Why You Feel Tired After Ketamine Therapy
In this blog, Dr. Ko explores reasons you may feel fatigue after ketamine infusions; from the treatment's journey-like effects to reconnecting with one's body and emotions. Plus, find out what to do about the fatigue and review what the research shows!
You may be wondering why you feel so tired after your ketamine treatment. We get this question a lot from our patients.
Why Am I So Tired After A Ketamine Treatment?
"Why am I so tired after a ketamine treatment? Why do I feel sleepy after ketamine? What should I do?" Being a ketamine specialist, these are questions I am frequently asked. So in this blog, I'll provide a framework for understanding potential post-ketamine fatigue, steps to address it, and what scientific research says about ketamine's effects on energy levels.
However, this blog is for educational purposes only, not medical advice. If you experience prolonged sleepiness or fatigue after ketamine treatments, be sure to speak with your specialist who has provided your treatment.
Feeling tired after a ketamine journey is completely normal, especially because ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic.
You Can Be Tired After A Long Ketamine Journey
While not every person that receives ketamine treatment may feel tired, you might be one of those that feel tired or sleepy afterwards. This can be confusing if you've heard about ketamine's energizing potential (which I'll discuss soon). Please don't be discouraged - you likely did nothing wrong in your preparation. What you may have experienced is a deep, profound journey.
First, remember ketamine is an anesthetic that can naturally cause some grogginess after your treatment, hence we advise against driving or operating machinery afterwards. Everyone experiences some level of this post-treatment grogginess for some amount of time. Each person’s body is different, plus the level of grogginess or fatigue can vary from treatment to treatment.
Now, about the journey - over years of infusions, I've noticed many patients report losing their sense of time and space. Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic, after all. As one patient described, it felt like living a whole lifetime! For you Star Trek fans, you may recall the episode, The Inner Light, when Captain Picard experiences an entire life in minutes. (By the way, if you haven’t seen this episode, it is worth checking out!) You may have felt transported to other worlds or dimensions, seen and felt so much that it left you drained. Like vacation, some find journeys energizing, others tiring!
Learn more about the types of experiences you can have at The Four Types of Experiences You May Have With Ketamine blog post.
As ketamine helps you reconnect with your body, you may begin to unmask fatigue and other emotions that you have tried to push down before.
Reconnecting With Your Body After Ketamine
Another trend I have seen in patients is a reconnection with their body and feelings after a ketamine treatment. Over time, difficult experiences may have led you to disconnect from your body to survive. You had to push down how you really felt to survive. While once adaptive and understandable, these survival mechanisms can become maladaptive. During the ketamine treatment, the receptors of your nervous system reset, mediating reconnection. Or, perspective shifts during the psychedelic experience might improve awareness of the messages your body is sending you.
Now better able to feel emotions and hear your body, you may unmask fatigue that you’ve been carrying for a long time. Perhaps you overrode your need to rest so long that ketamine finally allowed you to receive those messages! We have seen many patients gain a new appreciation for self-care and prioritizing sleep after their treatments.
It’s important to acknowledge and accept your body’s need to rest after your ketamine treatment.
What To Do About Your Fatigue After Ketamine Treatments
Now that you know post-ketamine fatigue is normal, how do you manage it? First, expect you may need rest. Therefore, avoid scheduling anything physically or energetically draining right after treatment or the next day. Secondly, if you experience fatigue after your treatment, accept it. Accept any tiredness rather than resisting it - what we resist often persists!Take it as a sign to pause and rest. Finally, prioritize rest and relaxation. Sleep if sleepy. For those who are tired but not sleepy, sit under a tree in a beautiful park. Journal or draw reflecting on the catalyzing experience you just had with your ketamine treatment.
Studies have shown that ketamine is indeed energizing for some patients after the infusion. Everyone reacts differently to ketamine therapy.
Ketamine Is Energizing For Some: What The Research Shows
What does research show about ketamine's energy effects? One study found people with bipolar disorder reported less fatigue with ketamine versus placebo. In one double-blind placebo-controlled study involving bipolar disorder, participants who received ketamine reported less fatigue compared to those given the placebo. Researchers hypothesized this was due to ketamine's effect on glutamate receptors, since ketamine is an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist.
Another study linked ketamine's anti-fatigue benefits for depression to improved motivation and mood. I've seen this - patients may feel more tired for 24-48 hours post-infusion but share brighter outlooks. Some even feel energized enough to exercise as part of integration! Perhaps you’ve experienced something like this elsewhere in your life. Have you ever felt more energized after spending time with people that make you feel good or after doing a fun enjoyable activity?
After embarking on your ketamine journey, remember to respect any fatigue your body is feeling and take it as a sign to rest and focus on self-care.
Why You May Feel Tired After Ketamine Infusion
If you experience fatigue or sleepiness after ketamine infusion, you now have a framework to understand why. As shared above, ketamine treatments induce a profound mental journey that can be draining. Plus, it is a dissociative anesthetic, so some grogginess is expected as your body processes it. While some individuals are energized after a ketamine treatment (as the research showed), don’t be alarmed if you aren’t initially! Take it as a sign to care for your body and mind. Avoid demanding activities, stay hydrated, and prioritize self-care. Speak with your ketamine specialist if fatigue persists or concerns you. Take comfort knowing many patients see mood-enhancing benefits emerge after rest and integration.
Now equipped with an understanding of ketamine’s effects, you can address any tiredness and care for yourself as you integrate this powerful experience. You’ve embarked on a journey of healing transformation – be patient with your body, and restoration will come!
Studies mentioned in this blog:
Related Questions:
Why do I feel sleepy or tired after a ketamine treatment?
You may feel sleepy or tired after a ketamine treatment due to its anesthetic properties and the intense mental journey it can induce. Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic, therefore grogginess is a common side effect. The profound psychedelic experience can also be energetically draining.
How can I minimize the chance of feeling tired after a ketamine treatment?
Before the treatment, try to maximize your rest. Get as much sleep and avoid any draining activities prior to the treatment. This doesn’t mean being a couch potato! Rather do things that are supportive to you and prioritize sleep. After the infusion, avoid scheduling anything demanding. Expect you may need rest and accept it. Stay hydrated and eat nourishing foods as you may have been without food or drink for several hours. Plus, prioritize sleep and relaxation.
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The Four Types of Experiences You May Have With Ketamine
Are you wondering, "What would a ketamine infusion be like? Perhaps you are just curious or you have your first ketamine infusion coming up. What you'll find are scientific articles about the "dissociative effect" that ketamine has or blogs about k-holes. So what’s really going on? Find out in this blog.
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In this blog, Dr. Ko explores reasons you may feel fatigue after ketamine infusions; from the treatment's journey-like effects to reconnecting with one's body and emotions. Plus, find out what to do about the fatigue and review what the research shows!