Ketamine

Ketamine is counted among the dissociative drugs. Within this group, it is the most well-known and widely used substance. "Dissociative" means that the mind is "separated" from the body. Because of this so-called separateness, very strong hallucinations can occur, along with the feeling of being in another world. Ketamine is used worldwide as an anesthetic in surgery. As a result, the drug is in a semi-gray zone in terms of legality. The drug is on the WHO (World Health Organization) list of essential drugs. 

History 

In 1962, the drug was developed as a replacement for the anesthetic phencyclidine (PCP), which was used in surgery. PCP was considered unsuitable as an anesthetic because it causes strong hallucinations. It was the American scientist Calvin Stevens who synthesized ketamine. In terms of composition, ketamine is related to PCP, but works for a shorter time and produces less violent effects. 

Ketamine is often used in operations on both humans and animals and is therefore often referred to as "horse tranquilizer”. 

In 1963 the drug was patented in Belgium and used by veterinarians. Later, in 1969, it was also deemed suitable for humans and was made available by prescription. The product that came on the market was called 'Ketalar', officially approved in the United States by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in 1970. 

During the Vietnam War, the drug was widely used to anesthetize wounded soldiers because of its safe effect. Unlike other anesthetics, ketamine does not cause breathing problems. This allowed soldiers to be treated without doctors having to have respirators on hand. 

Ketamine and the dance scene 

Ketamine also found its way into the nightlife scene. As a dissociative drug, with strong visuals and trance-like effects, it soon attracted interest within the psychedelic underground. In Florida, it was sold under the name "rockmesc”. 

The FDA was concerned about the large amounts of ketamine entering the market outside the medical community. Yet at the time, there was little general awareness of the drug.

At low doses, a user is still able to blend in and hit the dance floor. Higher doses, however, cause a loss of contact with reality, resulting in several cases of "ketamine zombies," where ketamine users sprawl on the floor and become completely inaccessible. 

Recent interest

Recently, ketamine has gained a reputation as a nightlife drug and the popularity of its use has increased. Other names for the drug include ket, keta, special K, kitty and K. 

One of the reasons the drug is so popular is because of the strong hallucinations that can occur with use. 

In the last few years ketamine has gained much interest within the medical community, as a fast-acting therapeutic agent for the treatment of severe depression and suicidal tendencies. 

K-hole and near death experiences

A so-called k-hole, also called void, space or emptiness, is a phenomenon that can occur during a trip with ketamine, usually in high doses. As the name implies, the user finds himself in a kind of void, usually dark "nothingness”. This occurs when the loss with visual reality reaches its peak. The user is no longer able to make contact with reality and take in sensory input. Instead, one 'finds' oneself in an infinite void. Subtle geometric patterns may be perceived, or huge clouds in certain colors floating by on the horizon. 

At high doses of ketamine, there is a chance that a user will go completely 'offline'. This experience is sometimes compared to a near-death experience. Another name is ego death, because it seems as if you don't exist anymore. This is often followed by a period of deep serenity and peace with everything. This is a state that many psychonauts seek. 

In a study with sheep (Dutch), scientists were able to see what happens in the brain during such an experience. Sheep given a high dose of ketamine showed complete cessation of brain activity after only a few minutes. According to the researchers, this is what happens to you when you enter a so-called k-hole: there is a pause in brain activity. 

This effect is also compared to a near-death experience.

Possible effects of ketamine

The drug can cause a wide range of effects depending on several factors, including dosage and sensitivity.

Physical effects of ketamine may include:

• Sedation: numbness occurs in the body. The danger of this can be that a user may not realize he or she gets burned. 
• Further, a user has less desire to move. In high doses, it may even be impossible for the body to move. 
• Euphoria: some users experience a pleasant sensation in the body, along with a state of bliss. However, this is less powerful than with MDMA or opiates, for example. 
• Experience of the body: a user may feel as if they are weightless. Furthermore, the body may seem to change shape. When someone enters a k-hole, contact with the body may be completely gone.
• Reduced libido: when using ketamine, the desire for sex is usually absent. This is mainly due to the numbness. It is also very difficult to have an orgasm. 
• Increase in blood pressure: the use of ketamine is associated with increased blood pressure. 

