Substances | Ketamine

Synonyms

K, Keto, K-Hole, Special K, Vitamin K, Ketlar

Class

Depressant, Dissociative Anesthetic

Mechanism of action

Ketamine is a N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and glutamate receptor antagonist, and has partial agonistic effect on opiate mu-receptors, creating its dissociative and anesthetic effects. Ketamine’s rapid antidepressant effects are postulated to result from increased glutamate levels and synaptic activity. [1]

Medical use

Ketamine is approved for use as anesthesia, for management of fibromyalgia and other kinds of nerve pain, and for rapid or refractory depression treatment.

Administration routes

Oral
Intranasally “Snorting”
Intravenous (IV)
Intramuscular Injection

Effect

"Downer”

Causes a dream-like dissociative state, relaxes body and creates “happy chilled” sensation, dissociation can also include hallucinations and distorted perceptions of time and space

Safety Strategies

Citations & Reading

[1] Rosenbaum SB, Gupta V, Palacios JL. Ketamine. [Updated 2020 Mar 31]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470357/