Does Ketamine Therapy Get You High: Unveiling the Truth and Myths

Ketamine therapy has recently gained huge popularity in the United States for the treatment of depression and anxiety. But with its increased use comes a common concern, "Does ketamine therapy get you high?" This treatment doesn't aim to make a person high like recreational use might, but there are still some after-feelings to consider. This blog will help you understand whether ketamine therapy contributes to a "high" feeling. Let's explore!

Does Ketamine Therapy Get You High?

Yes, according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, using ketamine at larger doses (more than 1 mg/kg) can get you high due to its psychoactive effects which may include:

• Dissociation: Feeling very disconnected from reality.

• Hallucinations: Hearing or seeing things that do not exist or appear.

• Altered Sensation and Perceptions: Changes in your way of feeling, hearing, or seeing things.

In medical use, professionals provide ketamine therapy or ketamine infusions in low doses (0. 5 mg/kg) in controlled clinical settings. The providers make sure you receive the appropriate dosage so that the potential side effects can be managed. The purpose is to relieve symptoms associated with anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions by changing the entire brain chemistry and avoiding a "high" feeling.

Why Do Some People Feel “High” During Ketamine Therapy?

In therapeutic settings, some individuals may still experience mild, short-lived sensations resembling a “high.” This happens because of ketamine’s unique effects on the brain, even at low doses. Those effects include: 

• Dissociation: Cause a feeling of disconnection from your body or surroundings that leads to a "dream-like" experience.

• Euphoria: Might cause mild euphoria (intense feeling of happiness or excitement).

• Altered Perception: Changes sensory perceptions like auditory and visual distortions that might feel unreal or intoxicating.

• Increased Dopamine Levels: May stimulate dopamine, the "feel-good" hormones, causing feelings of pleasure or satisfaction.

Note: All these feelings are short-lived (temporary) and usually last for around 40 minutes to 1 hour in a therapeutic setting. In recreational use, all these sensations are often looked after in taking the drug. However, in medical use, the healthcare providers closely monitor them for therapeutic benefit, preventing achieving a "high" feeling.

What Does a Ketamine Infusion "High" Feel Like?

This is how the "high" sensation feels like:

• Out-of-Body Sensation: Feeling detached from your body that is often reported as floating or seeing yourself from a distance.

• Distorted Reality: Change in perception of environment, time, and place, making everything look unreal or like a dream.

• Increased Euphoria: Feeling of extreme happiness, excitement, or well-being that often comes with lightness or relaxation.

• Changed Thinking: Mental "blurriness" or deep self-analysis, where your thoughts might feel deep or disconnected.

Though these effects offer a pleasurable feeling, in a medical setting, the purpose is to provide mental health support and not to achieve a"high" feeling.

How Long Do Ketamine Therapy Effects Last?

The ketamine typically shows its antidepressant effects within 40 minutes which lasts for 3-7 days when used in a medical setting. During this duration, you may feel mild euphoria, dissociation, and altered perception which tend to peak in 10-20 minutes after the first dose administration. These effects slowly subsides as the body processes and eliminates the drug.

Though the immediate effects of ketamine are short, some individuals might experience long-lasting improvements in their mood or reduced symptoms of anxiety or depression that persist for some days or weeks. However, the long-lasting effects can vary on a person and the frequency of sessions. 

Therapeutic vs. Recreational Ketamine Use: Key Differences

This table highlights the difference between recreational and therapeutic ketamine use based on the purpose, effects, and safety of use.

Is Ketamine Therapy Safe?

According to one study, ketamine therapy is considered safe when given by a certified medical professional in a clinical setting. However, the exact safety is determined by the proper screening, appropriate doses, and persistent monitoring. Moreover, it is not an ideal option for everyone as it can raise the risk of further complications. 

Who Should Avoid Ketamine Therapy?

Ketamine therapy is not considered suitable for individuals having:

• Uncontrolled heart disease or blood pressure levels

• Uncontrolled hyperthyroidism (excessive thyroid hormone)

• Bipolar disorder or schizophrenia in the manic phase

You can read our detailed guide Who Is Not A Good Candidate For Ketamine Therapy for a better understanding.

Potential Side Effects of Ketamine Therapy

If you are undergoing ketamine treatment, you may experience these side effects:

Short-Term Side Effects

Resolves in some minutes or hours after the therapy and include:

• Dizziness or lightheadedness

• Nausea or vomiting

• Increased heart rate

• Inconsistent breathing

• High blood pressure

• Dissociation or feelings of detachment from the body

• Auditory or visual distortions

• Confusion or memory impairment

• Sedation or drowsiness

• Hallucinations & flashbacks

• Insomnia

• Facial or throat swelling

Long-Term Side Effects

These side effects occur with high-dose or frequent use and need immediate medical attention:

• Urinary tract problems such as frequent urination or bladder pain

• Cognitive impairments like attention or memory issues

• Addiction or psychological cravings

• Mood disturbances

• Anxiety due to chronic use

• Liver damage (in very rare cases)

If you experience any symptoms or find them bothersome, immediately seek medical help. Call 911 (an emergency number) in case of severe symptoms or 800-222-1222 (Poison Control Center number) in an overdosing case. 

The Tragic Connection: Ketamine and Matthew Perry

• According to the County of Los Angeles medical examiners, the death of Matthew Perry on October 28, 2023, was because of the “acute effects of ketamine”.

• Other contributing factors to death include drowning, coronary artery disease, and buprenorphine effects (was consumed for opioid use disorder). The manner of death was accidental.  

• The examiners found that the quantity of ketamine used by him was similar to the prescribed dose.

• They reported that ketamine caused cardiovascular “overstimulation and respiratory depression".

This underscores the fact that even at therapeutic doses, ketamine can have serious effects, such as cardiovascular overstimulation or respiratory depression. So, it shows the importance of proper medical supervision. Ketamine therapy, when done correctly, remains safe and effective for mental health but should never be self-administered or misused.

Bottom Line

So, does ketamine therapy get you high? Well, ketamine therapy can indeed get you "high" when used in high doses. But in medical use where the healthcare providers administer the drug slowly and in controlled doses in a clinical setting, the aim is to relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety and promote healing. The providers closely monitor side effects such as mild hallucinations, nausea, vomiting, high heart rate, and inconsistent breathing which subside after some minutes or an hour.

So, when used correctly and under medical supervision, ketamine therapy can be an effective and safe treatment for mental health issues.

Read Also Is Ketamine Addictive: Symtpoms, Works And Side Effects