Ketamine Rehab
Ketamine treatment can address problematic use, withdrawal concerns and physical symptoms. The right level of care depends on the person’s medical and mental health needs.
Battling addiction & ready for help?
Do You Need Treatment for Ketamine Addiction?
Ketamine is a non-narcotic substance approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a general anesthetic. It’s used to sedate a patient before a medical procedure. However, it’s also an illicit drug used for recreation.
Recently, ketamine has been tested in treating several mental health disorders and conditions, such as depression and chronic pain.
People whose ketamine use is causing problems may need treatment. Ketamine can be addictive. Medical supervision and nonmedical use involve different settings and risks, but a prescription does not eliminate the need to monitor for misuse or dependence.[13][16]
People with ketamine addiction may also have other substance-use concerns. An assessment can address these together and help identify appropriate addiction treatment.[17]
Can Ketamine Abuse Lead to Addiction?
Ketamine drug abuse can lead to many side effects, ranging from dizziness and confusion to hallucination, vomiting, and drowsiness.
One possible effect of long-term ketamine misuse is developing an addiction to it.
Medical use for anesthesia or a mental health condition is not itself a diagnosis of addiction. Tell a prescriber about cravings, taking more than planned or difficulty controlling use. These concerns deserve assessment rather than reassurance based only on how ketamine use began.[13][16]
Addiction, also known as substance use disorder or ketamine use disorder, is characterized by continued use of ketamine despite negative consequences,
Ketamine Treatment Options
If you or a loved one have a ketamine addiction, you may benefit from entering a ketamine rehab program, especially if you have other substance abuse issues.
The following ketamine treatment options may help you quit ketamine drug abuse and enter drug addiction recovery.
Drug Detox
Medical detoxification means supervised care for withdrawal and related health needs. Ketamine withdrawal symptoms can include cravings, fatigue, poor appetite and anxiety after frequent, heavy use over a long period.[16]
Not everyone needs the same setting or a separate detox stay before other treatment begins. A clinician can assess current symptoms, other substances and medical or mental health needs. Ketamine-specific medication evidence is very limited, and there is no standard taper, or gradual dose reduction, supported by strong trials.[17][15]
Ketamine Rehab Programs
Ketamine rehab programs can be found at an addiction treatment facility and come in several forms. The most intensive form of addiction treatment is inpatient treatment programs.
Inpatient rehab (also called residential treatment) is held onsite at a rehab facility where you will stay overnight for care. Here, you can find help for all behavioral health and mental health disorders simultaneously.
Ketamine addiction treatment plans may include a combination of behavioral therapies, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and group therapy.
They may also include detox on-site, aftercare planning, relapse prevention training, counseling, alternative therapies, access to support groups, and more.
Ketamine Outpatient Programs
Addiction treatment centers may also offer outpatient treatment for ketamine addiction. These are less-intensive levels of care that people can complete while living at home.
Partial hospitalization programs, intensive outpatient programs, and outpatient services (such as counseling or group therapy) are a few forms of effective outpatient rehab programs.
People with ketamine addiction may follow a treatment plan with several levels of care (i.e., residential treatment, outpatient treatment, and counseling) to foster long-term recovery.
Ketamine Addiction Recovery Support Groups
When you seek recovery from any form of addiction, having a strong support group can be crucial to recovery success.
You can find local support groups for drug addiction, seek group therapy sessions, or ask for a recommendation from your treatment facility.
Treatment for Ketamine Withdrawal
Ketamine withdrawal and other health problems need an individual assessment. Do not assume symptoms are harmless or that every person needs inpatient detox. Care may address cravings, anxiety or low mood, nutrition, hydration and physical symptoms, with the setting chosen for the person’s needs.[16][17][15]
A 2024 systematic review found very low-quality medication evidence for ketamine use disorder. Medicines described in small studies and individual cases are not a do-it-yourself withdrawal plan. Co-occurring mental health conditions can also need treatment.[15]
For suicidal thoughts or emotional distress, call 988, text 988 or chat with the 988 Lifeline. For immediate life-threatening danger, call 911.[18][14]
Treatment for Ketamine Overdose
Call 911 now if someone cannot be awakened, has trouble breathing, collapses or has a seizure after taking ketamine. Stay with them when safe and follow emergency instructions. Do not wait for the effects to wear off.[14][19]
It is possible for people using ketamine to experience a ketamine overdose, also known as ketamine toxicity.
When this condition occurs, a person has taken too much ketamine. Ketamine overdose depends on several factors, including the dose a person took and whether they were using ketamine to treat a health condition or abusing it.
