Ketamine Use in Self-Described Therapeutic Contexts: A Thematic Analysis of Reddit Posts
J. Richard Kendrick, Ghonwa Ahmad, Audrey Wood, Samuel Stumo, Aarav Sehgal, Douglas B. Matthews, Pravesh Sharma
Behavioral Sciences March 24, 2026 DOI: 10.3390/bs16040480 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative content analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 500 |
| Population | Users of the r/TherapeuticKetamine subreddit |
| Topics | Addiction Ketamine Esketamine |
| Keywords | Thematic analysis Adverse effect Qualitative analysis Qualitative research Clinical psychology Content analysis |
| Key findings | Ketamine use outside clinical settings is characterized by high doses, frequent psychological adverse effects, and concurrent polydrug use, highlighting the need for clinical monitoring. |
Abstract
The use of ketamine for the management of neuropsychiatric conditions outside clinical settings has rapidly expanded, creating a critical need to understand diverse individual experiences. We conducted a qualitative content analysis of posts from the r/TherapeuticKetamine subreddit. From 3302 threads, the 500 highest-engagement threads (12,852 comments) were analyzed by independent coders across six domains: perceived positive effects, adverse effects, reasons for use, route of administration, polydrug use, and dose amounts. Mood-related concerns were the primary reason for use (53%). Users reported positive effects, most often improvements in emotional well-being (65%). Adverse effects were predominantly psychological or mood-related (56%). A total of 70% of reported doses exceeded 149 mg, suggesting a trend toward higher dose use. Intravenous administration (40%) and sublingual troches (23%) were the most frequently reported routes. Concurrent use of prescribed psychotropics, cannabis, and psychedelics was also reported. This analysis identified substantial heterogeneity in individual-reported experiences. Frequent high-dose use, dose escalation, and polydrug exposure underscores the importance of clinical monitoring and attention to addiction potential and drug-drug interactions. The findings should be interpreted with caution, as follow-up and clinical verification were not possible; however, the data provide an unfiltered view of individual experiences in relation to ketamine use outside the clinical setting.
In the evidence
This study is part of the evidence base for a synthesis in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.
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Ketamine use outside clinical settings was characterized by high doses, frequent psychological adverse effects, and concurrent polydrug use, highlighting the need for clinical monitoring.
Synthesized
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on ketamine, most cited first.