Ketamine is a prescription drug mainly used to initiate and maintain anesthesia. The drug provides pain relief and sedation, though medical professionals also use it to treat chronic ailments and depression. Ketamine has a low risk of adverse side effects compared to similar drugs, which is one of the primary reasons for its growing popularity.
The Food and Drug Administration [1] approved Ketamine for mainly anesthetic purposes in 1970. People caught on that its effects are similar to PCP, however. It tends to cause hallucinations and alter an individual’s perceptions, thoughts, and feelings.
Ketamine effectively changes the physical brain chemistry, which one reason it is reserved for use with prescriptions. It is commonly used as a date rape drug and some countries, like China, are calling for a worldwide ban. If you recently took Ketamine, here is everything you need to know about how it will impact your test.
How Long Is Ketamine Detectable in Urine?
How long does Ketamine stay in your urine? The “half-life” of Ketamine is between two-and-a-half to three hours for an adult. That means the concentration of Ketamine is fifty percent of its original dosage by that point in time. Consequently, Ketamine may take anywhere from sixteen to twenty-four hours to be flushed out of your system. We also recommend to avoid these foods before urine test.
Researchers at the Institute of Forensic Research [2] studied the passing rate of Ketamine in 2005. Their study examined the elimination of six children who were given an intravenous dose of Ketamine. During the days that followed, they were required to submit urine samples.
They discovered that the ease with which they could detect Ketamine depended on the detection method itself. The researchers learned the GC-MS-NCI technique found Ketamine up to two days later while LC-MS-APCI measured positive results for up to eleven days. Researchers also discovered norKetamine—an active metabolite in Ketamine—using those same methods at six and fourteen days, respectively.
While this article focuses on Ketamine urine tests, it is worth mentioning its parameters for other types of urine tests. In both urine and saliva, Ketamine will last for up to a week while in hair it lingers for up to ninety days. It is unknown how long this substance remains in the blood, but it can usually be detected within one hour after use.
Many 10-panel drug tests do not test for Ketamine. The rate of use is relatively low compared to amphetamines, marijuana, and alcohol, for example. Also, while the properties of Ketamine and PCP are similar, it is not possible to garner a false positive for PCP if you have ingested Ketamine.
How Does the Body Metabolize Ketamine?
The liver is the location for processing Ketamine. Approximately ninety percent of the Ketamine is ultimately excreted through the urine, however, with the remnant passing through feces. Only about three percent of the Ketamine remains completely intact, which makes it almost impossible to detect in standard urine samples.
Norketamine and Dehydronorketamine are two of the primary metabolites of Ketamine. These metabolites both have shorter half-lives than Ketamine, which means they are cleansed from the body more quickly. The most prolonged half-lives medical professionals have observed for these metabolites is five hours and seven hours, respectively.
Other Factors To Consider
The rate at which the body flushes the Ketamine varies greatly from person to person. Influential factors include dosage, frequency of use, health, metabolism, genetics, lifestyle, and age.
In general, younger, more active individuals will process Ketamine and other drugs more quickly. These types of people have a higher metabolism, which is conducive to breaking down the Ketamine before it is expelled. Similarly, people that use small and less frequent doses of Ketamine are less likely to test positive.
Whether a laboratory detects Ketamine can also depend on the parameters that have been set. Some toxicology labs currently set the Ketamine limit at thirty nanograms per milliliter.
Ketamine Urine Tests
If you think you might fail a Ketamine urine test, you can always purchase a homemade kit to make sure. The strips come with a 99 percent reliability rating and a cut-off of 1,000 nanograms per milliliter. You will know the result of your test in five minutes or less.
People that use Ketamine may opt for a detox instead. The best way to detox is to abstain from all drugs, perform vigorous exercise, and eat healthily. A full body detox kit can complement the hard work you are doing with herbal supplements designed to flush unwanted toxins out of the system.
Most people opt for synthetic urine products to replace the real pee sample. Quick Fix Plus and UPass are two of the industry leaders. Their products are easily mistakable for real pee, as the liquid mimics every aspect, including the pH levels and the proteins.
Perhaps, one of the best options is to abstain from using Ketamine in the time leading up to the urine test. Ketamine has a relatively short life span, which means it will flush out of your system rapidly.
Substance Abuse Resources
Long term use of Ketamine can alter the state of someone’s brain chemistry and lead to numbness, disorientation, and hallucinations. It can also elicit unhealthy signs like increased blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature.
If you or a loved one is currently using non-prescription Ketamine, consider contacting the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) [3]. They can put you in touch with treatment facilities in your area, protecting your privacy by keeping your personal information anonymous.
Resources
1. The Food and Drug Administration https://www.fda.gov/home
2. Metabolism and metabolomics of ketamine https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30483613
3. SAMHSA https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/
