An Update of Ketamine Illicit Use

Ketamine, a derivative of phencyclidine, has anesthetic, analgesic, and antidepressant properties but is also a new psychoactive substance with psychedelic effects. Its recreational use has grown globally, becoming a common club drug that threatens public health by causing physical and psychiatric harm. Concurrent or sequential use with other drugs worsens health consequences. There are no specific treatments for compulsive drug-seeking in ketamine use disorder, and pharmacotherapy for side effects is limited and symptomatic. This chapter covers ketamine abuse history, proposes neural disinhibition mechanisms underlying addiction, details negative effects of long-term and recreational use on central and peripheral systems, and reviews adverse interactions from concomitant use.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Ketamine is a derivative of phencyclidine with unique anesthetic, analgesic, as well as antidepressant pharmacological properties. Despite its clinical use, ketamine is classified on the list with new psychoactive substances having psychedelic properties. The abuse trend of ketamine increasing globally, and it became a common club drug over the past few decades. Of note, recreational use of ketamine may pose a threat to public health, leading to numerous physical, as well as psychiatric negative effects. In addition, simultaneously or sequentially ketamine use with other drugs, resulting in serious health consequences. Currently, there are no specific treatment options for managing compulsive drug-seeking behavior in patients with ketamine use disorder, while the pharmacotherapy of side effects is limited and mostly symptomatic. In this chapter, we discuss ketamine abuse history. Further, we proposed the mechanisms of neural disinhibition underlying addiction development in ketamine-dependent patients. We have also included details of possible negative consequences focusing on long-term and recreational ketamine use for both, central and peripheral systems. Finally, we provide an overview of ketamine concomitant use and corresponding adverse interactions.