Bladder pain and urinary tract symptoms as a consequence of ketamine abuse.
A recent study has shown that ketamine has become popular among Danish clubgoers. The drug can induce psychedelic effects but it also has serious urological side effects, such as frequency and urgency in relation to voiding as well as pain from the bladder and haematuria. Ketamine can also induce histological bladder changes. Mild changes are reversible on cessation of ketamine abuse but long-term abuse can cause fibrosis of the bladder and may necessitate cystectomy. Therefore, physicians should ask young patients with bladder symptoms of unknown pathology about ketamine abuse.