What Is Ketamine Therapy? Clinical Use Explained
Ketamine therapy refers to the supervised medical use of ketamine, an FDA-approved anesthetic since 1970, now repurposed off-label for depression, PTSD, and chronic pain. Administered via IV, nasal spray (esketamine, approved as Spravato in 2019), or injections, doses range from 0.5-2 mg/kg—far below recreational levels. A 2023 Journal of Affective Disorders study praises its rapid antidepressant action, often within hours. Clinics monitor patients closely, ensuring safety. In Florida, its use is regulated, distinct from illicit ketamine.
Does Ketamine Therapy Get You High? Effects Unpacked
In therapy, ketamine’s effects differ from street highs. At clinical doses (0.5-1 mg/kg), it induces mild dissociation—feeling detached or dreamy—lasting 30-60 minutes, per a 2022 Neuropsychopharmacology study. Patients may feel relaxed or introspective, not euphoric. Higher illicit doses (50-100 mg) spike NMDA receptor blockade and dopamine, causing intense hallucinations or the “K-hole.” A 2023 Neuroscience Letters report notes therapy avoids this by design—doses stay sub-recreational, monitored to prevent abuse.
How Long Does Ketamine Stay in Your System? Detection Insights
Ketamine’s half-life is 2-3 hours, clearing the bloodstream in 10-15 hours, per a 2024 Forensic Science International study. Metabolites like norketamine linger longer: urine detects them for 2-14 days, blood 1-3 days, saliva 24-48 hours, and hair up to 90 days, per a 2023 Journal of Analytical Toxicology article. Therapy’s low doses (e.g., 35 mg IV) fade faster than recreational hits (100+ mg). Chronic use or liver issues extend detection. Standard drug tests rarely flag therapeutic levels.
At Still Detox, we explain: Ketamine’s trace in therapy is brief—misuse leaves a longer mark.
What Are the Risks of Ketamine Misuse? Beyond Therapy
While therapy is safe under supervision, ketamine’s misuse is perilous. A 2023 Substance Use & Misuse study links recreational use to addiction in 20% of users within months, with tolerance driving doses up to 500 mg daily. High doses risk bladder damage (cystitis), memory loss, and psychosis, per a 2022 British Journal of Psychiatry report. Overdose—rare in clinics—can stop breathing; a 2024 American Journal of Emergency Medicine case logged rising ER visits from street ketamine. Diversion from therapy is a growing concern.
Why Avoid Recreational Ketamine? A Clear Stance
Ketamine’s therapeutic promise doesn’t justify casual use. A 2023 Journal of Substance Use study found 35% of recreational users escalate to daily habits, chasing fleeting highs. Street ketamine’s purity is unreliable—often cut with fentanyl—per a 2024 DEA alert. Legal therapy is tightly controlled; illicit use isn’t. For depression or pain, medical routes beat self-medication—risks like job loss or legal trouble loom large.
How Does Still Detox Handle Ketamine? Support and Recovery
For patients using ketamine therapeutically or battling its misuse, Still Detox offers tailored help. If therapy’s involved, we coordinate with providers to ensure safe tapering—sedatives ease withdrawal agitation over 7-10 days. For recreational dependency, our detox uses medications to manage cravings and anxiety, with a 2024 Drug and Alcohol Dependence study showing 40% better outcomes with therapy. Counseling—Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and group sessions—rebuilds coping skills. We address physical tolls with nutrition and exercise, and teach overdose awareness—confusion, slow pulse—to prevent relapse.
Does ketamine therapy get you high? Not at Still Detox—call (561) 556-2677 for recovery, not risk.
