Ketamine

Extracted Attributes

• Enantiomers

  S-ketamine (esketamine), R-ketamine (arketamine)

• Legal Status

  Controlled substance (Schedule III in the US)

• Side Effects

  Dissociation, nausea, liver toxicity, urinary toxicity, amnesia

• Chemical Class

  Cyclohexanone derivative

• Contraindications

  Severe heart or liver disease, uncontrolled psychosis

• Primary Metabolite

  Norketamine

• Common Street Names

  Special K, Ket, K, Kit Kat, Vitamin K, Horse trank

• Mechanism of Action

  NMDA receptor antagonist

• Medical Applications

  Anesthesia, pain management, treatment-resistant depression

• Administration Routes

  Intravenous injection, intramuscular injection, nasal spray (esketamine), oral

Timeline

• Ketamine is first synthesized as a derivative of phencyclidine to create a safer anesthetic. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1962-01-01

• Ketamine is approved for medical use in the United States. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1970-01-01

• Extensive use begins for surgical anesthesia during the Vietnam War. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1965-01-01

• Discovery of ketamine's rapid antidepressant effects, marking a breakthrough in psychiatry. (Source: Wikipedia)

  2000-01-01

• Clinical practice guidelines are established supporting ketamine as a sedative in emergency medicine. (Source: Web search results)

  2011-01-01

• Research published in Nature details how ketamine blocks bursting in the lateral habenula to relieve depression. (Source: DrugBank)

  2018-02-14

• A meta-analysis suggests racemic ketamine may be more effective than esketamine for depression at higher doses. (Source: Wikipedia)

  2023-01-01

Ketamine

Ketamine is a cyclohexanone-derived general anesthetic and NMDA receptor antagonist with analgesic and hallucinogenic properties, used medically for anesthesia, depression, and pain management. Ketamine exists as its two enantiomers, S- (esketamine) and R- (arketamine), and has antidepressant action likely involving other mechanisms in addition to NMDA antagonism. At anesthetic doses, ketamine induces a state of dissociative anesthesia, a trance-like state providing pain relief, sedation, and amnesia. Its distinguishing features as an anesthetic are preserved breathing and airway reflexes, stimulated heart function with increased blood pressure, and moderate bronchodilation. As an anesthetic, it is used especially in trauma, emergency, and pediatric cases. At lower, sub-anesthetic doses, it is used as a treatment for pain and treatment-resistant depression. Ketamine is legally used in medicine but is also tightly controlled, as it is used as a recreational drug for its hallucinogenic and dissociative effects. When used recreationally, it is found both in crystalline powder and liquid form, and is often referred to by users as "Ket", "Special K" or simply "K". The long-term effects of repeated use are largely unknown and are an area of active investigation. Liver and urinary toxicity have been reported among regular users of high doses of ketamine for recreational purposes. Ketamine can cause dissociation and nausea, and other adverse effects, and is contraindicated in severe heart or liver disease, and uncontrolled psychosis. Ketamine's clinical and antidepressant effects can be influenced by co-administration of other drugs, though these interactions are variable and not yet fully understood. Ketamine was first synthesized in 1962; it was derived from phencyclidine in pursuit of a safer anesthetic with fewer hallucinogenic effects. It was approved for use in the United States in 1970. It has been regularly used in veterinary medicine and was extensively used for surgical anesthesia in the Vietnam War. It later gained prominence for its rapid antidepressant effects discovered in 2000, marking a major breakthrough in depression treatment. Racemic ketamine, especially at higher doses, may be more effective and longer-lasting than esketamine in reducing depression severity. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. It is available as a generic medication.

