How Long Does Ketamine Stay in Your System?
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic used medically for sedation, pain relief, and treatment resistant depression. It can also be misused recreationally for its hallucinogenic and dissociative effects. Because ketamine acts quickly on the brain and body, many people want to know how long it stays in the system and how long it can be detected on a drug test.
On average, ketamine stays in your system for 2 to 4 days. However, some tests can detect ketamine for a much longer period depending on the type of test and individual factors.
Ketamine Detection Times by Test Type
Below are typical ketamine detection windows:
| Test Type | Detection Window |
|---|---|
| Urine | Up to 4 days |
| Blood | Up to 24 hours |
| Saliva | Up to 24 hours |
| Hair | Up to 90 days |
These are general averages. Heavy or frequent ketamine use may lead to longer detection times.
Ketamine Half Life
The half life of ketamine is approximately 2 to 4 hours. This means the body eliminates half of the drug within a few hours, but metabolites remain longer and may still be detectable.
Metabolites of ketamine include:
- Norketamine
- Dehydronorketamine
These metabolites are what urine tests typically detect.
Factors That Affect How Long Ketamine Stays in Your System
- Frequency of use: More frequent use increases detection time.
- Dosage: Higher doses take longer to clear.
- Age and health: Liver and kidney function impact metabolism.
- Body fat percentage: Dissociative drugs may linger longer in body fat.
- Hydration level: Hydration influences urine concentration.
How Long Does Ketamine Affect the Body?
Ketamine’s effects are fast acting. Most people feel the drug within minutes and return to baseline within a couple of hours. However, lingering after effects can last longer.
Average effects:
- Peak: 10 to 15 minutes (intranasal or IV)
- Duration: 1 to 2 hours
- After effects: Grogginess, confusion, or low mood for several hours
Risks of Misusing Ketamine
While ketamine has legitimate medical uses, recreational misuse can lead to short and long term health risks.
Potential risks include:
- Memory problems
- Bladder or urinary issues
- Confusion
- Anxiety or agitation
- Nausea
- Disorganized thinking
Signs of Ketamine Misuse
Ketamine misuse can be difficult to identify because its effects wear off quickly. However, repeated use often leads to noticeable patterns.
- Cognitive fog or difficulty focusing
- Frequent intoxication or dissociation
- Social withdrawal
- Lack of motivation
- Changes in bladder health
- Anxiety when not using
Treatment for Ketamine Misuse
If ketamine use is affecting your life, relationships, or functioning, support is available. The Heights Treatment in Houston provides structured outpatient programs for adults experiencing substance use or co occurring mental health concerns.
Our programs include:
- Psychiatric evaluation
- Medication management when appropriate
- CBT and DBT therapy
- Dual diagnosis treatment
- PHP and IOP programs
Additional internal resources:
Call The Heights Treatment at (832) 979 3625 or visit The Heights Treatment to schedule a confidential assessment.
Sources
- National Institute on Drug Abuse – Ketamine
- National Center for Biotechnology Information – Ketamine Pharmacology
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
