Ketamine, more commonly referred to as “Special K” among recreational users, is a very popular drug in the club and party scene. This is because of its hallucinogenic and dissociative properties. Despite the fact that many people believe that it is “safe”, there are some very real dangers associated with ketamine abuse.

The most obvious of these, overdose, has long been linked with death due to heart failure or stopped breathing. Recent research suggests that there may be another result of ketamine overdose, that being brain damage.

The Relationship Between Dose and Effect

Ketamine overdose can cause vision impairment and memory loss.

In order to understand how ketamine overdose may cause brain damage, it is first necessary to understand the correlation between the dose of ketamine used and its effects. Ketamine is a dose specific drug. This means that the larger a dose you take, the more extreme the results. It therefore follows that overdose leads to the most extreme effects.

Prolonged or frequent use also increases certain effects of ketamine in the brain, making an overdose especially detrimental. Seeking treatment for ketamine abuse is the only way to ensure you do not overdose.

Brain Lesions and the Reduction of Brain Matter

According to the National Library of Medicine, a study involving MRI scans revealed that prolonged ketamine use, or high dosages of ketamine use showed very clear evidence of legions across all major portions of the brain. These lesions damage the brain’s ability to function, resulting in a loss of brain matter. Some of the consequences of this may include:

• Loss of motor function
• Vision impairment
• Memory loss
• Mood or personality challenges

To avoid these consequences of lesions associated with ketamine overdose, get treatment now by calling 800-915-1270 (Who Answers?).

Understanding the Effects of Ketamine on the Brain

Oxygen Deprivation Dementia

According to New York University, ketamine is a powerful depressant, particularly when taken at higher doses, such as an overdose. Depressants greatly reduce breathing rate and is disastrous without proper medical monitoring. Even if you should survive, there is a high risk of oxygen deprivation dementia, or ODD. This is a form progressive brain disease, similar to Alzheimer’s, that results from a lack of oxygen in brain tissues. Symptoms include:

• Incontinence
• Memory loss
• Muscle tremors and poor motor control
• Confusion
• Impaired thinking

As bad as these symptoms are, you should know they continue to worsen over time, resulting in death. Preventing ketamine overdose through treatment can help reduce the risk of developing this disease.

Prevention Through Treatment

Regardless of the cause, brain damage is nearly always irreversible. The best way to escape brain injury is to not damage the brain in, the first place. While this is not always possible, you absolutely can avoid brain damage from ketamine overdose.

To do this, you must seek ketamine abuse treatment before you overdose. Simply call 800-915-1270 (Who Answers?) and learn more about your treatment options. They can give you all of the information that you need to make an informed decision and get the help that will prevent brain damage from ketamine overdose.