Throughout history there have been many substances that have been used in medicine as anesthetics and analgesics. 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”, an element used in medicine and veterinary medicine that is known for its ability to generate dissociated states of consciousness.
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 psychodysleptic substances. As such, it generates an alteration in the functioning of the nervous system that tends to cause perceptual alterations such as hallucinations.
This drug acts on the nervous system as a substance of depressant 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 that they are even able to observe their body from the outside, such as and as happens with some near-death experiences.
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 be inhaled or a tablet or pill to be consumed orally. This substance causes a certain level of amnesia after consumption and generally has no smell or taste.
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 such as the extremities, as well as sensations of placidity.
2. Amplification of sensory perception
Although it is a depressant substance, in its recreational use it has been seen that ketamine generates an amplified sensory perception Colors and sounds look brighter and sound louder. This effect is especially noticeable in the first moments after administration.
3. Alterations of consciousness
Ketamine generates alterations in consciousness that usually cause the 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 consumption in which the user perceives a sensation of floating and leaving their own body. This hallucinatory experience can be experienced as positive and spiritual or as aversive and terrifying due to the sensation 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 rape cases
6. Analgesia
The administration of ketamine causes a powerful analgesic effect, something that is used at a medicinal and veterinary level in the different processes in which it is used. However, in its recreational use there is a 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.
This substance usually causes a disinhibitory effect in those who consume it, which can cause them to perform acts that they would not generally perform or stop taking precautions with respect to specific behaviors.
8. Lack of coordination and reduced ability to move
Ketamine generates in the individual a state of poor coordination skills in regards to movement, which is reduced.
9. Physiological effects
The use of ketamine causes different alterations at a physiological level. Generates bronchodilation and increases blood pressure and heart rate. It also usually causes an increase in the level of salivation. It can cause respiratory depression.
Mechanism of action
The mechanism of action through which ketamine affects our nervous system is not yet completely clear, although it is based on its action as NMDA receptor antagonist, blocking the action of glutamate as an excitatory agent of the nervous system. It also influences through 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 thalamo-neocortical connection is generated. Also causes depression of the somatosensory cortex which partly explains the sensations of analgesia.
Associated risks and side effects
Ketamine use Has serious health risks if done uncontrolled, as when used recreationally. Some of the risks are the following.
1. Dependency
Ketamine is a highly addictive substance, making it relatively easy to generate tolerance and dependence (especially psychic) towards her.
2. Intoxication
It is not difficult to cause poisoning due to the abuse of this substance. The most common symptoms are the presence of anxiety, hallucinatory experiences such as those mentioned above, aggression, seizures and gastrointestinal disorders in the form of nausea and vomiting.
As we have said, ketamine consumption produces amnesia after consumption. However, this effect seems to be enhanced and remain in the body long term if consumption is frequent since 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.
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 effect, especially when withdrawal syndrome occurs
6. Cardiorespiratory alterations
Another effect of ketamine is the alteration it causes in the cardiorespiratory system. The increase in blood pressure it causes can cause severe cardiovascular disorders, arrhythmias and tachycardias. On the other hand, ketamine depresses the respiratory system, which can cause arrest 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 resulting from ketamine consumption. This pain comes from the action of ketamine in the urine, which generates a destruction of inner bladder epithelial cells
New indications
Although it has been used mainly as an anesthetic, various research has shown that ketamine seems to have a positive effect in cases of depression, acting quickly when combating its symptoms. Apparently, this is because this substance contributes to regenerating neuronal connections that depression alters.
It is necessary to carry out much more exhaustive research in this regard given that the side effects of this substance can be very serious, but this fact could contribute in the near future to generating new antidepressant drugs with faster action than the current ones.
