What are the bladder problems caused by ketamine use?

Ketamine use can lead to bladder inflammation, pain, frequent urination, leakage, and in severe cases, permanent damage requiring bladder removal.

How does ketamine damage the bladder?

Ketamine by-products irritate and damage bladder tissue over time, causing inflammation, shrinkage, stiffness, and reduced bladder lining integrity.

Are ketamine-induced bladder problems reversible?

Early stages of ketamine bladder inflammation can be reversed by stopping use and with specific medical treatments, but advanced stages may cause permanent damage.

Home / Health / Ketamine Bladder Crisis: Young Adults Suffer Severe Damage

Ketamine Bladder Crisis: Young Adults Suffer Severe Damage

15 Jan

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Summary

Young adults in England and Wales see rising bladder inflammation from ketamine.
Severe ketamine use can lead to irreversible bladder and kidney damage.
Ketamine bladder damage progresses through stages, potentially requiring bladder removal.

Ketamine Bladder Crisis: Young Adults Suffer Severe Damage

Urology departments across England and Wales have reported a concerning rise in young adults, aged 16 to 24, admitted for bladder inflammation linked to ketamine use. This trend is paralleling a substantial increase in individuals, both teens and adults, seeking treatment for ketamine abuse in recent years. The drug's recreational use, acting as a dissociative hallucinogen, can lead to severe bladder issues.

Frequent and high-dose ketamine consumption is associated with serious damage to the bladder, urinary tract, and kidneys. This damage can manifest in symptoms such as pain, frequent urination, and blood in the urine, potentially becoming permanent. In severe instances, the bladder may require surgical removal. The damage progresses through stages, starting with inflammation that can be reversible, moving to shrinkage and stiffness, and culminating in permanent damage.