Ketamine

KetamineKetamine is a short-acting anaesthetic used widely in human and veterinary medicine. It generally comes as a white crystalline powder or as a liquid in a vial, sometimes by its brand name ‘Ketalar’ or ‘Ketaset’. A vial of K runs at about $20 CDN at street level. Ketamine can be snorted or swallowed as a powder, or by intramuscular or intravenous injection when in its liquid form. The onset of Ketamine can be felt 2-10 minutes after dosing, and the high can last anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour, depending on the amount dosed and how it was taken. Residuals can be felt for 2-3 hours afterward.

Ketamine is classified as a ‘dissociative anaesthetic’.

By ‘dissociative’ it is meant that ketamine can induce mind-body separation or Out-of-Body Experiences (OBE’s) in the user. The term ‘analgesic’ refers to its ability to reduce sensitivity to pain, without loss of consciousness, in lower doses. Its ‘anaesthetic’ quality is what creates numbness in the body, and in higher doses an inability to move about.

It is this dissociative state that most recreational users seek when they use ketamine. This state can be reached at as little as 10-20mg., a small bump of K. Large doses of ketamine are considered to be around 50-100mg, the size of a small line, and can induce full-blown psychedelic trips in the user. At these levels one should be sitting or lying down, so as not to risk falling over or knocking into things when numbness or temporary paralysis kicks in.

Caution should be exercised when measuring doses. It takes much less ketamine to get you high than most other drugs, such as ecstasy, crystal meth or cocaine. It is best to start with very small doses, working your way toward the desired levels. In the body, ketamine increases the effects of sympathetic nervous activity, giving a slight increase of heart rate, blood pressure & cardiac output, bronchodilation (widening of airways) and pupil dilation (disco eyes!).

In the brain, ketamine blocks the action of the neurotransmitter L-glutamate. When this happens, the NMDA receptor in the brain does not receive expected signals. It is the NMDA receptors that coordinate and integrate the conscious mind into all bodily functions and other parts of the brain. Ketamine also increases the excretion of adrenaline into the bloodstream and releases endorphins, which work to block the sensation of physical pain.

The mind is an incredibly complex organism. If you are going to unlock some of these doors with a drug, you may encounter some potentially uncomfortable or disturbing things. Be prepared, try and take the drug in an environment where you feel safe, ideally with someone you trust and who has had experience with mind-altering drugs.

Ketamine can make you feel as though you don’t know who or what you are; you can feel detached from your body, not being able to feel much physically and at times be unable to move about. Time slows down, depth perception may go wonky, drowsiness and dizziness can set in, and many experience intense visions and hallucinations, euphoria, and a sense of floating. Some people experience tunnel vision, blackouts, numbness in the limbs, temporary paralysis, slurred speech and nausea.

In higher doses, K has a reputation for inducing out-of-body experiences, mystical union, astral travel, rebirthing, alien communication, and bringing one closer to certain deities (religious figures). High enough doses can land one in a K-hole, the point when one crosses from a dissociative state to anaesthetic levels. At anaesthetic levels there is little interaction with the outside world. The user can become unconscious and undergo temporary paralysis, as can be expected with anaesthetic drugs. For this reason, it is wise to stick to lower doses in a party environment so as not to risk falling over, or becoming vulnerable to assault.

It is coming off of a K trip that one begins to gather their senses and reorganize their thoughts, while possibly feeling weak and wobbly from both mental and physical effects. Some users report feeling less mentally alert the following day, and this is likely a combination of using drugs, staying awake all night and partying.

It is because of ketamine’s involvement with NMDA receptors in the brain that long term use of high doses has the potential to interfere with memory, learning, and attentional mechanisms, although much of this is speculation at this point in ketamine research.

Side Effects from Chronic Use

Some people establish routines of repeated use and find them difficult to break. Tolerance can build up pretty quickly with frequent use; and, trying to quit after prolonged use can lead to ‘K-pains’, where long-suppressed neurochemical receptors suddenly turn back on and make your insides hypersensitive- making it feel like you have hot knives in your kidneys. OUCH. If you are concerned about your ketamine use or want to know more, you can contact people at TRIP! (TXT Tripwire: 647-822-6435) who can help you find ways to manage your use.

Ketamine that comes in closed pharmaceutical vials can be considered relatively more safe than most loose powders or liquids you may buy off the street (safe as in, less likely to be tampered with/cut with other substances). Ketamine appearing in other forms, such as capsules or loose powder should be taken with caution, as these forms make it easy to cut ketamine with other drugs or contaminants.

Taking too much ketamine (into the K-hole and beyond) may render the user unconscious. If this happens, put the person in recovery position and seek help. Never leave the person alone, as they can be vulnerable to harm.

For information on common cuts/adulterants and how to identify and separate bunk materials in a batch of k, see this post:

0 thoughts on “Ketamine

  • EffulgentVampyress says:

    I know Ketamine *does* have the potential to have some bad long-term effects on a more “hard-core” user, but I’ve heard that it also has some good properties, like a slight anti-depressant, if used properly. Is this true?

    • Yes chronic use does lead to heath problems. Urinary tract infections are common as ketamine is said to “scrape” the bladder. Also, K pains are a common occurance. Sometimes users switch to opiates to reduce associated pains, but this can lead to overdose and opiate-related risks. Cranberry juice will NOT help with K pains. Stay hydrated, take a break from use and seek medical attention if the pain lasts for more than a day or two.

      As for theroputic effects, K is currently being trialed as a treatment for post traumatic stress disorder in the UK and will possibly start legal clinical trials in Canada. Of course K has been used safely by physicians and veterinarians for years as an anesthetic.

      Lesson learned— everything in moderation folks!!

      ::your friendly neighbourhood info shop::

  • It’s not the prettiest drug I’ve seen, that’s for sure and the thing is that this drug is legal. Dealers are quite interested in it. I read few facts about Ketamine addiction on this drug rehab centers in Pennsylvania resource and it helped me make an idea about what it can do. This is the kind of resource I use when I want to stay warned and updated about drugs.

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