Hepatobiliary Complications Associated With Ketamine Use: Clinical Insights and Future Directions.
Cureus May 1, 2025 Hafiza Wajeeha Waheed, Muhammad R Ashraf, Talha Sajjad et al.
Ketamine use can harm the liver and bile ducts, causing problems from mild lab abnormalities to serious conditions needing medical care. The review of human studies found that ketamine may disrupt bile flow, cause oxidative stress, and directly damage liver cells. Stopping ketamine often leads to improvement, and treatments like supportive care and medications can help. The exact biological mechanisms are still unclear, and more research is needed to identify who is most at risk and to ensure safer use in medical and nonmedical settings.