Ketamine: effects and risks of this drug

Throughout history, many substances have been used in medicine as anesthetic and analgesic. Many of these substances have subsequently been extracted from the medical field to be used recreationally.

One of these substances is ketamine, or "special K", element used in medicine and veterinary that is known for its ability to generate dissociated states of consciousness.

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Ketamine as a psychoactive element

Ketamine is a psychoactive substance initially used in medicine and veterinary medicine (currently its main legal use is in veterinary practice) as a general anesthetic. It is a drug or drug derived from phencyclidine, which has characteristics that make it belong to the group of psycho-dysleptic substances. As such, it generates an alteration in the functioning of the nervous system that tends to cause perceptual disturbances such as hallucinations.

This drug acts on the nervous system as a substance of depressive characteristics, generating sedation and analgesia

effectively by reducing neuronal activity in the brain.

Also known as Kit-kat drug, is also consumed recreationally due to its powerful hallucinogenic effects, which are characterized by causing dissociative symptoms in which individuals perceive that their mind is separated from their body and even that they are able to observe their body from the outside, as occurs with some experiences close to the death.

On the other hand, ketamine usually given intravenously at a medical and veterinary level, although recreationally it is usually made in the form of a powder to inhale or as a tablet or pill to consume orally. This substance causes a certain level of amnesia after consumption and is generally odorless and tasteless.

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Ketamine effects

Ketamine has a wide variety of effects, which you can see below.

1. Physical relaxation

At relatively low doses, the effects of this substance are relaxing and anesthetic. Numbness is usually noticed in different parts of the body, like the extremities, as well as feelings of placidity.

2. Sensory perception amplification

Although it is a depressant substance, in its recreational use it has been seen that ketamine generates amplified sensory perception. Colors and sounds look brighter and louder. This effect is especially noticeable in the first moments after administration.

3. Consciousness disturbances

Ketamine causes alterations in consciousness that often cause subject is clouded, disoriented and with loss of notion of time.

4. Hallucinations and K-Hole

It is understood as K-hole the dissociative experience generated by ketamine use in which the user perceives a sensation of floating and getting out of their own body. This hallucinatory experience can be lived as positive and spiritual or as aversive and terrifying in the face of the feeling that the body is being abandoned (the “bad trip”). Apart from this experience, it can also generate other hallucinations.

5. Amnesia

Ketamine causes a powerful amnesia of what happened after its administration, which is why it is used in medical practice as general anesthesia. However, this characteristic together with its sedative action makes the use of ketamine has been linked to several cases of rape.

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6. Analgesia

The administration of ketamine causes a powerful analgesic effect, which is used at a medicinal and veterinary level in the different processes in which it is used. However, its recreational use runs the risk of committing risky acts with consequences that can be serious due to the absence of perceived pain, such as jumping down stairs, starting fights, or performing certain types of jumps.

7. Disinhibition

This substance tends to cause a disinhibitory effect in those who consume it, which can cause performing acts that you would not generally perform or failing to take precautions regarding conduct concrete.

8. Incoordination and reduced ability to move

Ketamine generates in the individual a state of poor coordination ability in terms of movement, which is reduced.

9. Physiological effects

The use of ketamine causes different alterations at the physiological level. Generates bronchodilation and increases blood pressureto and heart rate. It also usually causes an increase in the level of salivation. May cause respiratory depression.

Mechanism of action

The mechanism of action through which ketamine affects our nervous system is not yet entirely clear, although it is based on its action as NMDA receptor antagonist, blocking the performance of the glutamate as an excitatory agent of the nervous system. It also influences from its interaction with endogenous opiate receptors.

The dissociative effects seem to be due to the alteration of the functioning of the limbic system while the depression of the thalamic-neocortical connection is generated. Also causes depression of the somatosensory cortex, which partly explains the sensations of analgesia.

Risks and associated side effects

Ketamine consumption has serious health risks if done uncontrollably, such as when used recreationally. Some of the risks are as follows.

1. Dependence

Ketamine is a highly addictive substance, making it relatively easy to generate tolerance and dependence (especially psychic) ​​towards her.

2. Poisoning

It is not difficult to generate intoxication due to the abuse of this substance. The most common symptoms are the presence of anxiety, hallucinatory experiences such as those mentioned above, aggressiveness, seizures, and gastrointestinal disturbances in the form of nausea and vomiting.

3. Cognitive impairment and memory disturbances

As we have said, the consumption of ketamine produces amnesia after consumption. However, this effect seems to be potentiated and remain in the body long-term if consumption is frequent, given that with the passage of time the destruction of a high number of neurons is caused.

It is especially visible short-term memory loss. Cognitive performance is greatly diminished.

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4. Depression

Although in low doses it has antidepressant effects, used continuously over time and in high doses this substance can generate depression in the person who consumes it.

5. Anxiety

Long-term use of ketamine causes an anxiety-inducing effect, especially when withdrawal syndrome occurs.

6. Cardiorespiratory disorders

Another effect of ketamine is the alteration it causes in the cardiorespiratory system. The increase in blood pressure that it causes can lead to severe cardiovascular disorders, arrhythmias and tachycardias. On the other hand, ketamine depresses the respiratory system, which can generate a stop at high doses. It can also lead to cardiorespiratory failure.

7. Destruction of genitourinary epithelium

Numerous cases have been found of individuals suffering from pain in the genitourinary system derived from the consumption of ketamine. This pain comes from the action of ketamine in the urine, which generates a destruction of the internal epithelial cells of the bladder.

New indications

Although it has been used mainly as an anesthetic, various investigations have shown that the Ketamine seems to have a positive effect in cases of depression, acting quickly in combating its symptom. Apparently, this is because this substance helps regenerate neural connections that depression alters.

It is necessary to carry out a much more exhaustive investigation in this regard since the side effects of this substance can be very serious, but this fact could contribute in the near future to generate new antidepressant drugs with faster action than the current.

Bibliographic references:

• Dickenson, A.H. (1997). NMDA receptor antagonists: interactions with opioids. Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinávica. 41:112-115.

• Morgan, C.J.A.; Muetzelfeldt, L; Curran, H. V. (2009). Consequences of chronic ketamine self-administration upon neurocognitive function and psychological wellbeing: a 1-year longitudinal study. Addiction105 (1): 121.

• Autry, A.E.; Adachi, M.; Nosyreva, E.; Na, E.S.; Los, M.F.; Chengm P.F.; Kavalali, E.T.; Monteggia L.M. (2010). NMDA receptor blockade at rest triggers rapid behavioral antidepressant responses. Nature, 475. 91-95.