Ketamine is run by injection into a vein (intravenous or IV) or muscle (intramuscular or IM). A ketamine nasal spray has also been recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of patients with treatment-resistant depression.8 At lower doses ketamine produces pain relief and sedation, while at higher dosages the drug produces dissociation and hallucinatory effects. the consequences appear within seconds when the drug is given IV, whereas it can take up to 4 minutes for the onset of action when given IM.7
Depending on how it’s administered, the consequences of ketamine can last anywhere from 5 to half-hour . Following administration, ketamine is quickly metabolized by the liver into less active metabolites. Approximately 90% of ketamine is excreted within the urine within the sort of metabolites.9 The half-life of ketamine, which is that the time it takes for the entire amount of drug within the body to be reduced by 50%, is about 2.5 hours in adults and 1 to 2 hours in children.10
From a clinical standpoint it’s estimated that a drug is effectively eliminated after 4-5 half-lives, meaning the bulk of ketamine should be out of the system of an adult in about 10 to 12.5 hours. Factors like age, body mass, rate , drug dosage, and route of administration can affect the duration and elimination of the drug.7
A study published within the International Journal of Legal Medicine found that ketamine are often detected in hair up to 4 months after one dose.11 Ketamine and its metabolites were also detected in scalp samples collected by a wet cotton swab up to 48 hours after administration of the drug. during a study of urine samples collected from hospitalized children who had received ketamine as an anesthetic, ketamine might be detected within the urine up to 11 days after drug administration and its metabolites might be detected for up to 14 days.12
Ketamine Abuse Treatment Options
Prolonged abuse of ketamine may end in psychological dependence. Chronic users will experience cravings when not taking the drug, making it hard to quit because the body isn’t wont to functioning without it. Ketamine withdrawal symptoms can last for 4-6 days and may include:13
- Cravings for ketamine
- Loss of appetite
- Tiredness
- Chills
- Sweating
- Restlessness
- Tremors
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Irregular and rapid heartbeat
If you currently use ketamine and find it difficult to quit, know that help and support are available. Please contact knowledgeable rehab facility to debate your treatment options with an addiction specialist. If you abruptly stop ketamine use you’ll experience intense cravings and discomfort, so it’s going to be recommended to undergo medically supervised detox where any withdrawal symptoms are often properly managed.
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