Is Ketamine an Opioid?

A lot of research has gone into ketamine in recent years. Once seen as little more than a dissociative anesthetic, it is now increasingly being used in mental health treatment. Many confuse ketamine with other drugs and some wonder, is ketamine an opioid? Ketamine is not an opioid – however, it does interact with opioids and the brain’s opioid receptors in surprising ways.

In this article, we’ll go over what you need to know about this drug.

What Is Ketamine?

Ketamine is a medication primarily used for starting and maintaining anesthesia. It induces a trance-like state while providing pain relief, sedation, and memory loss. It’s widely used in surgery, particularly for short procedures. Because ketamine is not an opioid, it’s especially helpful in situations where there are concerns regarding maintaining a patient’s breathing and circulation.

The drug generally takes the form of a white, crystalline powder. This is the most common form it takes as a street drug. However, it can also be taken as a liquid, pills, or nasal spray.

Ketamine has various uses, including as an anesthetic in surgery and, more recently, in lower doses as a treatment for severe depression. While it does have medicinal uses, ketamine is also open to abuse and is a popular street drug.

Aside from its use as an anesthetic, ketamine has also gained attention in recent years as a therapeutic drug. It’s been used in treating severe depression, especially in cases where other treatments have failed.

A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial in the journal Nature found that ketamine was effective and well-tolerated as an antidepressant. Another study, called Bio-K, found of 74 people treated for depression across Michigan, Maryland, and Minnesota, 67% found their depression symptoms alleviated by ketamine treatment.

Ketamine is also being studied and used off-label for treating a range of mental health disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Is Ketamine Addictive?

Despite this promising research, ketamine is not without risks. While generally safe when used under medical supervision, it can also cause side effects such as dissociation (feeling detached from the body and environment), hallucinations, dizziness, and increased blood pressure. Recreational use of ketamine can lead to abuse and addiction.

Is Ketamine Legal?

Due to its potential for abuse and recreational use, ketamine is classified under US law as a Schedule III controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act. This indicates that it has a recognized medical use but also a potential for abuse, which may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.

Is Ketamine an Opioid?

Ketamine is not an opioid. However, it can interact with the brain’s opioid receptors in intriguing ways. Scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine found that ketamine’s antidepressant qualities work partly by activating the brain’s opioid receptors.

Ketamine may actually be able to be used to treat some kinds of opioid addiction. One study found it can reduce fentanyl tolerance. A study in rats found that by blocking the opioid receptors, ketamine produced no effects. Interestingly, this outcome was only seen in male rats; females still responded to ketamine.

What Is an Opioid?

Like ketamine, opioids are also used for their pain-relieving properties. But the mechanism is different. The human brain actually has receptors that opioids can bind to. When this happens, they inhibit the transmission of pain signals. They can also produce feelings of intense euphoria.

There are several different kinds of opioids:

• Natural Opiates – These are derived directly from the opium poppy plant. Examples include morphine and codeine.
• Semi-synthetic Opioids – Synthesized from natural opiates. Prominent semi-synthetics include heroin, oxycodone, and hydrocodone.
• Synthetic Opioids – As the name suggests, synthetic opioids are chemically created in a lab and are not derived from the opium poppy. Fentanyl and methadone are two well-known synthetic opioids.

Opioids are often prescribed to treat acute and chronic pain, such as following surgery. However, due to their high potential for addiction and dependence, their use is highly regulated in many countries, including the United States. Many opioids are more strictly controlled than ketamine. Because of this and ketamine’s lack of any depressive effects on a person’s breathing, it’s often used to treat pain.

Opioids vs. Opiates

The terms “opioid” and “opiate” are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings:

• Opiate – This refers specifically to the natural alkaloids found in the resin of the opium poppy. These include substances like morphine and codeine. Opiates are a subset of opioids.
• Opioid – This is a broader category that includes all substances (natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic) that act on opioid receptors in the brain to produce morphine-like effects.

This distinction is important in the context of drug regulation, treatment, and education about drug addiction and abuse. Opioids encompass a wider range of substances beyond those derived directly from the opium poppy, which can affect legal, medical, and therapeutic approaches to managing and addressing opioid use.