Long-Term Effects of Ketamine Use

Ketamine use has become a growing concern in the UK, especially when it comes to long-term use. While an estimated 264,000 people were using ketamine between 2024 and 2025, treatment data tells a more concerning story. Between March 2015 and March 2025, the number of people seeking help for ketamine use disorders increased twelvefold.

This sharp rise suggests a growing pattern of chronic use, making it important to understand the long-term effects of ketamine use. In many cases, these effects develop gradually and can be overlooked until long-lasting damage has already set in.

What are the long-term effects of ketamine use?

Long-term ketamine use can place significant strain on both the body and mind. The following section looks at some of these effects, with the aim of helping you recognise potential warning signs and understand when support may be needed.

Urinary tract damage (Ketamine bladder)

Chronic ketamine abuse can cause severe bladder inflammation known as cystitis and lower urinary tract problems. This is not just one of those rare complications we sometimes hear about with other substances, either. Studies estimate that at least 26-30% of regular users report some form of symptoms related to their bladder.

Symptoms can include painful and frequent urination, along with bleeding and pelvic pain. This happens because chronic ketamine use can shrink the bladder dramatically. One UK user described how his bladder was a fifth of the size it should be, leaving him in “extreme agony” and dependent on the toilet.

He said quitting became almost impossible because using ketamine to relieve the pain only worsened the condition.

Without stopping use, long-term damage can become irreversible, with doctors stating that surgical procedures and even bladder removal may become a possibility.

Research shows that recovery from bladder issues is much more likely if ketamine use is stopped early, showing just how important overcoming a ketamine addiction is.

Kidney and liver harm

It is not just the bladder that is harmed by ketamine metabolites; the liver and kidneys are also damaged. Case reports show chronic use causing hydronephrosis, which is when the kidneys swell from back pressure and even chronic kidney disease.

The same report also stated that a young woman with years of heavy use developed severe renal failure requiring continual stenting of her ureters.

Biopsy studies found that nearly 10% of long-term ketamine users had liver injuries such as bile duct dilation and even early fibrosis.

When these organs are damaged by ketamine, worrying symptoms start to emerge. One man reported losing so much weight that he was down to seven stone, due to his kidneys and liver showing signs of long-term damage.

Cognitive issues

Repeated ketamine use also takes a huge toll on thinking and overall memory. Research finds that heavy users tend to perform worse on memory tests, especially spatial memory and executive functions like planning or attention.

Neuroimaging backs these claims up by showing reduced grey and white matter and connectivity in memory-related brain areas.

This means that if you take ketamine frequently, you may notice symptoms like:

• Chronic brain fog
• Forgetfulness
• Difficulty learning new information
• Difficulty concentrating

Psychological effects

Long-term ketamine abuse also has a history of triggering or worsening mental health problems. Chronic users can develop mood disturbances, like depression or anxiety, along with psychotic-like or dissociative symptoms.

Studies on long-term ketamine abuse show that these psychotic symptoms can be in the form of paranoia and hallucinations reminiscent of schizophrenia.

This goes to show that chronic ketamine use can undermine mood stability and contribute to long-term distress.

Dependence and withdrawal challenges

Ketamine is not as physically addictive as substances like heroin but it is psychologically addictive. This means that when long-term ketamine users try to quit, they may experience psychological withdrawal symptoms like:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Cravings
• Poor sleep
• A deep sense of dread

Unfortunately, those who experience pain from ketamine use may struggle to stop using it as it acts as a temporary pain reliever, as we heard from earlier accounts. This causes many people to cycle in and out of use and the longer this cycle continues, the more difficult it can become to stop using ketamine.

Why long-term ketamine damage is easily missed

One of the biggest risks with long-term ketamine use is that the damage does not always feel dramatic at first. Early symptoms can be subtle and easy to explain away.

For example, bladder discomfort may start as needing to use the toilet more often than usual, and disrupted sleep can be blamed on a stressful lifestyle. Changes in memory or mood are a little harder to cover up, but they usually develop gradually rather than suddenly.

Because ketamine can temporarily dull physical pain and emotional distress, it can also mask the very symptoms it is contributing to. This creates a situation where people continue using ketamine to cope with problems that the drug itself is slowly worsening.

Another challenge is that many long-term effects develop slowly over months or years. By the time symptoms become severe enough to demand attention, significant damage may already be present. This is particularly true for urinary tract harm, cognitive changes, organ damage and psychological symptoms that slowly change your day-to-day function.

Recognising these early warning signs matters, and the sooner ketamine use is addressed, the greater the chance of preventing lasting harm. It also puts you in a position to reduce the risk of irreversible physical or psychological damage.

What to do if you experience long-term ketamine abuse effects

If you have been using ketamine long-term and are starting to notice any of these symptoms, it is important to reach out for medical support.

If you are experiencing severe pain when urinating, blood in your urine, loss of bladder control or any other ongoing physical pain, this should be treated as a medical emergency. In the UK, the quickest way to get help is by calling 999 or 111 for urgent medical advice.

The same applies to dissociative symptoms such as hallucinations or paranoia, as well as low mood or depressive symptoms that begin to include thoughts of suicide or self-harm. These situations also require immediate medical attention.

If you’re not experiencing urgent symptoms but are a long-term user of ketamine, the next step is to reach out for ketamine addiction support.

Where can I find support for ketamine addiction?

If you’ve been using ketamine long-term or have recently started and are finding it hard to stop, the next step is to reach out for professional ketamine addiction treatment.

At EATA, we can talk you through all your options and the best programme to battle ketamine addiction. Contact us today, one of our team members will be happy to walk you through the next steps, based on your situation.