Ketamine Withdrawal And Detox

Deciding to seek help for ketamine addiction is a profound act of courage. While the path may seem uncertain, understanding how to detox from ketamine safely is the first and most critical step toward reclaiming your life. At The House of Life, we provide the expert medical care and compassionate support necessary to navigate this journey and build a foundation for lasting recovery.

Ketamine detox refers to the systematic and medically assisted process meant to administer the withdrawal symptoms of ketamine safely. It is the initial phase of the professional addiction treatment and offers a clean and controlled environment to ensure that the body detoxifies itself out of the drug.

Unlike opioids, ketamine addiction withdrawal is characterized primarily by intense psychological symptoms. When you stop using, your brain struggles to function without the substance it has become dependent on, leading to a cascade of distressing effects.

Unlike withdrawal from substances like alcohol or opioids, ketamine withdrawal is characterized primarily by intense psychological symptoms, though physical discomfort can also occur.

The most common psychological symptoms are

• Severe Depression: a feeling of complete despair in which suicidal feelings may arise. This is considered the most dangerous symptom of ketamine withdrawal.
• Cravings: A very strong psychological desire to take ketamine back to mollify the uncomfortable feeling.
• Anxiety and Agitation: Extreme restlessness, irritability, and panic attacks are quite prevalent.
• Psychosis: At times, it can result in paranoia, delusions (believing things that are not true), or hallucinations (seeing or hearing something that is not there).
• Cognitive Impairment: This may consist of confusion, loss of memory, and overall inability to think properly.

Physical symptoms may include:

• Shaking or tremors
• Nausea
• Chills & sweats
• Extreme fatigue

How long ketamine withdrawal lasts depends on the individual, although most severe, acute symptoms should be resolved in one to two weeks. Nonetheless, certain psychological consequences may last months.

While the experience varies for each person, a general timeline can help set expectations:

Phase 1: 24-72 Hours: 

The symptoms will usually start in the first few days following the discontinuation of the last dose. It can be characterized by an early crash followed by fatigue, increased anxiety, and cravings.

Phase 2: Days 3-7 (Peak Withdrawal): 

This is the hardest time, when the symptoms reach their highest expression. It is also marked by extreme mental distress, such as extreme depression, paranoia, agitation, and strong cravings.

Phase 3: Weeks 2-4: 

The most acute symptoms fade. However, lingering depression, anxiety, and cravings are common. This is a critical time to transition from detox to a comprehensive ketamine addiction rehab program to address the root causes of the addiction.

Factors That Influence The Ketamine Timeline

Not all people have the same withdrawal experience. Here are a few factors affecting the ketamine timeline:

• Dosage and Frequency of Use: Increased dosage and increased frequency of use normally result in an increased and extended withdrawal.
• Length of Use: Prolonged usage allows the brain more time to adjust, which can make the withdrawal period more difficult as well.
• Individual Physiology: Age, genetics, metabolism, and physical health of an individual play roles in the way his body manages to deal with the cessation of the drug.

Professional ketamine detox is a medically supervised treatment plan aimed at enabling an individual to go through the withdrawal process comfortably and safely. It is not advisable to self-detox because the psychological risks are very high. This process is normally divided into three parts:

• Assessment: When a person is admitted, one of the first activities a medical team performs is an assessment. It involves a physical examination and a mental assessment to determine the presence of a co-occurring disorder such as depression and a history of all the substances used by the individual. The information is useful in developing a custom detox program.
• Stabilization: This is the essence of the ketamine detoxification practice. The patient is under observation around the clock in a comfortable, trigger-free spot. Although no medicines are available to prevent ketamine withdrawal, physicians can give supportive treatment to relieve the symptoms.
• Further Treatment: The main aim of a ketamine detox is to attain physical stability. After doing that, the clinical team assists the individual in moving into a comprehensive program of addiction treatment to address the underlying psychological issues in their substance use disorder.

Risks involved during uncontrolled ketamine withdrawal are both serious and mainly psychological. Here are some:

• Extreme Depression and Suicidal thoughts: The deep depression that may arise in the process of withdrawal may result in self-harm or a suicidal attempt.
• Psychosis: The individuals may become paranoid, and they may start hallucinating and having delusional thoughts, posing a threat to either themselves or others. They can fail to tell what is real and their symptoms.
• Cardiovascular Strain: Withdrawal can be a medical danger to people who have pre-existing cardiac illnesses because of the pressure they are put through.

Detox is just the starting point of recovery. To achieve lasting sobriety, it is essential to engage in comprehensive ketamine addiction treatment to address the root causes of the addiction. Once having detoxed, there are various levels of treatment options individuals may take depending on their needs. Here are a few:

• Inpatient or Residential Rehab: This is most likely the most severe choice, where an individual stays at the treatment venue for 30, 60, or 90 days.
• Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP): Attending treatment multiple times per week, approximately several hours a day, five to seven days per week, while living at home or in a sober living residence.
• Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): It is a more flexible alternative and usually involves 9-12 hours of treatment per week, in the evenings. It enables people to keep working or attending school.