Ketamine – some people use it recreationally for fun, others are drawn to it to manage mental health and trauma.

But there’s something you may not have heard about, Ketamine Bladder Syndrome, also known as Ketamine Cystitis. It’s a serious condition that can sneak up on people who use Ketamine, even those who only use it occasionally.

So, let’s talk about what it is, how to spot it early and what you can do to protect yourself.

What is your bladder and why does Ketamine affect it?

Your bladder is a round, stretchy organ behind your pelvic bone that stores urine. Think of it like a balloon—it fills up and expands, and when it’s full, you go to the bathroom. But when Ketamine breakdowns to be excreted it passes through the bladder, this can damage the cells lining it.

These protective cells (called epithelial or “umbrella” cells) normally keep urine from irritating the bladder wall. If those cells get wrecked, urine can leak deeper into the bladder lining and start doing real damage.

Early symptoms of Ketamine bladder syndrome

Watch out for these signs—they often start gradually:

• Needing to urinate more often than usual
• Feeling a sudden, intense need to urinate
• Pelvic pain or pressure
• Waking up at night to urinate

If the damage keeps getting worse, you might also experience:

• Incontinence – urine leaking out when you’re not trying to pee
• Blood in your urine which might look brownish orange
• Reduced bladder capacity where your bladder becomes stiff and holds less urine
• Erectile dysfunction (in men)

Can the damage be reversed?

Yes—if you catch it early and stop using Ketamine. In many cases, quitting can significantly reduce or even eliminate symptoms. But if the damage continues unchecked, it can become permanent, leading to lifelong bladder problems that may require surgery.

How much Ketamine is too much?

This is the tricky part: there’s no guaranteed “safe” amount. Most studies focus on people using multiple grams per day, but even moderate users (1–4 times a month) have reported symptoms.

One large survey found that over 1 in 4 Ketamine users experienced bladder issues—and 70% of them weren’t using daily. The more often and the more you use, the higher your risk of bladder damage.

What should you do if you’re having symptoms?

• Speak to your GP – the sooner they are involved the sooner a referral to Urology services can be made if needed.
• Stop using Ketamine – we understand it may not be that easy but you don’t have to do it alone. Book an appointment with UWE’s Drug & Alcohol Practitioner or seek support from your local drug and alcohol service.

Even if it takes weeks to feel better, many people see improvement after quitting. But be careful – you may be drawn to using more Ketamine to deal with the pain, since it has pain-relieving properties. That only makes the situation worse.

If symptoms are severe or not going away, see a doctor. There are treatments that can help reduce pain and begin healing the bladder.

Can Ketamine damage anything else?

Yes. Long-term use has also been linked to damage in other organs like the gallbladder, and research is still uncovering more.

Septum and nasal passages will be irritated and can inflamed from regular snorting of any substance, but following harm reduction advice around snorting, can reduce some of the harm.

If you still choose to use…

We get it—some people aren’t ready to stop completely. If you choose to keep using Ketamine, here are a few tips to reduce your risk:

• Use less, less often – that alone helps a lot.
• Stay hydrated and give your bladder time to recover between uses.
• Book an appointment with UWE’s Drug & Alcohol Practitioner to explore more ways to reduce the harm.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on our harm reduction work related to Ketamine including how you found this blog post!

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