Whether you’re trying to prepare for a drug test, supporting someone in recovery, or just trying to understand your own relationship with ketamine, it’s natural to wonder: How long does ketamine stay in your system?
In the sections ahead, we’ll break down how ketamine is processed by the body, how long it typically shows up in different types of drug tests, especially when it comes to detecting ketamine in urine, and what factors can affect how long it lingers.
What Is Ketamine?
Ketamine was developed as a surgical anesthetic, and it’s still used that way today in medical settings.
In recent years, low doses of ketamine have also been used therapeutically, particularly for treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and chronic pain. At the same time, it’s also used recreationally for its dissociative and hallucinogenic effects.
When someone takes ketamine, it works by blocking NMDA receptors in the brain, interrupting how the brain processes sensory input and pain. This can cause changes in perception, coordination, and awareness, often described as feeling “detached” from the body or reality.
While this effect may feel desirable to some, it also comes with real risks, especially when misused or taken in high doses.
Because ketamine has both medical and non-medical uses, it’s understandable that people want to know how long it stays in the body, whether it’s for a drug test, a safety concern, or just to understand its impact better.
How Long Does Ketamine Stay in Your System?
The effects of ketamine—the high or the therapeutic effects—usually wear off within a few hours. Just because the feeling is gone doesn’t mean the substance has completely left your system.
Depending on the type of testing and individual factors, traces of ketamine can stick around for several days, sometimes longer.
Here’s a breakdown of how long ketamine is typically detectable:
- Urine: This is the most common method for testing. Ketamine in urine is usually detectable for 1 to 5 days after use, but in cases of heavy or frequent use, it may show up for up to 14 days.
- Blood: Ketamine doesn’t stay long in the bloodstream—it’s usually detectable for up to 24 hours after use.
- Saliva: Like blood, ketamine tends to clear from the saliva relatively quickly—within 24 to 48 hours.
- Hair: Though not commonly tested, ketamine can be detected in hair follicles for 90 days or longer, depending on the length of hair and amount used.
While urine tests are the most common, especially in employment or treatment settings, it’s important to remember that everybody processes drugs differently.
The same dose may clear out of one person’s system faster than another’s, based on a variety of personal and health-related factors.
What Affects How Long Ketamine Stays in Your System?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how long ketamine stays in your system. While general timelines can offer a starting point, a variety of personal and situational factors play a big role in how quickly the drug clears out.
Dosage and Frequency of Use
The more ketamine someone uses—and the more often they use it—the longer it tends to stay in the body. Heavy or frequent use can cause the drug to build up in the system, extending how long it shows up on drug tests.
Individual Factors
Everyone’s body processes substances differently. Metabolism, age, weight, hydration level, and liver function all affect how long ketamine sticks around.
For example, someone with a fast metabolism or a healthy liver might clear it faster than someone whose body processes it more slowly.
Type of Test Used
Not all drug tests are the same. Some are more sensitive or designed to detect substances over longer periods.
Urine tests, for example, can catch ketamine several days after use, while blood and saliva tests have a much shorter detection window.
Hair tests can pick up ketamine use long after the effects have worn off—sometimes up to three months later.
Why This Information Matters
For Those Facing a Drug Test
If you’re about to take a drug test for work, legal reasons, or treatment, it’s understandable to feel anxious.
Knowing what to expect can help you prepare and make informed decisions about what comes next.
For People in Recovery or Concerned About Use
If you’re trying to stop using ketamine or are unsure whether it’s becoming a problem, knowing how long it stays in your system can help you better understand how your body is reacting—and why getting support might help your recovery process.
For Families or Loved Ones
This information can offer insight into how recent use might be affecting someone you care about or help open up a non-judgmental conversation about substance use.
Understanding timelines can make it easier to approach things from a place of support and concern, rather than confusion or fear.
Risks of Ketamine Use and Misuse
While ketamine has legitimate medical uses, it can be dangerous when misused, especially without medical supervision or when combined with other substances.
Short-Term Risks
In the short term, ketamine can cause disorientation, blurred vision, impaired coordination, nausea, and hallucinations.
Because it affects judgment and perception, people under the influence may engage in risky behavior they wouldn’t normally consider, including unsafe sex, accidents, or combining it with alcohol or other drugs.
Long-Term Effects
People who misuse ketamine long-term may experience bladder and urinary tract damage (sometimes irreversible), memory problems, and difficulty with focus and decision-making.
There’s also the risk of building tolerance, meaning larger and more frequent doses are needed to achieve the same effects, raising the risk of dependency and mental health struggles like anxiety or depression.
Why Professional Support Can Help
If ketamine is being used regularly—especially in combination with other substances—professional treatment can make all the difference.
Detoxing on your own can be emotionally and physically overwhelming, and the underlying reasons behind the use often need just as much care and attention as the drug use itself.
How Alamo Behavioral Health Can Help
At Alamo Behavioral Health, we understand that recovery isn’t just about stopping a substance—it’s about healing what’s underneath.
If you or someone you care about is struggling with ketamine use, our team is here to help with compassionate, evidence-based support that meets you where you are.
We offer safe, medically supported detox to help your body stabilize, along with individual and group therapy that addresses the mental and emotional aspects of substance use.
Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, or simply feeling stuck, our licensed professionals work with you to build a recovery plan that fits your unique needs.
FAQs
How long does ketamine stay in your urine?
For most people, ketamine in urine is detectable for 1 to 5 days after use. In cases of heavy or frequent use, it may remain for up to 14 days.
Can you speed up how fast ketamine leaves your system?
Not really. While staying hydrated, eating well, and getting rest can support your body’s natural detox process, time is the biggest factor in how long ketamine stays in your system.
Does ketamine show up on a standard drug test?
Not always. Standard 5-panel drug tests often don’t include ketamine. However, it can be detected if the test is specifically designed to screen for it.
What are the signs someone might be misusing ketamine?
Watch for memory issues, mood swings, withdrawal from social activities, or continuing to use ketamine despite negative effects on health or relationships. They may also experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop using ketamine.
Where can I get help for ketamine use?
Alamo Behavioral Health provides compassionate, expert care for individuals struggling with ketamine and other substances. We’re here to support your recovery with personalized treatment plans that address both physical and emotional needs.
References:
- Psychiatry Online: Ketamine: A Review for Clinicians
- University of Michigan Medicine: Ketamine’s promise for severe depression grows, but major questions remain
- National Institute of Health (NIH): Metabolism and metabolomics of ketamine: a toxicological approach
- NIH: Prolonged Ketamine and Norketamine Excretion Profiles in Urine After Chronic Use: A Case Series
