What are the Long-Term Effects of Ketamine Infusions?
Takeaway: As new research emerges, more and more people are interested in trying ketamine treatment. However, it’s important to understand both the long-term side effects of ketamine before getting started. In this post, we’ll get into who ketamine therapy is for (and who should steer clear) in addition to what current studies say about the side effects.
Everything you need to know about ketamine
Whether you've heard of ketamine treatment or are totally new to the concept, it's important to understand exactly what ketamine is. Here, I'll explain how ketamine works and the different ways that it's currently used, including ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.
What is ketamine?
Ketamine is a dissociative drug, which means that it can make people feel detached from their bodies or environment. It's also a hallucinogenic, so it can alter how people feel, think, and perceive themselves or those around them.
Currently, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recognizes ketamine as a Schedule III drug, meaning that it has a moderate to low risk of physical and psychological dependence. Ketamine has long been used as an anesthetic, or surgical drug.
More recently, there has been a growing body of research that suggests ketamine can be helpful in treating certain medical and mental health conditions. As a result of these studies, ketamine has been deemed a breakthrough treatment for depression by the FDA.
In fact, the FDA approved a nasal form of ketamine treatment in 2019. KetaMore clinical trials are underway to discover how else ketamine and other drugs like it can be used in a therapeutic sense.
Currently, experts believe that ketamine works by increasing neuroplasticity. In other words, it helps the brain form new connections. This can be especially helpful when certain connections are lost from chronic stress or other mental health concerns.
While more research is needed to examine exactly how ketamine affects the brain—including the long-term effects of ketamine on the brain—current studies show that it's relatively safe and effective for many people when administered under medical supervision.
Types of ketamine treatment
Since ketamine is federally legal, people are able to access ketamine treatment in all fifty states. It's used as an off-label treatment for conditions like depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), migraines, and more.
Ketamine infusions
Ketamine is frequently administered via intramuscular injection. In this case, a medical professional will place an IV and the patient will receive the medicine through an IV drip. During the infusion, the patient's vital signs like blood pressure and heart rate will be closely monitored. Studies show that some people can benefit from a single infusion.
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy
In ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, ketamine is often self-administered through a prescribed lozenge. You'll work with a mental health professional to process your experience. Experts currently hypothesize that combining ketamine with psychotherapy can maximize the positive effects of ketamine treatment.
Understanding the long-term side effects of ketamine
As with any medical or mental health treatment, it's important to understand potential long-term ketamine effects before deciding whether or not it's right for you. Here's a look into the potential long-term side effects of ketamine, including important differences between use in a medical setting versus prolonged recreational ketamine use.
What we know about long-term ketamine effects
Since using ketamine outside of a surgical setting is still relatively new, more research is needed to determine the long-term effects of ketamine. However, a small number of studies have begun to explore the possible ways that ketamine can impact people in the long run.
As we covered earlier, ketamine is being used more often to treat depression, especially depression that hasn't responded well to other therapies. Current research shows that people often experience significant improvement in depression symptoms. This may lead people to seek ketamine maintenance treatments to continue experiencing the positive effects of ketamine long-term.
The long-term effects of ketamine on depression may be further sustained by the addition of psychotherapy. While the substance itself can be helpful, working with a therapist can offer a deeper level of emotional support and healing that medication alone cannot.
While much of the current research on ketamine treatment focuses on depression, there are some studies that suggest it can also be helpful in treating anxiety. In fact, one study that showed long-term repeated dosages of ketamine improved anxiety symptoms for the participants.
Similarly, ketamine may also be a helpful treatment for PTSD. Research suggests that repeated ketamine infusions can alleviate PTSD symptoms both short- and long-term. Right now, experts are unclear whether ketamine infusions have different long-term side effects when compared with nasal or oral routes of administration.
Currently, it's also unclear whether people can expect to maintain the benefit of singular treatments. However, experts agree that this is still an exciting breakthrough in the field. Hopefully, future research will reveal more about the potential long-term effects of ketamine on both mental and physical health for a variety of different populations.
Ketamine treatment vs. chronic ketamine abuse
Though the long-term effects of ketamine treatment in a therapeutic setting are largely unclear, experts understand more about the impact of recreational ketamine use, ketamine abuse, and even ketamine addiction.
In studies on chronic ketamine use, participants had structural differences in both the gray and white matter of their brains when compared to people who did not engage in ketamine consumption. There is also evidence to suggest that ketamine produces chronic impairments in functioning, including spatial memory and motor functioning.
Some research also suggests that ketamine abuse can have negative physical effects. One study demonstrated the damaging impact that ketamine misuse can have on the urinary tract. In some cases, it can even lead to ketamine-induced ulcerative cystitis.
According to American Addiction Centers, stopping ketamine use can produce physical withdrawal symptoms including depression, anxiety, and cravings. Overdose with ketamine is typically rare.
Again, it's important to emphasize that all of these effects are seen amongst recreational ketamine users and those with ketamine addiction. So far, research doesn't indicate that taking ketamine in a controlled medical or mental health environment poses the same health risks.
If you're concerned about your own recreational ketamine use or that of a loved one, know that help is available. You can visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) website for more information about addiction treatment options.
Weighing risks and benefits of using ketamine for mental health treatment
Since there is limited information about the long-term effects of ketamine treatment, it's important to weigh the potential risks and benefits before deciding whether or not it's right for you.
Many people find that the euphoric and dissociative effects of ketamine help them observe their thoughts and feelings in an insightful, relaxed way. This may be especially true in the context of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, where you have the support of a mental health professional through the entire process.
Certainly, for people with treatment-resistant depression or other intense psychological symptoms, ketamine therapy is a beacon of hope. Many people find relief from debilitating symptoms after just one treatment.
However, there might be situations in which other treatments are a better option. It's important to talk with your medical provider about whether health conditions like high blood pressure indicate that you should consider a different treatment.
At the end of the day, deciding whether or not to try ketamine-assisted therapy is a personal choice. While getting input from trusted professionals and loved ones is important, it's up to you to determine what your comfort level, needs, values, and goals are.
There is no singular way to approach mental health treatment, so you might need to try different methods before finding what works best for you. It can be a tiring process to discover what works, but your mental health is worth the investment of time and resources.
Feeling called to ketamine-assisted therapy? Start the process today.
As a provider of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy in Colorado, I'm a strong proponent of the transformative effects that this treatment method can have. While it's not for everyone, many people who choose to engage in ketamine therapy find relief from mental and emotional suffering.
My approach to ketamine-assisted therapy focuses heavily on building a strong therapeutic bond based on trust and compassion. With this relationship, you can feel held in your ketamine experience and come to important insights about yourself. I work best with men living in depression, anxiety, and grief, as well as men looking to explore healthy masculinity and their identity as a father.
If you're curious to learn more about my approach or feel ready to start the process, I encourage you to reach out. I offer free consultations so you can ask questions and get a sense of whether we might be a good fit for each other. I look forward to hearing from you, and I'd be honored to walk alongside you on your healing journey.
