Is Ketamine Classified as an Opioid?
We are questioned quite frequently, “Is ketamine an opioid?” Both types of drugs can be prescribed for pain management and work by attaching to specific brain receptors. However, they have quite a few differences, including addiction risk, their primary effects, and how they work in the brain.
Table of contents
» Why Do Some People Confuse Ketamine With Opioids?
» Can Ketamine Be Addictive Like Opioids?
» What Are the Effects of Ketamine Use?
» What Happens When Ketamine Is Combined With Opioids?
» Key Takeaways on Is Ketamine an Opioid
» Resources
Why Do Some People Confuse Ketamine With Opioids?
Many times, people think that ketamine and opioids are the same because they both provide pain relief and a feeling of euphoria. While that is true, they have several key differences that are worth noting.
What Is Ketamine?
Ketamine is a drug that is U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for use as an anesthetic for both humans and animals during surgery. It is also FDA-approved as a therapy for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder. The drug is also prescribed off-label for chronic pain, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance use disorders.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), ketamine is considered a Schedule III drug that has a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. Other drugs listed in Schedule III include medications with codeine and anabolic steroids.
However, that does not mean that ketamine is not abused. A study published in the journal International Journal of Drug Policy found that recreational ketamine use in New York City nightclubs increased by 36.7% from 2017 to 2024.
Common street names for ketamine include:
- Cat tranquilizer
- Cat valium
- Green K
- Kit kat
- Special K
- Super acid
- Super K
- Vitamin K
What Are Opioids?
Opioids are a type of drug that can be made in three different ways:
- Naturally, from the opium poppy plant, such as codeine and morphine.
- Synthetically made in a lab, such as fentanyl and tramadol.
- Semi-synthetic with a combo of natural and lab-made elements, such as oxycodone and heroin.
Currently, opioids are approved by the U.S. FDA for the management of severe pain, such as from surgery or cancer-related pain. Opioids are also prescribed off-label for cough suppression, diarrhea, and shortness of breath, medically known as dyspnea.
All types of opioids, regardless of how they are made, land on either Schedule I or II of the U.S. DEA’s drug schedule. Heroin is a Schedule 1 opioid drug, for which there is currently no accepted medical use. Other opioids, such as fentanyl and oxycodone, are Schedule II drugs, which have a high potential for abuse.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 8.9 million people ages 12 and older misused opioids in 2023.
And more people are overdosing on opioids than ever before — the National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that deaths from opioid use increased from 49,860 in 2019 to 81,806 in 2022.
Some common street names for prescription opioids include:
- Codeine: Cody, Captain Cody, Sizzurp,
- Fentanyl: Apache, China White, Dance Fever, Tango and Cash
- Hydrocodone: Vike
- Oxycodone: O.C., Oxy, Hillbilly Heroin
- Morphine: M, Monkey, Miss Emma
Can Ketamine Be Addictive Like Opioids?
People who wonder “Is ketamine an opioid?” may assume both drugs have the same addiction risk. While you can become addicted to ketamine, its addiction potential is considered lower than that of opioids. Much of the addiction difference has to do with how each drug impacts the brain.
What Makes Opioids Addictive?
Opioids connect to special proteins in the brain called opioid receptors. When activated, these receptors help to block pain signals in the body. Additionally, it triggers the release of a neurotransmitter called dopamine. Known as the “feel-good” chemical, dopamine helps regulate our mood and is naturally released as part of the brain’s “reward center” when we do something that feels good.
Constant opioid use can change how the brain’s “reward center” functions, making you dependent upon the drug to feel any pleasure.
In addition to its impact on the brain, opioid use disorder can increase your risk for physical health conditions such as:
- Cognitive impairment
- Constipation
- Heart issues
- Hormonal disruption in the body
- Kidney problems
- Liver damage
- Respiratory issues
- Weakened immune system
And opioid withdrawal symptoms can sometimes be very severe, making it harder for a person to stop using them. Potential withdrawal symptoms include:
- Anxiety
- Body tremors
- Diarrhea
- Dilated pupils
- Hot and cold flashes
- Irritability
- Lack of appetite
- Muscle aches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sleeping issues
- Sweating
How Addictive Is Ketamine?
Is ketamine an opioid? No, although ketamine is considered less physically addictive than opioids, it is possible to become psychologically dependent upon the drug. Frequent use of ketamine allows the brain to build up a tolerance to it, causing higher doses to be required, which can lead to addiction.
