Is Ketamine Addictive? Understanding the Risks
Understand ketamine’s abuse, misuse, and dependence potential, additional at-home risks, and questions to discuss with your clinician.
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If you’re considering ketamine treatment, questions about addiction are reasonable and important. Discussing these concerns openly with your clinician is part of making an informed decision.
Can ketamine lead to addiction or dependence?
Yes. Ketamine has abuse, misuse, and dependence potential. It is a Schedule III controlled substance. Having a prescription or using ketamine under a clinician’s care does not eliminate these risks.
There is no basis for assuming that a compounded formulation or a lower dose is free from addiction risk.
Does medical supervision remove the risk?
No. Clinical evaluation, clear instructions, and follow-up appointments provide opportunities to assess risks and identify concerns, but they do not guarantee that misuse or dependence will not occur.
Tell your clinician about previous or current substance use, including alcohol, prescription medications, and recreational drugs. This information helps them assess whether treatment is appropriate.
What concerns should I discuss with my clinician?
Contact your clinician if you notice:
- Urges to use more medication or use it more frequently than prescribed.
- Taking extra doses without authorization.
- Difficulty controlling your use.
- Continuing to use despite unwanted effects or problems in daily life.
- Feeling that you need increasing amounts to achieve the same effect.
These concerns deserve medical attention and are not a reason to feel embarrassed. Your clinician can assess what is happening and discuss next steps.
What if the medication seems less effective?
Do not increase your dose or change your dosing schedule on your own. Contact your clinician to review your experience, side effects, and treatment plan.
If you are concerned about dependence or symptoms when reducing or stopping ketamine, ask your clinician for guidance.
Are there additional risks with at-home use?
Yes. At home, a healthcare professional is not onsite to monitor you or respond immediately to an adverse reaction. Virtual visits and follow-up support do not provide the same monitoring as an onsite healthcare team.
Ketamine can cause sedation, dissociation, impaired thinking or coordination, increased blood pressure, and slowed breathing. Other concerns include worsening psychiatric symptoms and urinary or bladder problems.
Discuss monitoring needs and an emergency plan with your clinician. Follow your prescribing instructions, never share your medication, and ask your pharmacist about secure storage and disposal.
Is compounded ketamine FDA-approved?
No. Compounded ketamine medications are not FDA-approved, and FDA has not reviewed them for safety, effectiveness, or quality before marketing.
Ketamine injection is FDA-approved for anesthesia. Ketamine is not FDA-approved to treat psychiatric disorders. Compounded ketamine is also different from the FDA-approved esketamine medication Spravato.
How does Bliss Mist Rx fit into my care?
Bliss Mist Rx LLC provides telehealth services. A licensed clinician evaluates whether treatment is appropriate; an appointment does not guarantee a prescription.
If prescribed, medication is dispensed by an independent, appropriately licensed compounding pharmacy. Bliss Mist Rx does not compound or manufacture medications.
Have concerns about your treatment?
We encourage you to discuss questions, side effects, or changes in your medication use with your clinician. Follow-up appointments are always free.
Book a Free Virtual Appointment or Follow-Up
For scheduling assistance, email help@blissmistrx.com. Email is not an emergency service. For a medical emergency, call 911.
This article provides general information and does not replace individualized medical advice.
Further reading: FDA information about compounded-drug risks and FDA compounding risk alerts.
