Keta, K, Special K, Vitamin K, Super K
Ketamine is a synthetic anesthetic. Developed in 1960, it is still used today in human and veterinary medicine because of its anesthetic and pain-relieving properties. In recent years, it has also been used in the treatment of treatment-resistant depression (under medical supervision).
Outside medical settings, ketamine is used recreationally, mainly for its dissociative, pain-relieving, and psychedelic effects.
Main active ingredient
- Ketamine (ketamine hydrochloride)
Legal status
- Illegal: consumption, possession, purchase, production, and trafficking are prohibited.
Forms of consumption
- Mostly snorted (as a white crystalline powder)
- Swallowed (dissolved in a drink, less commonly as a tablet or capsule)
- Rarely injected (in medical settings)
Onset and duration of effect
- Snorted:
- Onset: approx. 5–15 minutes
- Duration : approx. 45–90 minutes
- Taken orally:
- Onset: approx. 5–20 minutes
- Duration: approx. 45 minutes to 2 hours
- Injected:
- Onset: within seconds to minutes
- Duration: from several minutes up to 1 hour
After-effects may last from 1 hour to several hours.
Effects
- Dissociative states (detachment from oneself, feeling separated from the body and surroundings (“out of body experience”), merging with the environment)
- Feeling of floating or weightlessness
- Altered perception (sensory distortions, increased visual and auditory sensitivity)
- Loss of connection with reality, dream-like states, near-death experiences
- Altered perception of time and space
- Feelings of well-being and emotional relief
- Disinhibition
- Feeling of intensified understanding
- Reduced pain sensation and reduced physical awareness
- Loss of appetite
Risks and side effects
- Anxiety, panic
- Confusion, impaired judgement
- Reduced motor skills: impaired coordination and orientation, slowed reflexes, unstable walking (risk of accidents)
- Visual and speech disturbances
- Irritation of the nasal mucosa and pain from repeated snorting
- Increased blood pressure and heart rate
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fatigue and discomfort after use
Long-term risks
- Dependence
- Psychosis
- Confusion, anxiety, low mood, restlessness, paranoia
- Depressive symptoms
- Memory, attention, and concentration problems
- Damage to the bladder and urinary tract (“ketamine bladder”), kidney and liver damage
- Cardiovascular problems
Good to know …
- The effects of ketamine depend strongly on the dose: lower doses tend to produce more stimulating and euphoric effects, while higher doses lead to more sedative and anesthetic effects.
- Repeated use can quickly lead to tolerance, meaning higher doses are needed to achieve the same effects.
- Because ketamine can cause nausea, vomiting, and impaired swallowing reflexes, there is a risk of choking. It is therefore recommended not to eat or drink before or during use.
- Repeated and long-term use may lead to bladder and urinary tract damage (“ketamine bladder”).
Risk of injury
Ketamine strongly reduces pain perception, which may lead people to injure themselves without noticing it. At the same time, it impairs balance and coordination, increasing the risk of falls. It is therefore recommended to remain seated or lying down during use and while effects last, and to avoid unnecessary movement. Attention should also be paid to the environment, as the ability to react in case of falls or accidents may be severely impaired.
K‑hole
The term “K‑hole” describes a state of intense dissociation after taking a high dose of ketamine. People may experience a strong separation between body, mind, and surroundings, as well as pronounced perceptual distortions such as hallucinations, tunnel experiences, and altered perceptions of time and space. Near-death-like sensations may also occur.
Experiences vary from person to person: some describe them as profound or mystical, while others experience them as frightening or overwhelming. For some users, entering a K‑hole is an intentionally sought-after state.
There is no such thing as a risk-free consumption of legal and illegal drugs!
When consuming any legal and / or illegal drug, the subjectively perceived effects depend on various factors (how consumed, dose, age, gender, environment, mood as well as experience and expectation).
Consumption of any drug can result in addiction.
The consumption of legal and illegal drugs is to be discouraged:
- During adolescence (physical and mental development)
- When driving and during other activities requiring a “clear head” (e.g. sport, when operating machinery, …)
- At the workplace / at school
- During pregnancy and breastfeeding
- In case of previous medical conditions
Particular care is also required:
- If the quality of the product is unknown and cannot be checked
- In the event of combined use, e.g. alcohol and other drug
- When medication is taken at the same time
If you notice that a person is not well after having consumed legal or illegal drugs, act responsibly and look after that person. If in doubt, phone the emergency number and administer first aid.