Recreational ketamine use can lead to irreversible bladder damage.
Daniel Eaton, Frank Kueppers
New Zealand Medical Journal April 12, 2024 DOI: 10.26635/6965.6357 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case series Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Young patients with severe bladder overactivity syndrome potentially caused by recreational ketamine use in New Zealand |
| Topics | Esketamine Ketamine |
| Keywords | Ketamine abuse Bladder damage Drug complications Urinary dysfunction Recreational drugs |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | Ketamine bladder syndrome, which can lead to irreversible bladder damage and may require surgical intervention, is being seen in young New Zealand patients, though local data had been absent. |
Abstract
An increasing number of young patients with severe bladder overactivity syndrome potentially caused by recreational ketamine use has been treated in our department. Ketamine has become a popular and increasingly used recreational drug in New Zealand. Ketamine bladder syndrome has been reported internationally; however, local New Zealand data do not exist. It can lead to irreversible damage to the bladder, and internationally, surgical procedures like cystectomy and urinary diversion or augmentation cystoplasty have been reported as necessary treatments.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on ketamine, most cited first.