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Intensive ketamine use for multiple years: A case report.

James X. Liu, Erin Zerbo, Stephen Ross

American Journal on Addictions 2015 DOI: 10.1111/ajad.12153 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Case study Case report Peer reviewed
Sample size 1
Population A patient with bipolar I disorder and extensive substance dependence
Intervention Ketamine
Dose 1-3 g daily
Duration 5 years of daily use
Topics Esketamine Ketamine
Keywords Ketamine recovery Ketamine rehabilitation Ketamine healing Ketamine remission Ketamine treatment success Substance abuse recovery Addiction recovery Drug abuse rehabilitation Substance dependence healing Human resilience Body's resilience Recovery potential Biological resilience Physical resilience Long-term ketamine effects Chronic ketamine impact
Citations 17
Key findings A patient who used large daily doses of ketamine for five years reported acute antidepressant effects and reduced alcohol cravings, and experienced no withdrawal or cognitive deficits upon cessation.

Abstract

Ketamine is known within the medical field for its anesthetic properties, yet its unique psychedelic and antidepressant properties are being increasingly recognized. We document the case of a patient with bipolar I disorder and an extensive history of substance dependence who used large doses of ketamine (1-3 g) on a daily basis over a period of 5 years, and described acute antidepressant effects as well as diminished cravings for alcohol. While his use was untenable and ultimately led to an inpatient admission, it is notable that he did not experience a withdrawal syndrome nor did he have any observable cognitive deficits upon cessation of use. Such a unique drug profile suggests that further exploration of its risks and therapeutic potential in treating mood and addiction disorders is warranted.

Comparable studies

Other case reports and case series on ketamine, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
The destruction of the lower urinary tract by ketamine abuse: a new syndrome? Young recreational abusers of street-ketamine in Hong Kong referred to urology units 2008 Retrospective case series n = 59
Electroconvulsive Therapy, Ketamine, and Esketamine in a Patient with Major Depressive Disorder and Multiple Comorbidities: A Case Report over 10-year Treatment from Adolescence to Adulthood. A patient with treatment-resistant depression and comorbid generalized anxiety... 2025 Case report n = 1
Treatment of compulsive behaviour in eating disorders with intermittent ketamine infusions Chronic and treatment-resistant eating disorder patients 1998 Case series n = 15
Oral Administration of the NMDA Receptor Antagonist S-Ketamine as Add-On Therapy of Depression: A Case Series Four depressed patients taking standard antidepressants 2009 Case series n = 4
A longitudinal case series of IM ketamine for patients with severe and enduring eating disorders and comorbid treatment‐resistant depression Patients with enduring eating disorders and treatment-resistant depression 2021 Case series n = 4

Citations in the library

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Esketamine Ketamine Addiction