27 Aug

Effects of Ketamine and Alcohol

Because the combination of the two substances can be highly hazardous, you should make sure you never mix any drugs with alcohol. This case is valid when consuming alcohol and ingesting ketamine due to the unpredictable but unwanted results when combined. Most often, ketamine can have dissociative effects, impairing a person’s awareness of how dangerous it can be to mix certain substances. ​​

What Is Ketamine

Ketamine, or special K, has been used as an anesthetic before procedures and surgeries since 1970 in human and veterinary medicine. The drug can cause people to lose consciousness and can be relaxing. Still, it’s only approved for use in hospitals and medical settings, which means that only trained medical professionals are allowed to administer it.

Ketamine’s structure is similar to that of PCP, a club drug, inducing a trance-like state in which people frequently disconnect from their bodies and surroundings. However, the combination of ketamine and alcohol can endanger the user’s health and be fatal in some cases. People can become highly fearful, anxious, paranoid, and experience changes in judgment and behavior that make them put themselves or others in danger. Ketamine short-time misuse can also result in psychosis, as well as respiratory problems and seizures. In addition, the drug can cause bladder and kidney problems, ongoing memory problems, and mental disorders like depression and anxiety in the long term.

Why Should You Never Mix Ketamine and Alcohol

Combining special K and alcohol puts you at real risk. When used without medical supervision, the drug has its own set of side effects and potential drawbacks. However, when you combine it with alcohol, which acts as a central nervous system depressant, things can quickly spiral out of control and become dangerous.

Both alcohol and ketamine affect various neurotransmitter systems in the body, leading to a boost in inhibitory brain signaling. In addition, ketamine has been shown in studies to produce alcohol-like effects in users, leading to overdose or over-intoxication. When you mix ketamine and alcohol, you dramatically increase your risk of slowed breathing, memory loss, coma, and even death. Unfortunately, users are likely to be unaware of the extent to which the combined substances affect them. 

Cognitive Side Effects of Mixing Ketamine and Alcohol

The combination’s adverse effects are difficult to predict because they differ on each consumer. However, according to studies, some side effects can include:

• bizarre thoughts and hallucinations
• delirium
• memory loss
• confusion
• rapid heartbeat
• heart palpitations
• eye and muscle movement
• slurred speech
• temporary paralysis
• elevated blood pressure
• slow or ‘stop and start’ breathing
• ‘flashbacks’ or visual disturbances

Ketamine and alcohol both affect cognition, and when combined, they can cause a swift decline in a person’s capacity to communicate or move properly. Some of its cognitive effects, such as loss of communication or movement, make it difficult to process exactly how much the pill affects you, increasing the likelihood of overdose. And because you are already unable to move or communicate, it is almost impossible to request assistance in this state. Other effects of the mix of ketamine and alcohol include the following health issues:

Slowing Down of Breathing

Both alcohol and ketamine can cause a dangerous slowing of breathing. In high enough doses, this can even cause a person to stop breathing. On the other hand, slow and shallow breathing causes disorientation, confusion, exhaustion, and it can also make a person pass out or faint. If you also vomit while unconscious, you increase your chances of choking and even coma or death.

Bladder Problems

Ketamine consumption is also associated with lower bladder issues such as hemorrhagic cystitis, which causes bladder inflammation. Bladder problems are some of the most common ketamine side effects – in fact, they are so common that they are known as ketamine bladder syndrome. The damage to the urinary tract can sometimes be permanent, with bladder issues that include:

• Urine incontinence
• Urgent and frequent urination
• Painful urination
• Pain in the lower abdomen
• Blood in urine

Effect on the Heart

Ketamine is known to cause various cardiovascular issues, and when combined with alcohol, the risk of heart problems skyrockets. The following are some of the effects of ketamine and alcohol on the heart: 

• Chest pain
• High blood pressure
• Rapid heart rate
• Palpitations

When used in high doses, the combination of alcohol with ketamine can cause cardiac arrest, heart attack, or stroke.

Other Risks

Aside from harming the central nervous system and the other risks discussed above, ketamine is associated with many other dangers, with K-hole being one of the most dangerous. K-hole is a condition many people claim to be an out-of-body experience. Some say they enjoy it, even comparing it to a spiritual and enlightening experience; however, it can be a terrifying encounter for many others. Furthermore, the comedown from K-holing is notoriously tricky, and in some cases, it may be accompanied by: 

• Nausea
• Depression
• Amnesia
• Aches and pains

In the long-term, consistent use of ketamine can lead to:

• Flashbacks
• Amnesia
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Trouble focusing and concentrating
• Withdrawal
• Increased tolerance and psychological dependence
• Kidney damage
• Bladder damage
• Heart attack, stroke, or other heart-related problems

MD Home Detox Can Help You

If you or a loved one uses ketamine and also enjoys drinking, never combine the two. However, if ketamine and alcohol abuse is already a problem in your life, do not allow it to worsen. Instead, get help for both misuses from the comfort of your own home with MD Home Detox. We have a team of professionals that can assist you throughout the cleanse and recovery periods and medics who can visit you at home every day, so contact us at 1 (888) 592-7931 to begin your journey towards a healthier and better life.