Originally used in veterinary medicine, ketamine has become popular when used as an analgesic and antidepressant. At the same time, it is a powerful psychoactive substance — a drug that is rapidly addictive.
Ketamine is used not only by the sick, but also by young people at parties to achieve a sense of euphoria. The payback for such carelessness is huge damage to the body.
Subsequent attempts to stop taking ketamine cause severe withdrawal, accompanied by a painful condition that often provokes a return to the drug.
Withdrawal symptoms in ketamine addiction
Regular use of preparations containing ketamine always leads to the development of dependence. With each new intake of the substance, the body requires a higher and higher dose, which only aggravates the situation.
Attempts to solve the problem on their own lead to the appearance of dangerous withdrawal symptoms. That is why it is recommended to undergo a course of treatment in special medical centers.
You can undergo ketamine addiction treatment in California or any other state — there are dozens of suitable rehabs in each.
To understand why professional rehab is important, let’s list the main withdrawal symptoms:
- confusion of consciousness;
- psychosis;
- delirium;
- hallucinations;
- sudden aggressive behavior;
- tremors of the extremities;
- hearing loss;
- nausea and vomiting.
Symptoms such as decreased respiratory function, slow heartbeat, and loss of motor skills are particularly dangerous. People addicted to ketamine experience tremendous depression, which multiplies the risk of suicide.
They become unmanageable, unable to make adequate decisions. At a certain stage, a breakdown and taking ketamine is possible.
Change in the patient’s condition when withdrawing from ketamine
How long will the withdrawal syndrome in ketamine addiction last? It depends on the general state of health and how long, how often and in what quantities the person used the drug.
The first unpleasant symptoms appear in as little as 24 hours after the last dose is taken.
1-3 days
The acute phase of symptoms begins on the second day and lasts two days on average. At this time there is a loss of energy, mood changes from apathetic to aggressive, there is severe depression.
A person can not sleep for several days, the usual remedies for insomnia do not help. This state can be aggravated by delusions and hallucinations.
On a physical level, the addicted person often feels nausea, it is difficult to breathe, hearing is weakened. During this period, sufferers are particularly vulnerable and need multifaceted support.
4-14 days
Peaking on day 3-5, withdrawal symptoms usually subside by the end of the second week.
However, everything is individualized here. With the use of special medications prescribed by a doctor, symptoms can be greatly alleviated.
Conversely, the lack of proper symptomatic treatment, such as insomnia and depression, can lead to serious mental health problems.
Ideally, with a short history of ketamine use, withdrawal symptoms should completely disappear half a month after the last dose. Otherwise, they may continue for several more weeks.
Particularly dangerous are cases with dual diagnosis, when drug use caused mental disorders or vice versa, due to mental health problems, a person started using psychoactive substances.
In such a situation, a special approach to treatment is required, which is not possible without referral to a specialized medical institution.
How to improve the effectiveness of treatment
There is no universal way to treat ketamine addiction. It is always a complex approach, involving simultaneously supportive drug therapy, individual and group therapy, and other forms of treatment.
Rehabilitation is possible both in outpatient conditions with periodic visits to the clinic, and inpatient.
More guarantees for a full recovery can be obtained when staying 24/7 in an inpatient facility under constant medical supervision. There are many rehabilitation centers for this purpose.
One of them is drug rehab in Simi Valley near LA. Here you can get professional help and recover from ketamine addiction in comfortable conditions.