Possible symptoms include:
- Sedation
- Impaired consciousness
- Heart palpitations
- Chest pain
- Increased heart rate
- Anxiety
- Paranoia
- Confusion
- Psychosis
- Lowered breathing rate
- Seizures
- Coma
Emergency clinicians assess breathing, consciousness, circulation and other substances that may have been taken. Treatment depends on the person’s condition. Do not try to counter ketamine with another drug.[14][16]
For a possible poisoning without an immediate life-threatening emergency, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 in the United States. Do not make the person vomit or give an unconscious person anything by mouth.[14]
Who’s at Risk for Ketamine Misuse?
People who seek ketamine for its effects rather than as a treatment may be at risk for ketamine misuse and addiction. Ketamine can cause hallucinations similar to other hallucinogenic drugs like LSD and PCP.
As a result, people looking to get high as they would with LSD (or similar hallucinogenic drugs) use ketamine for its dissociative effects.
Teens and young adults are a high-risk group for ketamine abuse, as ketamine has grown in popularity as a “club drug” at dance clubs and raves.
Due to ketamine’s sedative properties, it has unfortunately been used as a “date rape” drug.
Factors That Affect Ketamine Addiction Recovery
The key component in long-term recovery from any drug addiction is continuing care. Research shows that people who get into a treatment program and remain in it for at least 90 days or more see effective results.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, some of the most important aspects of lasting recovery include effectively treating withdrawal, staying in treatment, and preventing relapse.
These aspects may be found in certified addiction centers, which work to treat ketamine addiction, other drug addictions, mental health disorders, and other issues.
How Do You Know Someone Needs Ketamine Rehab?
If you are concerned that you or someone you know might be facing a ketamine addiction, you can watch for certain signs.
Be on the lookout for the following symptoms of ketamine addiction:
- Redness of the skin
- Rapid eye movements
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Antsy behavior
- Loss of coordination
- Slurred speech
- Memory problems
They also might begin to act or behave in strange ways due to their substance abuse.
Examples of behavior changes due to ketamine abuse include:
- Taking ketamine in ways other than medically directed
- Lying or being secretive about ketamine use
- Hiding empty pill bottles or drug paraphernalia
- Struggling at work or school as a result of drug use
- Using ketamine in dangerous situations
- Being unable to quit taking ketamine
- Spending a significant amount of time, energy, and money getting ketamine and using it
Get Help for Ketamine Addiction
If you or a loved one is battling ketamine abuse or addiction, it’s important to get help before you experience negative side effects or seek other drugs of abuse.
Call the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-4357 or visit their online program locator to find ketamine addiction treatment providers in your area.
Ketamine Rehab FAQs
What Is Ketamine?
Ketamine is a Schedule III controlled medicine with misuse and dependence potential. Its legal classification does not mean that a person’s use is safe or that addiction cannot develop.[16][13]
Ketamine is predominantly used as a general anesthetic but has also been used to treat certain seizures and mental health issues.
It is also an illicit drug, which means the substance can be sold on the street and misused.
Is Ketamine Addiction Treatable?
Ketamine addiction can be treated at a rehab center. Treatment focuses mainly on psychotherapy.
What Is the Most Common Type of Treatment for Ketamine Addiction?
The most common treatment for ketamine addiction is therapy, specifically psychotherapy, which can be found in various rehab programs.
Examples of psychotherapy that have been used to treat ketamine addiction include:
- Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Group therapy
- Family therapy
- Motivational enhancement therapy
How Long Does It Take to Recover From Ketamine Addiction?
Recovery needs and timing vary. There is no well-established ketamine withdrawal timetable or standard taper, or gradual dose reduction, supported by strong trials. A clinician can assess symptoms, other substance use and whether outpatient care or a more intensive setting is appropriate.[15][17]
Drug rehab, aftercare and relapse-prevention support can address continuing needs. Treatment does not have to wait for a fixed detox period to end.[17]
What Is the Most Common Reason People Seek Ketamine Rehab?
There are many reasons why a person might seek ketamine rehab.
Some of the more common reasons are:
- They tried to stop using ketamine and have been unsuccessful.
- They have gotten into legal trouble as a result of their ketamine use.
- Struggling at work or school as a result of their ketamine use.
Get Treatment Help
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, getting help is just a phone call away, or consider trying therapy online with BetterHelp.
Exclusive offer: 20% Off BetterHelp*Following links to the BetterHelp website may earn us a commission that helps us manage and maintain AddictionHelp.com. *Get 20% off your first month of BetterHelp. Offer valid for new BetterHelp users only. Offer cannot be combined with insurance.
- Fact-Checked
- Editor