Ketamine has a different effect on the brain when compared to opioids. Ketamine mainly impacts the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the brain. These receptors play a crucial role in learning and memory, as well as in the perception of pain throughout the body.
While ketamine can also impact the brain’s “reward center” like opioids do, it does so differently, which helps make it less physically addictive than opioids.
However, ketamine addiction can cause long-term health issues such as:
- Bladder dysfunction
- Breathing problems
- Cognitive impairment
- Heart issues
- Mood disorders
- Paralysis
- Urinary tract damage
Withdrawal from ketamine is normally less severe than that of opioids, but can still be uncomfortable. Common ketamine withdrawal symptoms include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Heart palpitations
- Mood changes
- Nausea
- Sweating
- Tiredness
What Are the Effects of Ketamine Use?
While ketamine may be used as an anesthetic or prescribed for pain relief, it is also used illegally and recreationally for its hallucinogenic and euphoric effects.
Ketamine’s short-term psychological effects include:
- Altered perception of time
- Calmness
- Decreased pain sensitivity
- Feeling of weightlessness and detachment from the body
- Hallucinations
- Happiness
- Relaxation
Ketamine can also cause a number of physical side effects, such as:
- Allergic reactions
- Breathing trouble
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Flu-like symptoms
- Higher or lower blood pressure
- Irregular heartbeat
- Motor coordination issues
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Yellow or brown urine
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What Happens When Ketamine Is Combined With Opioids?
Mixing ketamine and opioids has the potential for serious adverse effects, so they should never be taken without direct supervision from a mental health professional. However, in some cases, ketamine can actually be used to help with opioid withdrawal.
For example, ketamine is sometimes prescribed to help lower the amount of opioids a person would need for pain management, known as the opioid sparing effect. A study published in the journal The American Journal of Emergency Medicine found that the use of low-dose ketamine can help reduce the amount of opioids used in treating acute pain. And research in The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery reports using ketamine in a prehospital military setting for pain management was linked to a low, rather than medium, dose of opioids.
Ketamine has also been found to help reduce opioid tolerance. For example, a study published in the journal Biomolecules reports that ketamine may reduce fentanyl tolerance.
And research has also been examining how ketamine therapy may help with opioid withdrawal. Research published in the journal Biological Psychiatry says the use of ketamine as a possible treatment option for opioid use disorder, including help with withdrawal symptoms.
Key Takeaways on Is Ketamine an Opioid
- People frequently ask, “Is ketamine an opioid?” and the easy answer is no.
- Ketamine is sometimes confused with an opioid because they are both used for pain relief and provide a feeling of euphoria.
- Opioids are much more physically addictive than ketamine.
- It is possible to become psychologically dependent on ketamine, which can cause long-term health issues.
- Ketamine is being studied as a treatment option for opioid use disorder and to assist with opioid sparing effects.
Whether you are dealing with an addiction to ketamine or prescription medications like opioids, WhiteSands Treatment can help. Our prescription addiction treatment center in Florida will help you start your rehabilitation with medical detox, followed by inpatient or outpatient rehab, and a variety of support group options. And our professional and empathetic staff will guide you through your entire recovery journey, hand-in-hand.
If you or a loved one needs help with an addiction to ketamine or opioids, call WhiteSands Treatment today at 877-855-3470 to learn more about how we can help.
Resources
- U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) — Drug Scheduling
- International Journal of Drug Policy — Trends in ketamine use among nightclub attendees in New York City, 2017–2024
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) — Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health
- National Institute on Drug Abuse — Drug Overdose Deaths: Facts and Figures
- The American Journal of Emergency Medicine — Low-dose ketamine for acute pain: A narrative review
- The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery — Opioid sparing effect of ketamine in military prehospital pain management—A retrospective study
- Biomolecules — Ketamine Improves Desensitization of µ-Opioid Receptors Induced by Repeated Treatment with Fentanyl but Not with Morphine
- Biological Psychiatry — Ketamine and Hydroxynorketamine as Novel Pharmacotherapies for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorders
If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.
About the Author
Jackie has been involved in the substance abuse and addiction treatment sector for over five years and this is something that she is truly eager about. She has a passion for writing and continuously works to create informative pieces that not only educate and inform the public about the disease of addiction but also provide solutions for those who struggle with drug and alcohol abuse.
