue, and restlessness, all of which complicate the ketamine detox process.

Choose the Best Ketamine Detox Center

Ketamine is a medication1 that first appeared in the ’60s as an anesthetic for surgeries. It works by blocking certain chemical receptors in your brain, which makes you feel disconnected from pain, negative emotions, and your surroundings. Doctors and medical teams still use ketamine today in hospitals for procedures requiring sedation.

Get Insurance-Covered Addiction Treatment

Ketamine detox is the process of allowing the body to eliminate ketamine while managing withdrawal symptoms. It often includes mental health evaluations, supportive therapy, and medical care to address emotional withdrawal symptoms such as confusion, irritability, and mood swings. This is the beginning of the detox process, during which acute withdrawal symptoms typically begin. These can include physical symptoms such as tremors, rapid breathing, and double vision, along with psychological symptoms like anxiety, paranoia, and hallucinations. Many people also experience irritability, difficulty concentrating, and restlessness during this stage.

What types of therapy are used to treat ketamine addiction?

Professional support during withdrawal can help ease symptoms and provide a safe environment for recovery. Getting started with addiction treatment may feel intimidating at first. We can offer guidance and insight into the recovery process, and will work to provide you with clarity into the steps that lay ahead. Once the body is free of the drug, the real work of addressing the underlying causes of addiction begins. Without continuing treatment, many individuals risk relapse due to unresolved psychological dependence and cravings. The chances of remaining sober are greatly increased when withdrawal is combined with professional treatment.

Ketamine Withdrawal Symptoms, Timeline, and Treatment

Yes, it is quite common to have Ketamine withdrawal as the euphoric high caused by the drug is habit-forming. If you or someone you love is struggling ketamine withdrawal symptoms and recovery with addiction, getting help is just a phone call away, or consider trying therapy online with BetterHelp. It also has an inhibitory effect on several reuptake neurotransmitters, including serotonin and dopamine. Ketamine is an anaesthetic medication used by both the medical and veterinary professions. Although most commonly used as an anaesthetic or sedative, pain specialists can prescribe it as an analgesic (pain-relieving) medication. Access State-Specific Provider Directories for detailed information on locating licensed service providers and recovery residences in your area.

While ketamine may not cause severe physical dependence, stopping use can trigger significant psychological withdrawal symptoms, including depression and anxiety. Detoxing from ketamine, whether used recreationally or in medical settings, can be particularly challenging due to its strong psychological pull. While some physical withdrawal symptoms occur, the main danger lies in the changes this drug causes to brain chemistry. A high level of clinical assistance during and after detox is vital for both safety and long-term recovery. As tolerance to ketamine builds, many people find themselves using higher doses more frequently, which can quickly lead to long-term dependence. When ketamine withdrawal symptoms appear, the intense highs are often replaced by equally intense lows, creating a distressing and sometimes frightening experience.

Empathy is a powerful counterforce in a society that can sometimes be quick to judge. When we approach addiction not with disdain but understanding, we break the chains of shame that might bind those struggling. For some, tapering might prolong the withdrawal process without significantly alleviating discomfort. An abrupt cessation can, in many instances, expedite the body’s return to its natural, drug-free state. The mind and body start to find balance, having weathered the storm of the initial withdrawals, and many people have an increase in their energy levels and appetite again.

Drug addiction withdrawal

When coming off a ketamine addiction, psychological symptoms will likely be the first thing you experience during withdrawal. These can range from mild to severe, depending on how long you have been using and how much was used during each session. If you or someone you love abuses ketamine or other drugs, seek treatment right away. You can find effective, compassionate treatment and support at The Carolina Center for Recovery. Contact our intake teams to learn about our detox, treatment, and recovery support programs.

• Most ketamine users don’t need the same kind of monitored detox process that’s necessary for substances that cause more dangerous withdrawals.
• It requires courage, commitment, and a willingness to face difficult truths and make significant life changes.
• Professional support during withdrawal can help ease symptoms and provide a safe environment for recovery.
• Clinical trials demonstrate promising results across various forms of SUDs, with psilocybin-assisted therapy showing significant reductions in substance use and improved mental health outcomes.
• Cravings can feel overwhelming, often driving individuals back to use even after they’ve decided to quit.
• This powerful dissociative drug can transport users into altered states of consciousness, providing temporary escape from reality.

The ghost of ketamine can linger, with sporadic cravings potentially popping up occasionally. Recognizing and navigating these moments is crucial, especially as they can arise unexpectedly. The first few days of quitting ketamine cold turkey can be the most challenging. It’s a dissociative anesthetic that alters perception and consciousness, making it attractive to psychonauts seeking insight into personal issues or a connection with a higher power. Despite the hype, ketamine isn’t risk-free — addiction is a real possibility, so here’s what you should know.

• With ongoing use, these receptors become less responsive, and your brain produces different levels of natural chemicals to maintain equilibrium.
• Because ketamine addiction is best stopped “cold turkey,” the detox process can be very difficult to endure.
• It also boosts levels of a brain chemical called glutamate and may affect other neurotransmitters like dopamine—one of your brain’s most important “feel-good” chemicals.
• Although it is possible to detox from ketamine on your own, having outside support is highly beneficial and can help prevent future relapse.
• In addiction recovery, healthy social support makes all the difference.

One key determining factor is the duration and intensity of ketamine use. Habitual, high-dose users might find their withdrawal journey more tumultuous than occasional users. 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.