Web Search Results

• Ketamine - Wikipedia

  Ketamine, in the form of esketamine, is approved in the United States for treating treatment-resistant depression. In vivo, ketamine rapidly activates the mTOR pathway, promoting synaptogenesis and reversing stress-related synaptic deficits in the prefrontal cortex, which might underlie its fast-acting antidepressant effects in treatment-resistant depression. A 2023 meta-analysis found that racemic ketamine, particularly at higher doses, is more effective than esketamine in reducing depression severity, with more sustained benefits over time. Ketamine has shown potential for rapid and tolerable symptom relief in obsessive-compulsive disorder, but evidence is limited and inconsistent. [...] Ketamine is frequently used in severely injured people and appears to be safe in this group. It has been widely used for emergency surgery in field conditions in war zones, for example, during the Vietnam War. A 2011 clinical practice guideline supports the use of ketamine as a sedative in emergency medicine, including during physically painful procedures. It is the drug of choice for people in traumatic shock who are at risk of hypotension. Ketamine often raises blood pressure upon administration and is unlikely to lower blood pressure in most patients, making it useful in treating severe head injuries for which low blood pressure can be dangerous. [...] Ketamine was first synthesized in 1962; it was derived from phencyclidine in pursuit of a safer anesthetic with fewer hallucinogenic effects. It was approved for use in the United States in 1970. It has been regularly used in veterinary medicine and was extensively used for surgical anesthesia in the Vietnam War. It later gained prominence for its rapid antidepressant effects discovered in 2000, marking a major breakthrough in depression treatment. Racemic ketamine, especially at higher doses, may be more effective and longer-lasting than esketamine in reducing depression severity. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. It is available as a generic medication. ## Medical uses [edit] Two-dose vials of injectable ketamine, 50mg/ml and 10mg/ml

• Ketamine - DEA.gov

  Ketamine is an approved medical product as an injectable, short-acting anesthetic for use in humans and animals and as esketamine (Spravato®; the active form of the drug) as a nasal spray for treatment resistant depression. ### Street Title Cat Tranquilizer, Cat Valium, Jet K, Kit Kat, Purple, Special K, Special La Coke , Super Acid, Super K, Vitamin K ### How is it abused? Injected, Liquid mixed with liquids, Powder that is snorted mixed in drinks, or smoked. ### What is its effects on the body? [...] ## Ketamine Hallucinogen ### What is Ketamine? Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that has some hallucinogenic effects. Ketamine distorts the perception of sight and sound and makes the user feel disconnected and not in control. It is referred to as a “dissociative anesthetic hallucinogen” because it makes patients feel detached from their pain and environment. Ketamine can induce a state of sedation (feeling calm and relaxed), immobility, relief from pain, and amnesia (no memory of events while under the influence of the drug) and is abused for the dissociative sensations and hallucinogenic effects. Ketamine has also been used to facilitate sexual assault. [...] ### What is its effects on the body? Ketamine produces hallucinations. It distorts perceptions of sight and sound and makes the user feel disconnected and not in control. Ketamine may cause unwanted side effects such as: agitation, depression, cognitive difficulties, unconsciousness, and amnesia. Involuntarily rapid eye movement, dilated pupils, salivation, tear secretions, and stiffening of the muscles, possible nausea. Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD) has been reported several weeks after ketamine use and may include experiencing prolonged visual disturbances. ### What are its overdose effects? An overdose can cause unconsciousness and dangerously slowed breathing. Download Fact Sheet

