Ketamine may be commonly recognized as a recreational party drug, but did you know it can also be used for mental health treatments? Increasing numbers of health providers are exploring the benefits of ketamine for anxiety, depression and related conditions. While the results are promising, chronic or unsupervised ketamine use can lead to serious health issues, such as ketamine bladder syndrome.
Discover what this condition is, including its symptoms and long-term consequences. Find out about the difference between recreational and medical ketamine use and how supervised, professional ketamine therapy can help provide relief in the guide below.
How Does Ketamine Work?
Before we unpack what ketamine bladder syndrome is, it’s important to understand how this drug works. Put simply, ketamine is an anesthetic that’s often used on patients before (or after) surgeries. Although it’s only legal in medical contexts, many people use the drug recreationally due to its euphoric, relaxing effects.
Over the past few years, ketamine has become increasingly popular. A recent study reveals that ketamine usage increased by 40% from 2021 to 2022. It doesn’t seem like this trend is stopping soon. Unfortunately, chronic misuse of ketamine can cause several adverse effects, such as ketamine bladder syndrome.
Ketamine Bladder Syndrome: Symptoms and Long-Term Consequences
Ketamine bladder syndrome, also known as ketamine-induced cystitis, is a condition characterized by damage and inflammation to the bladder. When ketamine is metabolized in the body, it’s excreted through the kidneys and travels through the bladder via urine. The problem is that ketamine is toxic to the bladder’s urothelial lining (which is designed to protect your bladder).
If you use this substance infrequently for medical purposes, you likely won’t experience any bladder-related ketamine effects. Frequent recreational exposure, however, can severely irritate the urothelial lining. This may cause symptoms such as:
- Urinary urgency and frequency. By triggering inflammation, ketamine can reduce the bladder’s ability to stretch and store urine. As a result, you’ll need to use the bathroom more often.
- Difficulty holding urine (incontinence). Ketamine may cause scars in the bladder tissue that can shrink its capacity.
- Pelvic pain or pressure. Inflammation can trigger pain signals from surrounding tissues and nerves.
- Painful urination (dysuria). The urothelial lining protects sensitive underlying tissues. When ketamine damages the lining, these tissues become exposed to urine, which may cause a burning or stinging sensation.
- Blood in the urine (hematuria). Prolonged inflammation can cause tiny blood vessels to rupture, resulting in traces of blood in your urine.
If caught early, you can generally stop or even partially reverse these effects by ending ketamine use. However, if chronic misuse continues, damage will typically worsen. In severe cases, ketamine bladder syndrome may require surgical intervention up to and including bladder removal.
Differentiating Recreational Use From Medical Use
From incontinence to pelvic pain, there are many possible consequences of ketamine misuse. On the flip side, monitored ketamine use can offer benefits. As mentioned earlier, ketamine is often used by health care providers as an anesthetic for surgeries. It’s also being explored as a treatment for chronic pain and mental health conditions.
As with many drugs, there’s a difference between recreational misuse and medically supervised treatment. The main differences include:
- Dosage amounts
- Frequency
- Administration method
- Supervision by clinical staff
In medical settings, ketamine is generally administered in low, precisely calculated doses based on the patient’s weight, medical history and treatment goals. Recreational users, on the other hand, tend to consume higher, uncontrolled doses to induce the drug’s euphoric effects.
Along with limiting dosages, medical treatments limit frequency. Many patients have sessions spaced out over weeks or months, allowing clinicians to carefully monitor progress and side effects. This is different from recreational users, who may indulge in ketamine multiple times a week (or even daily).
Finally, the drug is typically administered via different methods. In medical environments, ketamine is almost always delivered via controlled routes, such as intravenous infusion and intramuscular injection. Recreational users, meanwhile, may use methods such as snorting, swallowing or unregulated injections. This makes it difficult to track ketamine effects and consumption, increasing the risk of adverse effects.
Ketamine Therapy for Mental Health Conditions
When administered in medical settings, ketamine is considered safe. It can also be highly effective, especially for mental health disorders. According to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America, over 70% of patients who were given ketamine to treat depression experienced noticeable results after just three sessions. Around 78% of patients also saw a reduction in suicidal thoughts.
So how exactly does it work? Unlike traditional antidepressants, which focus on serotonin, ketamine impacts your NMDA (n-methyl-D-aspirate) receptors. Part of the glutamate system, these receptors play a key role in learning, memory and emotional regulation. By blocking these receptors, ketamine can create new pathways between neurons, essentially “resetting” brain circuits involved in mood and thought patterns.
While the research surrounding ketamine effects on mental health is still ongoing, the results are promising. Patients have experienced increased mental wellness, and many also report that ketamine works faster than traditional antidepressants. To ensure effective, safe treatment, it’s important to follow your health care provider’s guidance.
When to Seek Help for Ketamine Misuse
Despite the potential benefits of ketamine for mental health conditions, not everyone is a viable candidate. For example, if you have struggled (or are currently struggling) with recreational ketamine misuse, you should avoid further use. Continuing your ketamine intake may increase the risk of dangerous side effects, including ketamine bladder syndrome.
Of course, stopping ketamine use may be easier said than done. Fortunately, treatments are available that can help. Consider contacting a professional if you notice any of the following signs:
- Cravings or difficulty reducing usage
- Using ketamine more often or in higher doses to achieve the same effect
- Neglecting responsibilities at work, at school or in relationships due to use
- Physical symptoms (such as urinary urgency or painful urination)
- Emotional or psychological distress (such as mood swings)
Do you or a loved one need help with ketamine use? At Sun Health Center, we offer treatments for a wide range of conditions, including substance abuse and mental health disorders. We pride ourselves on harnessing innovative, new breakthroughs in medicine, and we personalize treatments to meet the unique needs of every patient. Contact us today to learn more.
