Abdominal Pain and Dysuria Secondary to Chronic Recreational Ketamine Use: A Case Report on K-cramps.
Cureus February 1, 2025 Eric Boccio, Jason Haidar, Michael Thiefault et al.
Chronic, high-dose ketamine use can cause a cluster of symptoms—severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and painful urination—known as K-cramps. A 25-year-old woman who used 500–1000 milligrams of ketamine weekly presented with these symptoms; lab tests were normal, and she was diagnosed with K-cramps after ruling out other causes. Treatment with intravenous fluids, antiemetics, and benzodiazepines resolved her symptoms. The condition is underrecognized by emergency physicians, leading to delayed diagnosis and unnecessary testing. Awareness and proper management, including harm reduction counseling and addiction medicine referral, are important for acute care.