• Ketamine: Uses, Interactions, Mechanism of Action | DrugBank

  5. Reboso Morales JA, Gonzalez Miranda F: [Ketamine]. Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim. 1999 Mar;46(3):111-22. [Article] 6. Ivani G, Vercellino C, Tonetti F: Ketamine: a new look to an old drug. Minerva Anestesiol. 2003 May;69(5):468-71. [Article] 7. Yang Y, Cui Y, Sang K, Dong Y, Ni Z, Ma S, Hu H: Ketamine blocks bursting in the lateral habenula to rapidly relieve depression. Nature. 2018 Feb 14;554(7692):317-322. doi: 10.1038/nature25509. [Article] 8. Kirby T: Ketamine for depression: the highs and lows. Lancet Psychiatry. 2015 Sep;2(9):783-4. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(15)00392-2. [Article] 9. Xu J, Lei H: Ketamine-an update on its clinical uses and abuses. CNS Neurosci Ther. 2014 Dec;20(12):1015-20. doi: 10.1111/cns.12363. [Article] [...] Metabolism Ketamine presents a mainly hepatic metabolism and its major metabolite is norketamine. The biotransformation of ketamine corresponds to N-dealkylation, hydroxylation of the cyclohexone ring, conjugation to glucuronic acid and dehydration of the hydroxylated metabolites for the formation of cyclohexene derivatives.10 Hover over products below to view reaction partners Ketamine Norketamine 6-Hydroxynorketamine 5-Hydroxynorketamine 4-Hydroxynorketamine 6-Hydroxyketamine 6-Hydroxynorketamine 5-Hydroxyketamine 5-Hydroxynorketamine 4-Hydroxyketamine 4-Hydroxynorketamine [...] ## Categories ATC CodesN01AX03 — Ketamine N01AX — Other general anesthetics N01A — ANESTHETICS, GENERAL N01 — ANESTHETICS N — NERVOUS SYSTEM Drug Categories

• Ketamine - Alcohol and Drug Foundation

  7. Zarate C Niciu M. Ketamine for depression: evidence, challenges and promise. World Psychiatry [Internet]. 2015 [13.11.2023]; 14(3):[348–50 pp.]. 8. Hi-Ground. Ketmaine n.d. [cited: 23.11.2022]. 9. Harm Reduction Victoria. Ketamine n.d. [cited: 23.11.2022]. 10. Psychonaut Wiki. Ketamine 2022 [cited: 24.11.2022]. 11. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2019 Canberra: AIHW; 2020 [11.04.2023]. [...] Drug List Drug Wheel Dissociatives Ketamine Last published: June 06, 2025 ## What is ketamine? Ketamine is used by medical practitioners and veterinarians as an anaesthetic. It’s sometimes used illegally by people to get high. Ketamine is a dissociative drug, which means it causes people to feel separated or detached from their body or physical environment. Dissociatives are similar to psychedelics, they can cause hallucinations and other changes in thoughts, emotions and consciousness.1 ### What does ketamine look like? When it’s sold illegally, ketamine usually comes as a white or off-white powder. It can also be made into pills, or dissolved in a liquid.2 ### Other names Special K, K, ket, kitkat, ketters, super k or horse trank.3,4 ### Other types of dissociatives [...] 1. Li L, Vlisides PE. Ketamine: 50 Years of Modulating the Mind. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience [Internet]. 2016 [10.11.2023]; 10. 2. United States Drug Enforcement Agency Administration. Ketamine 2020 [13.11.2023]. 3. Morgan CJA, Curran HV. Ketamine use: a review. Addiction [Internet]. 2012 [16.03.2023]; 107(1):[27-38 pp.]. 4. Tucker JA, Darke, S, Lappin, J, Farrell, M. The Clinicians Guide to Illicit Drugs and Health: Silverback Publishing; 2019 [26.10.2023]. 5. Nutt D. Drugs without the hot air : making sense of legal and illegal drugs. Cambridge: UIT Cambridge Ltd; 2012 [10.10.2023]. 6. Kalsi S Wood D Dargan P. The epidemiology and patterns of acute and chronic toxicity associated with recreational ketamine use. Emerging Health Threats Journal [Internet]. 2011 [13.11.2023]; 4.

• Ketamine | FRANK

  ### How long will it be detectable? Ketamine can be detected in a urine test for several days after taking it. How long a drug can be detected for depends on how much is taken and which testing kit is used. This is only a general guide. ## The risks ### Physical health risks ### Mental health risks ### What is ketamine cut with? Street ketamine is usually sold as a white/beige crystalised powder and is sometimes cut with other powders to add weight and improve the dealer’s profits. It’s impossible to tell whether the ketamine you buy has been cut with other substances by looking at it. ## Mixing ### Is it dangerous to mix with other drugs? Mixing drugs is always risky but some mixtures are more dangerous than others. ### What happens if I mix Ketamine and ## Addiction