How Long Does Ketamine Last? Effects, Profile, and Duration

Ketamine is a powerful anesthetic used for medical procedures as well as a popular recreational drug. It is best known for its dissociative and hallucinogenic properties. However, ketamine use can have a profound and lasting effect on the body and brain. This warrants a closer investigation of the risks associated with recreational use.

Ketamine Defined

Ketamine is, first and foremost, a dissociative anesthetic commonly used during invasive surgical procedures. When administered by a medical professional, it puts you into a trance-like state. The effects of this state include pain relief, memory loss, and immobility, which is ideal during surgery.

Ketamine is also known for its recreational use due to the feelings of detachment from reality it is known to provide. Ketamine is classified as a Schedule III controlled substance. This means it has a recognized medical use but also has the potential for abuse and dependence when used improperly. Possession and distribution of ketamine without a prescription or proper authorization is illegal in the United States and subject to legal penalties.

Recreational Ketamine Administration

Recreational use of ketamine often involves higher doses than those used for medical purposes. Here are some common methods of recreational ketamine use:[1]

• Snorting: Ketamine powder is often snorted through the nose. Once snorted, it is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream through the nasal membranes, producing a rapid onset of the drug’s effects.
• Injection: Injecting ketamine intravenously or intramuscularly achieves a more immediate and intense effect profile. However, injection carries significant risks of infection, vein damage, and myriad other health complications.
• Oral: Ketamine can be found in various forms for oral ingestion, including capsules, tablets, and liquid. Compared to other methods, oral ingestion results in a slower onset of effects, as it takes longer to be absorbed through the digestive system.
• Rectal: Ketamine can be administered rectally, leading to rapid absorption and onset of effects.
• Smoking or vaporizing: Ketamine can also be smoked or vaporized. This method is less efficient and usually not preferred due to ketamine’s high melting point.

The Effects of Recreational Ketamine Use

Ketamine, when used recreationally, is known to have various effects on both your mind and your body. These effects range from mild dissociation to significant perception alterations. The effects you experience could vary based on the dose, method of administration, and your specific tolerance level. These are some of the known effects of recreational ketamine use[2]:

• Dissociation: Ketamine induces a state of dissociation. That means you may feel detached from your surroundings or even your body. This can lead to you experiencing a sense of floating or even an out-of-body experience.
• Hallucinations: Ketamine can cause visual and auditory hallucinations. You may find yourself perceiving things that are not real. These hallucinations range from mild distortions to vivid experiences.
• Sedation: Ketamine has strong sedative effects. This leads to relaxation, drowsiness, and anesthesia-like states in which you may temporarily lose consciousness.
• Analgesia: Ketamine is an effective pain reliever. It can cause total numbness or a reduced sensitivity to pain.
• Cognitive impairment: Recreational ketamine use can impair cognitive functions like attention and memory. When under the influence, you may have difficulty concentrating or forming thoughts.
• Physical effects: Ketamine affects motor coordination and balance. This results in a loss of coordination. It can also cause you to experience nausea, vomiting, increased heart rate, and elevated blood pressure.
• Mood effects: Ketamine may induce euphoria. However, it can also lead to dysphoria or anxiety, especially during or after the effects fade away.
• Long-term effects: Chronic use of ketamine can lead to tolerance and dependence, and there is potential for addiction. It is also associated with physical health risks such as damage to the urinary system, gastrointestinal issues, and respiratory problems.

Medical Ketamine Use

Ketamine, when used medically, is administered in controlled settings by healthcare professionals. Here are some medical uses of ketamine:

• Anesthesia: Ketamine is used as an anesthetic agent to induce and maintain anesthesia during surgical procedures. It’s useful in situations where maintaining cardiovascular function is critical. Examples of this include trauma cases or if you have compromised cardiac function.
• Pain management: Ketamine is used to manage acute and chronic pain conditions. It is administered in different ways depending on the condition and needs.
• Depression: Ketamine is known to have rapid antidepressant effects in treatment-resistant depression as well as severe depression cases. It is administered at sub-anesthetic doses and is usually given intravenously over a short period and always in a controlled medical environment.
• Emergency medicine: Ketamine can be used in emergency medicine settings. It’s particularly useful for rapid sequence intubation, facilitating intubation without causing respiratory depression. Also, its dissociative properties can be beneficial if you are agitated or combative.
• Veterinary medicine: Ketamine is commonly used as an anesthetic for animal surgical procedures.

Duration of the Effects of Ketamine

The duration of ketamine’s effects will vary depending on the dose, route of administration, tolerance, and metabolism[3].

• Intravenous (IV) administration: When administered via IV, the effects of ketamine can begin within seconds to a minute and typically last around 30 minutes to an hour. Residual effects may last several hours longer.
• Intramuscular (IM) administration: When ketamine is administered intramuscularly, the effects begin within a few minutes and last 30 minutes to an hour. Like IV administration, the residual effects may last a few hours.
• Nasal administration: The effects of ketamine usually begin within a few minutes after snorting and may last between 1 and 2 hours. Residual effects may linger for a few hours afterward.
• Oral administration: The effects of ketamine can be noticed 15 to 30 minutes after ingestion. The effects can last 1 to 2 hours, with residual effects lasting several hours.
• Rectal administration: When administered rectally, the effects of the ketamine usually begin in a couple of minutes. Like other methods, effects may last around 1 to 2 hours, with residual effects lasting several hours after administration.

Treatment and Support Is Available

If you find yourself abusing ketamine, it might be time to get help. Treatment options are available no matter where you are. Get help from medical professionals who can give you the specialized care and attention you need and deserve.