The Duration of Ketamine in the Body and Detection Windows
In the world of psychedelic or “club drugs,” many of the abused substances are known for having a particularly long-acting intoxication period.
Drugs like LSD and MDMA, for example, are known to impact the user for up to 16 and 8 hours, respectively. Of course, like other substances, this is dependent on the amount and potency of the dose ingested.
One drug, however, that’s been on the rise in popularity recently, but certainly isn’t new to the scene, has a particularly short period of activity. Those who use ketamine stay high for around 1-2 hours, depending on the amount of ketamine use that takes place.
Because of the steadily increasing usage rates, many state, county, and occupational drug tests now detect ketamine.
This leaves many ravers and party-goers with the question, “How long does ketamine stay in your system?” The answer might surprise you.
In this resource from Purpose Healing Center, you’ll learn how long ketamine can stay in your system, which drug tests detect ketamine, and what to do if you or someone you love suffers from ketamine abuse or addiction.
How Long Does Ketamine Stay In Your System On Average?
If you’re wondering how long ketamine stays in your system for drug tests, you should know that many dynamics impact the answer to this question. There are actually two sides to this topic.
So, how long does ketamine stay in your system on average? If you’re simply wondering how long it takes the body to expel ketamine to eliminate the intoxicating effects completely, the answer lies in the half-life. Ketamine has a half-life of around 3 hours.
This means it takes about 10 hours for the body to completely rid itself, allowing you to recover from ALL of the potentially intoxicating side effects.
What Does the Half-Life of a Drug Mean?
Half-life is the scientific term used to describe how long a substance remains in your system. The term half-life is used because the amount is measured by halves regarding the amount left in the body. For example, it takes 2.5 hours for the body to eliminate half of the amount of ketamine.
The second half takes longer, as your body must slowly metabolize and process the drug before it’s expelled. After another 2.5 hours, half of the latter half is eliminated, leaving a quarter of the drug in your body. In total, it takes about 4 to 5 times half-life elimination for the entirety of the drug to leave the body—or around 10 hours.
Although the brunt of the high—as mentioned above—only lasts around 2 hours, fringe effects can linger for 8 to 10. Despite the low half-life, ketamine can still show up on blood tests or a urine test for a significant period.
How Long Does Ketamine Show Up On a Drug Test?
Ketamine is a form of drug that stays in the system in a lingering way and has the potential to show up on a drug test long after your body has expelled the substance or the intoxication period is over.
Ketamine metabolites left behind by the drug are still detectable through a blood test or urine.
Even though ketamine is technically expelled after 10 hours, there are still traces left behind that are picked up through various means of testing. In addition, high doses can be picked up for longer periods.
If you suffer from ketamine addiction and use it habitually, the length of time is extended even further. The following list provides an average example of detection times for drug tests to identify ketamine use:
- Saliva test: 1 day
- Blood ketamine drug testing: 1 to 4 days
- Ketamine urine tests: 2 weeks
- Hair test: 1 month-plus
What Impacts Ketamine Detection Times? 7 Factors
Several factors influence the length of ketamine hydrochloride metabolites that are detectable in the body. If you engage in ketamine use, the following list provides an accurate measure of factors that influence drug test results:
1) How Much Ketamine You Take
The most important factor is likely the amount of ketamine or duration of ketamine abuse. Someone who uses one ketamine dose and ceases has a much better chance of passing a drug test within 1 to 2 weeks time as opposed to someone who ingests multiple doses in a short period.
2) Length of Ketamine Abuse
The longer the period of ketamine abuse, the longer the drug is detectable during testing. Continuous use of ketamine not only puts you at risk of suffering from ketamine withdrawal symptoms but also greatly increases the concentration of the metabolites in the body.
The average testing times from the previous section are likely to increase substantially if you abuse ketamine regularly.
3) Method of Ingestion
The route of administration impacts the chances of detecting ketamine longer than the average period. Intravenous injection, ketamine nasal spray, and other means of use all vary in regard to the overall detection period.
4) Levels of Hydration
If you’re adequately hydrated the majority of the time, you’re much more likely to pass urine tests faster than someone who is dehydrated. Staying hydrated increases the metabolism and keeps the kidneys active, allowing the body to eliminate metabolites much faster.
5) General Health Status
Did you know that your general health plays a huge role in the detection period? Things like your body mass, existence of high blood pressure, the condition of your kidneys, and other elements factor into the equation.
6) The Purity of Ketamine Being Used
The level of purity also matters with regard to metabolite detection. For example, someone who uses ketamine medical treatment as a form of treatment for pain relief is likely ingesting a much purer form than street ketamine, which has a high chance of containing adulterants and cutting agents.
It’s worth noting that if you’re on probation and subject to random drug tests, ketamine medical use may not be an excuse to fail your drug test, especially if you have not told your PO prior to testing.
7) The Abuse of Other Drugs
If you abuse other drugs in addition to ketamine, expulsion times may vary. Other drugs play a role in the body’s metabolism, and the presence of additional substances can significantly increase the detection time.
If you’re receiving ketamine addiction treatment, it’s important to be honest with your counselor if you have any other drug addiction issues.
Can Ketamine Be Used for Physical and Mental Health?
Although ketamine has been approved for medicinal use through the care of trained specialists in some states, it doesn’t eliminate the fact that it’s still a dangerous drug according to medical professionals at large as well as the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration).
Remember, plenty of prescriptions (oxycodone, fentanyl, and amphetamines are some core examples) are legal but still cause crippling addictions if misused.
Ketamine is used for treatment-resistant depression and other mental health disorders.
Despite the fact that you’re under the care of a specialist, ingestion of ketamine, even in small doses, can cause high blood pressure and intoxicating effects. Even long-term use in small doses can lead to intense cravings after a certain period.
Why Would I Be Required to Take a Drug Test for Ketamine?
There are several examples of when detection for ketamine is required. For example, if you’re on probation on parole, you could be responsible for submitting random drug tests.
In addition, certain jobs may also test for ketamine during the pre-employment screening or if you’re requesting worker’s compensation.
Certain jurisdictions test for ketamine if you’re suspected of driving under the influence of drugs. Finally, if you’re entering an addiction treatment program, you might be required to submit a urine or blood sample to test the levels of the drug in your system before entering.
Seeking Treatment for Ketamine Abuse or Addiction
Ketamine use disorders are often a severely underserved component of most drug rehab programs. Because it falls under the designation of a party or club drug, many aren’t aware of the dangers of long-term ketamine abuse.
After repeated use, ketamine is known to cause a strong psychological dependence and can cause symptoms of disassociation and other mental health disorders.
In addition, ketamine is also known as one of the only psychedelic drugs that can potentially cause physical dependence, leading to withdrawal after extended periods of abuse.
Getting Proven Programs to Treat Ketamine Use Disorders
At Purpose Healing Center, we take ketamine use disorder seriously and have a team of experts who bring decades of combined experience in battling ketamine addiction.
We offer a full range of treatment options for those suffering from the grips of ketamine abuse, and with the help of our staff and a strong support system, a full recovery and return to a normal life is possible.
If you or someone you love is struggling with ketamine use, please contact a member of our admissions team today for a confidential consultation and to get our support.
480-579-3319