Increasing nonmedical use of ketamine has brought with it a dramatic increase in patient complications, including ketamine use disorders, uropathy, and rare but life-threatening infection of the bile ducts, according to a new study in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.Why It’s Relevant
While ketamine is widely used in anesthesia and acute pain management as well as off-label to treat depression, its non-medical use is increasing worldwide. However, comprehensive characterization of affected patients as well as ketamine’s associated complications is limited.
By the Numbers
- Researchers identified 411 ketamine-related complications reported by health care professionals in France to the French Addictovigilance Network from 2019 through 2023.
- Ketamine-related complications increased 16-fold, from 13 cases in 2019 to 214 in 2023. The most frequent complications were substance use disorders (33% of cases), psychiatric disorders (30%), and neurological disorders (23%), such as seizures, abnormal movements, or paresthesia.
- About 9% of patients experienced urinary tract or kidney disorders caused by ketamine use, and several required surgical treatments, including cystectomy and bladder reconstruction; 2% had biliary disorders.
- About 60% of reported complications were serious; 40% involved an emergency visit and 5% an admission to intensive care.
- The median age of those affected was 23 years, with nearly one in 10 patients under 18. 38% of patients were daily ketamine users, and most had used ketamine nonmedically for at least one year. About half of patients used ketamine in combination with cannabis or cocaine.
What’s More
“Ketamine use was frequently reported in self-medication contexts, as well as within chemsex practices—for example, use of psychoactive drugs to facilitate and/or to enhance sexual intercourse, and not only for recreational purposes,” the researchers noted.
The Other Side
The study’s main limitation was underreporting and lack of population-level denominators, making it impossible to estimate the prevalence of complications related to non-medical use of ketamine, the researchers wrote.
Takeaway Message
“Strengthening prevention and clinician awareness are essential to mitigate the growing public health impact of ketamine misuse,” the researchers wrote.
Related Information
Source
Tiphaine Raingeard, et al. Health risks associated with non-medical use of ketamine in France: national surveillance insights from the French Addictovigilance Network, 2019–2023. Journal of Psychopharmacology. Published February 23, 2026. doi: doi.org/10.1177/02698811261420018
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