Is ketamine a type of benzodiazepine drug?

Written by Brandon Okey. Mina Draskovic, B.Psy., reviewed this content for accuracy.

Ketamine is not a benzodiazepine. It is a pain reliever used for anesthesia and depression, and it’s from a different class of drugs. Benzos enhance GABA receptors in the brain while ketamine blocks a different receptor type.

People misuse both medications. Benzos and ketamine can cause addiction—even in prescribed doses—and users require professional treatment to safely quit.

Our Utah drug rehab center treats ketamine, benzodiazepine, and other types of substance use disorder (SUD) through evidence-based programs. Reach out today to start your recovery journey with medical experts who understand addiction.

What type of drug is ketamine?

Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic drug that blocks certain brain receptors. It belongs to the arylcyclohexylamine class of compounds. First synthesized in 1962, ketamine gained FDA approval in 1970 as a rapid-acting anesthetic for medical procedures.

The World Health Organization lists ketamine as an essential medicine because of its safety profile when used in medical settings. Essential medicines are those that meet the priority healthcare needs of a population and are selected based on efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness.

What is ketamine used for?

Ketamine has many medical and therapeutic applications, but should be used under strict clinical supervision. Here are the primary medical and psychiatric uses of ketamine:

Surgical anesthesia, particularly in emergency medicine and battlefield surgery.
Procedural sedation for children and adults.
Relief for acute and chronic pain conditions.
Treatment for resistant depression through controlled infusions.
Rapid intervention for patients with suicidal ideation.
Symptom reduction for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Supplemental therapy for certain mental health disorders.
Experimental treatment for anxiety and bipolar depression.
Anesthesia for animals in veterinary medicine.

Ketamine creates a trance-like state by disconnecting perception from sensation, which makes patients feel detached from their surroundings and pain.

Ketamine's mechanism of action

Ketamine is an NMDA receptor antagonist. NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors are protein structures that respond to glutamate, the main excitatory neurotransmitter. By blocking these receptors, ketamine disrupts normal glutamate signaling and creates dissociative effects.

When ketamine binds to NMDA receptors, it prevents calcium ions from flowing into neurons and disrupts normal glutamate signaling pathways. This triggers complex downstream effects that alter brain connectivity and neurotransmitter release. Ketamine also affects other receptor systems, including opioid receptors and monoamine transporters, which contribute to its pain-relieving and mood-altering properties.

The antidepressant effects of ketamine stem from its impact on brain plasticity. By blocking NMDA receptors, ketamine increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels, which promotes the formation of new neural connections. The rapid creation of synapses explains why ketamine produces antidepressant effects much faster than other medications.

Ketamine’s receptor antagonism differs from benzodiazepines, which enhance GABA activity instead of blocking glutamate. This difference in mechanism explains why ketamine creates dissociative properties rather than the sedative effects typical of benzodiazepines.

At higher doses, ketamine’s NMDA receptor antagonism becomes more complete, producing anesthetic effects. At lower doses used for depression treatment, the partial blockade creates therapeutic effects without full anesthesia.

Despite its therapeutic potential, ketamine’s powerful effect on brain chemistry can lead to physical and psychological dependence. At Ardu, we specialize in medically supervised detox and comprehensive treatment for ketamine and other substance dependencies. We help you safely overcome addiction while addressing underlying mental health conditions.

The differences between ketamine and benzodiazepines

While ketamine blocks NMDA receptors, benzodiazepines enhance the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. They bind to specific sites on GABA-A receptors, increasing chloride ion channel opening. This amplifies GABA’s natural calming effect, producing sedation, anxiety reduction, muscle relaxation, and anticonvulsant effects.

Primary effects: Ketamine creates a dissociative state where users feel detached from their surroundings and experience powerful pain relief. Benzodiazepines calm the central nervous system, reduce anxiety, relax muscles, and promote sleep without the dissociative effects.
Treatment applications: Doctors use ketamine for surgical anesthesia, pain management, and increasingly for treatment-resistant depression when other medications fail. Benzodiazepines treat anxiety disorders, panic attacks, seizure control, muscle spasms, and help manage alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Onset of action: Ketamine produces antidepressant effects within hours, unlike prescribed antidepressants that take weeks. Benzodiazepines relieve anxiety quickly but don’t address core depression symptoms, making them ineffective as depression treatments.
Physical dependence: Stopping benzodiazepines suddenly can trigger life-threatening withdrawal, including seizures; tapering is required. Ketamine withdrawal rarely causes dangerous physical symptoms but can create intense psychological cravings and mood disturbances.
Side effect profile: Benzodiazepines dangerously suppress breathing when combined with alcohol or opioids. Ketamine maintains respiratory function even at higher doses but can raise blood pressure and heart rate.
Long-term risks: Extended benzodiazepine use impairs memory and cognitive function and may increase dementia risk in older adults. Long-term ketamine use can damage the bladder and urinary tract, causing painful urination. In severe cases, patients require surgical intervention.

If what began as Xanax for anxiety or Valium for sleep has transformed into a daily necessity you can’t seem to escape, our specialized benzodiazepine detox manages the dangerous withdrawal symptoms through our medically supervised tapering program.

Can you mix benzos with ketamine?

In clinical settings, doctors occasionally prescribe benzodiazepines alongside ketamine infusions to control anxiety during treatments, but this occurs under strict medical supervision with precise dosing and constant monitoring.