Mental effects

• Reduction of anxiety: ketamine can provide a reduction in anxious feelings. 
• Repeated dosing: ketamine often causes a user to feel like dosing more often. This is partly due to the fast action of the drug and the feeling of euphoria it can bring about. This increases the risk of abuse.
• Déjà vu: Users often experience déja vu. This happens more often under the influence of ketamine, than with other drugs.
• Psychosis: the chance of psychosis is increased by using ketamine. The chance of this is increased if you already have a sensitivity to it. Users with a history of mental disorders, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, should be extra careful. 
• Change in reality: under the influence, it can be impossible to have a correct picture of one's surroundings. As a result, users may injure themselves or break things because they experience the outside world differently and do not assess it properly. 
• Loss of time awareness: half an hour can seem like a lifetime to a user. Especially with high doses, a feeling of endlessness can occur. Several users report that during the trip they were somewhere beyond time and place.
• Hallucinations: high doses of ketamine cause various forms of hallucinations. For example, a user may see things in a room that are not there.
• Merging with object or person: users often report the phenomenon of "melting," where it is no longer clear where one's own body stops and the other body, or object, begins. 

New antidepressant

In the last few years, much has been published about ketamine as a new antidepressant. Several studies have shown the drug to bring relief to people suffering from severe depression and those who are suicidal. The effect of ketamine is almost immediate and brings relief within two hours. The effects last for about three days after a single dose. Suicidal tendencies and depressive symptoms are drastically reduced. This is in contrast to Prozac, for example, where it can take up to two weeks for a noticeable effect to occur. 

Dangers of ketamine

Neurotoxicity 

Long-term, repeated use of ketamine causes neurotoxicity, research shows. In this study, primates were given a typical recreational dose every day for a period of time. In primates given ketamine every day for six months, a reduction in locomotion was observed. There was also evidence of more cell death in the prefrontal cortex. In the group that received a dose every day for a single month, these effects were not observed. 

Urinary tract problems

Long-term, repeated use of ketamine increases the risk of urinary tract problems, including bladder pain, difficulty urinating, and blood urination. 

Dangerous combinations

Ketamine combined with other drugs and substances can cause life-threatening interactions. 

• Alcohol: like ketamine, alcohol causes a reduction in sensitivity and a relaxing, sedative effect. This combination can be very dangerous because a user can lose consciousness more quickly and there is also an increased risk of vomiting. This gives a high risk of choking. 
• GHB: an increased chance of losing consciousness and greater chance of vomiting. This can cause a user to choke. 
• Opioids: drugs that both cause sedation, numbness and greater risk of unconsciousness. 
• Grapefruit: Although very healthy food, grapefruit is dangerous when combined with certain drugs, including ketamine. Grapefruit juice significantly increases the absorption rate of ketamine. This allows a user to actually absorb double the amount of a dose. Also, the effect lasts longer. 

Legal or illegal drug?

Ketamine is categorized in most countries as "illegal for recreational use, legal within medical use”.

In the 1990s, when ketamine was less well known than it is today, there was often confusion regarding the legality of the drug. The drug was unknown and authorities were not well aware of its recreational potential. To them, it was a legal drug. For example, there is an anecdote in which a drug dealer was stopped with a large load, in powder form. He literally had to spell out to the police what it was; they had never heard of it. 

Later he was called to hear he could come and pick up his load, because it was a legal drug. 

Experimenting with ketamine?

Today, ketamine is among the more popular drugs among young people. 

Drugs, legal and illegal, are all around us. For centuries people have been fighting the tendency of humans to experiment with these substances. History shows that this battle is often bloody and destroys a lot, just look at the War On Drugs. 

Experimentation is part of life, we cannot ignore it. Synthetic drugs have only been among us for a relatively short time. Their effects are very powerful and can be highly addictive. Moreover, a large part of them are in the illegal zone, which means there is no control and the chance of misuse increases.

Sirius offers legal and natural alternatives, with thousands of satisfied customers. The use of smart drugs, psychoactive herbs, psilocybe mushrooms and cannabis is approached with the utmost respect. As products that stay close to their natural source, the chance of abuse is many times smaller, especially if a person is well informed and with the right attitude when using these substances, or medicines, if you will.