Ketamine Side Effects
What Is Ketamine?
Ketamine, a drug often used in veterinary medicine, has seen a rise in popularity among teens and young adults in recent years. Ketamine also goes by the names “Special K” and simply “K.” As this hallucinogenic drug makes its rounds on the club scene across the U.S. and Europe, there has been a dramatic rise in Ketamine-related ER visits. Things like hallucinations, cardiac and bladder symptoms, and injuries are the most typical causes of these visits. As ketamine.com states, “the user may also experience impaired motor functioning which could lead to accident or injury.”

- Increased heart rate and blood pressure
- Nausea and vomiting
- Numbness
- Respiratory problems
Long-term effects of Ketamine are, in general, similar to short-term effects but can become more damaging over time.
According to Medscape, “Two studies have shown that the recreational use of the drug Ketamine can result in bladder damage. The damage occurs through drug-related toxicity in the urine, which leads to erosion of the bladder’s epithelial lining.” And studies have shown that Ketamine-related bladder damage is even more common than initially thought.
If you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction to Ketamine or a similar drug, we invite you to contact our compassionate and well-trained team at The Recovery Village. We’re here to answer your questions and ready to help in any way we can.
Medical Disclaimer: The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.
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