Outside medical environments, this combination increases the risk of adverse reactions. Ketamine alone doesn’t jeopardize respiratory function, but added benzodiazepines can suppress breathing to dangerously low levels. The sedative effects multiply each other, which causes severe cognitive impairment and confusion.

A 2021 study shows that benzodiazepines block ketamine’s antidepressant effects. They delay response time, shorten relief duration, and at higher doses hinder therapeutic benefits. Patients taking more than 10 mg diazepam (Valium) rarely respond to ketamine treatment.

If you’re receiving ketamine for treatment-resistant depression, disclose all benzo use to your healthcare provider. Doctors will adjust ketamine doses or recommend a pause in benzodiazepine use before administering ketamine to prevent complications.

If you use this combination and want to stop, seek professional help for a medically supervised taper. Sudden discontinuation triggers benzo withdrawal symptoms that may require medical management.

Reach out to our drug addiction treatment at Ardu

Many people become addicted to ketamine and benzodiazepines after medical use. At Ardu Recovery Center, we provide whole-person treatment services to address the physical dependence and underlying mental health conditions that often accompany substance use disorders.

Our medically supervised detox program employs careful gradual taper protocols to minimize dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Throughout this process, our clinical team monitors vital signs and provides medication-assisted treatment for your safety and comfort.

We excel in dual diagnosis treatment, recognizing that mental disorders frequently co-occur with or feed ketamine and benzodiazepine misuse. Our integrated approach treats both conditions simultaneously through evidence-based therapies, including:

Cognitive behavioral therapy to identify and change harmful thought patterns.
Individual therapy focused on psychological withdrawal symptoms.
Mindfulness-based therapy for managing anxiety without substances.
Group therapy fostering connection and shared recovery experiences.
Holistic treatments including float spa and yoga therapy.

For those requiring intensive support, our residential program provides 24/7 care in a structured environment away from triggers and illicit drugs. As you progress, our outpatient treatment continues therapeutic support while you practice recovery skills in real-world settings.

Whether you’re struggling with prescribed medications or recreational drug use, Ardu’s comprehensive addiction services create a foundation for long-term recovery and emotional freedom.

Brandon Okey is the co-founder of Ardu Recovery Center and is dedicated to empowering people on their journey to sobriety.

Ketamine and benzos FAQ

What are the side effects of ketamine?

Ketamine can trigger blurred vision, nausea, elevated blood pressure, and temporary dissociative effects where reality feels distorted. Most patients experience these symptoms during treatment, not afterward. Higher doses increase the risk of adverse events, including anxiety and perceptual changes. Long-term use can cause ketamine-induced cystitis, a painful bladder condition requiring medical intervention.

Psychiatric side effects may include temporary emotional processing difficulties or mood shifts. These effects vary based on the patient, dosage amount, and administration method. Most side effects resolve within hours after treatment ends.

Is ketamine an opioid?

Ketamine is not an opioid. It belongs to the dissociative drugs class, while prescription opioids use different mechanisms of action. Ketamine blocks NMDA receptors in the brain, while opioids activate mu-opioid receptors. This difference explains why ketamine doesn’t cause the respiratory depression that makes opioids dangerous.

The National Institute of Drug Abuse classifies ketamine separately from strong pain-relievers, like oxycodone or fentanyl. For patients with opioid use disorder, ketamine relieves pain without worsening their condition.

What does ketamine feel like?

Ketamine creates a detached, floating sensation where your mind separates from your body. Many patients report watching their thoughts rather than being consumed by them, and time feels slow. Low-dose ketamine treatments cause mild dissociation while maintaining awareness. Therapeutic doses often trigger emotional processing, where difficult feelings become accessible without overwhelming.

Many patients with treatment-resistant depression describe sudden mental clarity and relief from depressive symptoms. The experience differs dramatically between controlled medical settings and recreational drug use. Physical sensations include lightheadedness and sometimes visual changes. Most patients report the dissociative properties help them gain perspective on mental health challenges.

How is ketamine administered?

Ketamine can be administered through several routes.

IV infusions deliver precise doses directly to the bloodstream. They require around 40 minutes in clinical settings with vital signs monitoring.
Esketamine nasal spray offers FDA-approved outpatient treatment for depression.
Intramuscular injections work faster than IV but with less dose control.
Sublingual tablets dissolve under the tongue for at-home maintenance therapy.

Ketamine infusion therapies dominate depression treatment protocols in the United States, while nasal spray provides convenience with similar efficacy. Each method creates different onset times and effect durations. Medical supervision requirements also depend on the administration route. IV requires continuous monitoring while tablets allow home use after proper education.

What are ketamine tablets used for?

Ketamine tablets extend antidepressant responses between infusion sessions for patients with treatment-resistant depression. They function as maintenance treatment after patients show positive response to ketamine infusions. Psychiatrists prescribe these oral formulations alongside conventional medications for major depression and anxious depression. The tablets deliver lower blood levels than IV treatment but still provide significant benefits for mental disorders.

Pain specialists sometimes use ketamine tablets as an adjunct medication for chronic pain conditions. Unlike infusions, tablets produce milder dissociative effects while maintaining therapeutic action.

Resources

Veraart JKE, Smith-Apeldoorn SY, Bakker IM, Visser BAE, Kamphuis J, Schoevers RA, Touw DJ. Pharmacodynamic Interactions Between Ketamine and Psychiatric Medications Used in the Treatment of Depression: A Systematic Review. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2021 Oct 23;24(10):808-831. doi: 10.1093/ijnp/pyab039. PMID: 34170315; PMCID: PMC8538895.