Ketamine bladder

Last revised by Rohit Sharma on 26 Feb 2025

Ketamine bladder, also known as ketamine bladder syndrome, refers to lower urinary tract symptoms associated with long-term ketamine use.

The presence of lower urinary tract symptoms in long-term ketamine users has been identified to be as high as 90% in some studies 1.

Symptoms may include 2:

  • dysuria

  • nocturia

  • frequency

  • incontinence

  • haematuria

In users who infrequently take the drug, mild intermittent symptoms have been reported 2.

Ultrasound features may include 2:

  • small bladder volume

  • bladder wall thickening

Imaging features on CT may include 2:

  • bladder and ureteric wall thickening

  • mucosal enhancement

  • perivesical inflammation

Treatment mainly involves ketamine cessation and analgesia. In severe cases, reconstructive surgery may be required 1,2.

Ureteric stricture and vesicovaginal fistula formation are possible complications 1-3.

Cases and figures

  • Case 1
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