Mini review: Ketamine and the urinary tract

The use of ketamine as a recreational drug has become increasingly widespread, particularly amongst teenagers and young men. Its side-effects on the central nervous system and cardiovascular are well established and documented, although it is now clear that ketamine also has significant toxic effects on the genitourinary system. Increasing numbers of patients are presenting to urologists and healthcare professionals with debilitating symptoms attributable to ketamine use, with many clinicians having very little experience of managing patients with this condition. This mini-review aims to provide a contemporary outline of the clinical aspects of ketamine-associated genitourinary toxicity and a summary of management options for treating patients with this often chronic and debilitating condition.