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Ketamine
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Ketamine

Also known as: cat valium, K, ket, ketaset, ketalar, Kit Kat, Lady K, Special K, Super K, horse tranquilliser or horse trank, Vitamin K.

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What is Ketamine?
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What is Ketamine?

Ketamine hydrochloride is as a surgical anaesthetic, sedative and pain reliever used by medical practitioners and veterinarians.

Appearance

Ketamine is a white crystalline powder. It is most commonly found as powder or as tablets/pills, it is also water soluble.

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Why is ketamine addictive?
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Why is ketamine addictive?

Ketamine impacts brain chemistry by reducing the ability to manage brain chemicals like norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin. This disruption alters pain perception, memory and responses to environmental stimuli. Ketamine is potentially addictive as tolerance to it develops quickly.

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Effects of drug
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Effects of drug

The effects of ketamine may vary depending on size, weight and health of the person. Effects will also vary depending if it has been taken before, the level of tolerance to it, if mixed with other substances such as alcohol, and the amount and strength of the drug.

Short term effects

Depending upon the type of ingestion the onset and length of the effects may be experienced between 30 seconds to 90 minutes, these include:

  • reduced sensitivity to pain
  • decreased coordination
  • sense of relaxation
  • general numbness
  • reduced awareness of the environment
  • disorientation
  • depersonalization — feeling dissociated from body or identity (known as ‘falling into a K-hole’)
  • visual hallucinations intensified by environmental stimuli
  • involuntary muscle movements and muscle stiffness
  • involuntary eye movements
  • blurred vision
  • increased breathing rate
  • increased blood pressure
  • slow pulse
  • slurred speech
  • anxiety
  • agitation
  • panic
  • increased salivation
  • increased urination
  • vomiting

Long term effects

  • flashbacks
  • depression
  • poor concentration, cognition and memory problems
  • liver injury
  • kidney problems
  • ketamine bladder syndrome
    • difficulty holding in urine
    • incontinence
  • stomach pain
  • tolerance — needing more to achieve the same effect
  • dependence
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Risks
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Risks

Chronic and extended use of ketamine can quickly lead to the development of tolerance and dependence. The acute dissociative experience typically lasts between 45–90 minutes, some people have reported dissociating for hours or days and may require medical attention.

Overdose

Symptoms of an overdose from ketamine may include muscle stiffness, loss of coordination, coma, seizure, twitching and/or severe delusions and hallucinations. In case of a ketamine overdose, immediately call an ambulance on 000.

Mixing with other drugs

Depressant drugs (alcohol, heroin, opiates)

Mixing ketamine with depressant drugs, tranquilisers or GHB can slow down the body’s central nervous system. At higher doses, ketamine can depress consciousness and breathing as it can lead to a slower functioning of the heart and/or lungs. Consequently, there’s a risk of cardiac arrest, sudden cardiac death or respiratory failure, which can also result in death. The risk of an overdose from ketamine is significantly higher when combined with depressants.

Stimulant drugs (ecstasy, MDMA, ICE, cocaine)

Conversely, combining ketamine with stimulant drugs puts an enormous strain on the body. This can lead to an increased heart rate, which can cause heart failure or stroke.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Using ketamine during pregnancy remains widely unstudied. Likewise, the potential levels of ketamine in mothers’ breast milk have not been measured in controlled studies. Most drugs can have some effect on the baby and there is a possibility for the drug to be present in breast milk.

Legal risks

Outside of a medically controlled setting, using, storing, distributing and selling ketamine is illegal in all states of Australia.

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Withdrawal
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Withdrawal

What are symptoms of withdrawal?

Short term withdrawal (day after use):

  • memory loss
  • impaired judgement
  • disorientation
  • clumsiness
  • aches and pains
  • depression
  • anxiety

Some people may become physically dependent on ketamine and experience longer term withdrawal symptoms, such as:

  • cravings
  • loss of appetite
  • chills and sweating
  • restlessness
  • tremors
  • anxiety
  • depression and
  • irregular heartbeat
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Treatment and support services
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Treatment and support services 

If you are seeking support for Ketamine use you can read a summary of the kinds of treatment services that are available here (this page targets ice users, but can apply to any kind of drug) https://www.counsellingonline.org.au/understanding-addiction/alcohol-and-drug-information/ice/treatment.

If you would prefer a conversation about alcohol or drug use at Counselling Online we offer free, confidential 24/7 access to trained counsellors who can help you work through your issues. Have a chat with our counsellors if you’re not sure where you’d like to get started.

You can also connect with people who understand, on our community support forums.

For further assistance, check out these services: 

The National Alcohol and Other Drug Helpline: 1800 250 015

Peer support services:

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What can I do next?
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What can I do next?

  • Take a self-assessment to help you decide if you should consider seeking help. 
  • Get support from others who have been where you are now, in our community support forums.
  • Try out some of our tips in making a change — they're simple and suitable no matter what stage of your journey you’re at.