Ketamine
Ketamine is an anaesthetic and painkiller that is used in emergency and veterinary medicine, among other things. It can trigger dissociative states (e.g. separation of body and mind, or fragmentary dissolution of the environment). It also has a sedative (calming) and analgesic (pain-relieving) effect. Frequent consumption can lead to psychological dependence.
Ketamine is an anaesthetic and painkiller (analgesic) that is used in emergency and veterinary medicine, among other things. It can trigger dissociative states (e.g. separation of body and mind, or fragmentary dissolution of the environment). It also has a sedative (calming) and analgesic (pain-relieving) effect. Ketamine is usually a white, crystalline powder. It is taken nasally (through the nose) or orally (swallowed), or injected as a liquid (intravenously or intramuscularly). The most common form of consumption is nasal consumption.
The effect and duration of action depend on the dosage, frequency of use, set (person) and setting (environment).
Low doses produce a slightly euphoric, alcohol-like effect. As the dose increases, ketamine causes an increasing separation of the psyche from the body or a feeling of merging with the environment. Users report a feeling of lightness and the sensation of floating above their own body. Under the influence of ketamine, it can become more difficult to communicate. Emotions are only perceived in a very "flat" way, thoughts break off, the "red thread" is lost. The sense of taste and smell are greatly reduced, music is perceived in a distorted way, pain disappears. At higher doses, freedom of movement is severely restricted.
Hallucinations can occur, but these are very different from those of LSD & mushrooms. Cold, dark visions such as tunnel images can occur more frequently when intoxicated with keta. At high doses, users also report near-death experiences. This effect can be very psychologically stressful and may trigger anxiety and paranoid states.
On a physical level, ketamine consumption can lead to nystagmus (involuntary trembling of the eyeball), loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, uncoordinated muscle movements (ataxia), dizziness, slurred speech, increased pulse and blood pressure and life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia. High doses can cause muscle stiffness, rhabdomyolysis (dissolution of striated muscles), paralysis, deep sleep and anaesthesia, very high doses can cause epileptic seizures and coma.
Mixed consumption with downers (e.g. alcohol, benzos, opioids) can lead to an increased occurrence of side effects or to an intensification of the restraining effect. The risk of respiratory paralysis increases dramatically.
Coming down from ketamine can be characterised by weakness, uncertainty and exhaustion. Ketamine makes you insensitive to pain and impairs your sense of time and memory. These effects make it difficult to react appropriately to events and thus increase the risk of accidents and injuries.
The dosage of the substance is primarily determined by the form in which it is taken. The onset of action and the intensity of the effects depend on the quantity and form of intake.
Drinking liquid ketamine often causes nausea and vomiting, the first effects occur after about 15-20 minutes. If consumed nasally, the effect can be felt after approx. 5 minutes. With intramuscular consumption after 2 - 5 minutes, with intravenous consumption after just a few seconds. The effects last between 30 minutes and 3 hours, depending on the amount consumed and the form of administration.
Ketamine is in circulation in Austria in two forms: As S-ketamine and as racemate (a mixture of S- and R-ketamine). As S-ketamine is about twice as potent as racemate, no reliable statements can be made about usual dosages. The smallest possible amount as a first dose can be helpful in estimating the potency. Use drug checking!
In the brain, ketamine mainly causes a blockade of a group of glutamate receptors. This process causes a feeling of detachment. Ketamine is metabolised in the liver and excreted via the kidneys.
With more frequent consumption, it can become increasingly difficult to integrate and process the experience into everyday life. There is also an increased risk of triggering mental illnesses. Dissociative anaesthetics can be psychologically addictive. Regular consumption can lead to depressive moods and anxiety. Even in small doses, they can trigger functional disorders in areas of the brain that are responsible for memory, learning and perception. The more often the substance is consumed and the larger the individual doses, the more serious the dysfunctions can become. This is why some long-term users suffer from neurological disorders and impaired memory. On a physical level, bloody urine, pain when urinating and incontinence can be the result. In some cases, irreparable damage to the urinary tract occurs, forcing surgical removal.
- Cardiovascular diseases or high blood pressure, especially tachycardia (= palpitations) and coronary heart disease
- Bad mood, restlessness, anxiety
- Mental illnesses, such as depression
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Do not take part in road traffic if you have consumed
If you use ketamine despite the health and legal risks, please note the following:
The hallucinations or dissociative states that ketamine triggers can be very intense and can be perceived as frightening or negative. If you feel unsafe, you should refrain from using it.
Ketamine should never be taken alone. Make sure that someone looks after you beforehand.
If ketamine is swallowed in tablet form, the initial effects may be delayed. So wait and see before redosing.
The effects are less overwhelming in low-stimulus environments.
Ketamine can severely impair coordination, which increases the risk of injury. As you do not feel any pain, you may find it difficult to assess the severity of an injury.
Avoid mixed consumption, especially with downers or alcohol. These increase the risk of fainting, respiratory depression or respiratory arrest.
Respond if friends who have used ketamine are unwell: accompany them home or at least to a quiet place and stay with them and reassure them. If they pass out or have difficulty breathing, place them in the recovery position and call the emergency services immediately. If they fall asleep, be sure to monitor their breathing. If their breathing becomes shallow or they can no longer be woken up - call an ambulance immediately.
Ketamine is covered by the New Psychoactive Substances Act (NPSG). This means that trafficking for profit (i.e. selling it) is a criminal offence. If it is possession for personal use, no further penalties are provided for.
Status: July 2022