Online Ketamine Treatment Available in: AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, NY, OR, TX, and WA.
Online Ketamine Treatment Available in: AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, NY, OR, TX, and WA.
Ketamine Therapy Basics
May 1, 2022
March 17, 2025
TL;DR (Too Long; Didn't Read)
Ketamine therapy is not physically addictive when administered in a medical setting at prescribed doses. Unlike opioids, ketamine does not create physical dependence or withdrawal symptoms. However, psychological addiction can occur, especially with recreational use or uncontrolled self-administration. Under medical supervision, the risk of addiction is minimal.
When starting a new treatment, it’s natural to ask, "Is ketamine therapy addictive?" Many people worry about addiction due to the ongoing opioid crisis, but ketamine is fundamentally different from opioids in how it interacts with the brain.
The short answer:
Let’s break it down further by understanding the difference between physical and psychological addiction.
Some drugs alter brain chemistry in ways that cause physical dependence. This means that when a person stops taking the drug, their body experiences withdrawal symptoms.
✅ No. Ketamine does not act on dopamine receptors, the main pathway involved in addiction. Instead, ketamine works on NMDA receptors, which regulate glutamate, a neurotransmitter involved in learning and memory.
✅ Ketamine has been used safely for decades as an anesthetic for children, adults, and even animals. Studies confirm that ketamine does not cause opioid-like withdrawal symptoms.
🚨 Exception: Recreational ketamine use at high doses (often called “Special K”) can lead to tolerance and compulsive use, which may contribute to addiction in uncontrolled settings.
Unlike physical addiction, psychological addiction occurs when someone feels they need a substance to function, even if their body doesn’t depend on it.
🔹 Yes, but the risk is low when used medically. Any substance that alters mood or perception has the potential for psychological addiction.
🔹 Recreational ketamine users may develop a mental reliance on the drug's dissociative effects.
🔹 However, in a medical setting, ketamine is administered at subdissociative doses, meaning patients do not experience the hallucinogenic effects seen in recreational use.
At Isha Health, our trained professionals ensure that ketamine is administered in controlled, therapeutic settings, reducing the risk of psychological addiction.
The key differences between medical ketamine therapy and recreational ketamine use:
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<table class="ketamine-table">
<tr>
<th>Factor</th>
<th>Medical Ketamine Therapy</th>
<th>Recreational Ketamine Use</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Doses</strong></td>
<td>Low, subdissociative</td>
<td>High, dissociative</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Supervision</strong></td>
<td>Monitored by medical professionals</td>
<td>Unsupervised, self-dosed</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Frequency</strong></td>
<td>Controlled treatment schedule</td>
<td>Frequent, uncontrolled use</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Purpose</strong></td>
<td>Mental health treatment (e.g., depression, PTSD)</td>
<td>Recreational "high"</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Risk of Addiction</strong></td>
<td>Low</td>
<td>Higher due to tolerance buildup</td>
</tr>
</table>
Because of controlled dosing and professional oversight, addiction risk in medical ketamine therapy is much lower compared to uncontrolled recreational use.
At Isha Health, we follow strict protocols to ensure ketamine therapy is safe and effective:
✔ Low, controlled doses – No dissociation or euphoria-driven cravings.
✔ Professional monitoring – Doctors ensure proper dosing and mental well-being.
✔ Telehealth follow-ups – Continuous support reduces psychological dependence.
🔹 No. Unlike opioids, ketamine does not create physical dependence or withdrawal symptoms at prescribed doses.
🔹 In rare cases, some individuals may develop a psychological dependence on ketamine, but this is more common with recreational use rather than medical treatment.
🔹 No. Ketamine is administered under strict medical supervision in controlled doses, making addiction unlikely.
🔹 High-dose, recreational ketamine use can be habit-forming due to its dissociative effects. Medical ketamine therapy does not carry the same risks when taken responsibly.
🔹 Research suggests that controlled, intermittent ketamine therapy is safe for long-term treatment of depression, PTSD, and chronic pain.
In a medical setting, ketamine therapy is not physically addictive. While psychological addiction is a possibility, it is uncommon under professional supervision. If you have concerns about ketamine therapy, talk to a medical professional to see if it’s right for you.
💡 Interested in safe, effective ketamine therapy? Contact Isha Health to learn more about our approach to mental wellness.
Research on ketamine therapy pharmacology has revealed that many of the effects seen in higher doses are mostly absent in lower doses. Experiences regarding dissociation, or the feeling of being completely detached from reality, and hallucinations are rare in subdissociative doses.
Another aspect that separates medically prescribed ketamine from recreational ketamine is the frequency of doses. Recreational ketamine users may self-dose multiple times per day or for many days on end without taking a break. The combination of high doses taken at a high frequency make ketamine have a high risk of physical and psychological addiction.
Under your ISHA’s supervision, you will ingest a predetermined, consistent amount of ketamine on a controlled schedule with constant monitoring. We will walk you through the process from start to finish and continuing watching you through our telehealth system to ensure that you have as positive of an experience as possible.
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This website has been reviewed by Isha Health California, P.C. and should not be used as medical advice in place of a licensed psychiatric clinician.
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