Ketamine Use in Self-Described Therapeutic Contexts: A Thematic Analysis of Reddit Posts
J. Richard Kendrick, Ghonwa Ahmad, Audrey Wood, Samuel Stumo, Aarav Sehgal, Douglas B. Matthews, Pravesh Sharma
Behavioral Sciences March 24, 2026 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.3390/bs16040480 via OpenAlex
Summary
A qualitative analysis of 500 high-engagement threads from the r/TherapeuticKetamine subreddit revealed that mood-related concerns were the main reason for ketamine use, reported by 53% of users. Positive effects included improvements in emotional well-being for 65% of participants, while 56% experienced adverse psychological or mood-related effects. Most users reported doses exceeding 149 mg, with intravenous administration being the most common route at 40%. The findings highlight significant variability in experiences and raise concerns about high-dose use and potential addiction.
Study at a glance
| Design | qualitative content analysis |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 500 |
| Population | posts from the r/TherapeuticKetamine subreddit |
| Key finding | Users reported improvements in emotional well-being as a positive effect of ketamine use, but also highlighted significant adverse psychological effects. |
Abstract
The use of ketamine for the management of neuropsychiatric conditions outside clinical settings has rapidly expanded, creating a critical need to understand diverse individual experiences. We conducted a qualitative content analysis of posts from the r/TherapeuticKetamine subreddit. From 3302 threads, the 500 highest-engagement threads (12,852 comments) were analyzed by independent coders across six domains: perceived positive effects, adverse effects, reasons for use, route of administration, polydrug use, and dose amounts. Mood-related concerns were the primary reason for use (53%). Users reported positive effects, most often improvements in emotional well-being (65%). Adverse effects were predominantly psychological or mood-related (56%). A total of 70% of reported doses exceeded 149 mg, suggesting a trend toward higher dose use. Intravenous administration (40%) and sublingual troches (23%) were the most frequently reported routes. Concurrent use of prescribed psychotropics, cannabis, and psychedelics was also reported. This analysis identified substantial heterogeneity in individual-reported experiences. Frequent high-dose use, dose escalation, and polydrug exposure underscores the importance of clinical monitoring and attention to addiction potential and drug-drug interactions. The findings should be interpreted with caution, as follow-up and clinical verification were not possible; however, the data provide an unfiltered view of individual experiences in relation to ketamine use outside the clinical setting.