Ketamine (or, technically, ketamine chlorohydrate) is an nmda receptor antagonist, a class of drugs that induces dissociative anesthesia. It is the same class of psychoactive substances as PCP (also known as angel powder). It is also popularly known as keta, Special K, or Kitty, among others.

One of the main uses of ketamine is as an anesthetic under field conditions or as an induction agent before using stronger anesthetics. In addition, it has been used in patients with respiratory and circulatory problems, and has even been included in the List of Essential Medicines of the World Health Organization.

Recently, applications of ketamine treatment have been extended to the management of depression, including suicidal thoughts, as it takes effect much faster than other antidepressants and produces longer-lasting results.

Ketamine changed the way scientists view depression because of its functioning as a fast-acting antidepressant. A single low dose can produce antidepressant effects within four hours and for some patients those effects last for several weeks. Despite this, ketamine has not been approved as an antidepressant. However, the FDA approved a similar compound, esketamine, as a nasal spray in March 2019.

Ketamine is also becoming popular for recreational use due to its psychedelic and dissociative effects. When a user takes a relatively large dose, it can produce an effect called K-hole that causes extreme dissociation and visual and auditory hallucinations.

Methods of consumption

Ketamine usually comes in the form of:

• Crystalline powder
• Injectable liquid
• Prescription nasal spray

In a legal and medicinal setting, liquid ketamine is used.

Common Side Effects

When consumed in small amounts, ketamine produces euphoric effects. Higher doses create hallucinogenic effects. As the dose increases, its dissociative effects become more apparent, eventually reaching the K-Hole. The normal aftertaste effects of ketamine can last up to 8 hours, and the antidepressant effects can last up to a week. The amount of doses depends largely on the body weight of the individual consuming it.

The effects of a psychedelic will have large variations, depending on the individual. A number of factors contribute to what one will experience. For example, the set & setting. Although everyone’s experience with ketamine will be different and the effects will change throughout the experience, most users experience these common side effects:

• Trance state
• Pain relief
• Sedation
• Memory leak
• Euphoria
• Dissociation
• Auditory and visual hallucinations in high doses
• Agitation
• Confusion
• Elevated blood pressure
• Muscle tremors
• Spasms of the larynx

Recreational use

At the recreational level, the most common way to consume ketamine is intranasally. This form is usually easier than creating a solution or pill and ingesting it. However, taking any substance intranasally is discouraged due to the numerous adverse effects it can cause due to impurities, such as physical damage to the nasa