Ketamine is a type of drug used in both human and veterinary branches of medicine. Mainly, it is used with a sedative to produce a general anaesthesia prior to treatments. Sometimes the drug is also used within intensive care facilities as an anti-pain medication, chiefly as a type of emergency medicine.
It is a widespread recreational drug and it can create a feeling of adrenaline as blood pressure becomes elevated. Users also report how it induces hallucinations, which is the major attraction, and what makes ketamine stand out from other drugs.
Ketamine is also considered as an ‘essential drug’ by the World Health Organisation (WHO) when setting up a basic national healthcare system.
Side Effects
As already mentioned above, taking ketamine can induce hallucinations and an adrenaline rush because of elevated blood pressure. Generally, when healthcare practitioners talk about the effects of this substance, they split them into short and long-term effects.
In the short-term, patients can feel delirious, dizzy, and nauseous. Reports have also revealed the onset of blurred vision and pain around the original injection site. Generally, none of these is thought to be life threatening.
Long-term recreational users tend to suffer impairments of both the short and long-term memory. Studies have also revealed how users can experience problems with their urinary tracts; including the inability to expel urine.
Ketamine Addiction Treatment
Ketamine addictions are serious and cause many problems in the long-term. It is quite an easy drug to become addicted to since it is easy to find. Residential rehab is nearly always recommended for those with more severe addictions, mainly so they do not get tempted to relapse back into their old lifestyles.
Within treatment centres, qualified therapists work with patients on a one-to-one basis to find the underlying cause of why they turned to drugs initially. Amongst other things, they impart their knowledge of coping techniques to help them overcome any cravings.
