Ketamine

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Key facts

Ketamine is used by doctors and vets as a pain killer, sedative and sometimes to treat depression.
It’s also used illegally as a hallucinogen.
Ketamine causes users to feel happy and relaxed, but can also cause unwanted mental and physical effects.
Ketamine overdose can be fatal.
Stopping ketamine can be hard and you should speak to your doctor if you are struggling with withdrawal.

What is ketamine?

Ketamine is a medicine used by doctors and vets as a pain killer and a sedative. It stops your brain from interpreting pain messages. It’s being studied as a medicine for depression.

It’s also used illegally for its hallucinogenic ‘high’ effect. If bought illegally, it comes as a white powder that can be made into tablets or dissolved into a clear liquid.

Ketamine can be:

swallowed
snorted
injected
inserted anally (up your bottom)
smoked with cannabis or tobacco

Sometimes ketamine is sold as ecstasy. It’s sometimes used to spike people’s drinks.

Ketamine is also known as:

special K
K
ket
kitkat
super K
horse trank

What are the effects of taking ketamine?

Ketamine takes effect within 30 seconds to 20 minutes, depending on how it’s taken. Its effects can last for 45 minutes to 3 hours, and can include feeling happy and relaxed.

Ketamine users may also experience what is known as ‘falling into a k-hole’, where they feel unattached from their body.

People who take ketamine can also hallucinate, as it alters their perception of reality. They can see, hear, smell or taste things that don’t exist, or can perceive them differently to how they really are.

Ketamine may cause:

blurred vision
slurred speech
disorientation and drowsiness
feeling numb
feeling uncoordinated
loss of consciousness

Ketamine can also cause users to have unwanted side effects like:

sweating
raised temperature
nausea
vomiting
feeling panicked, confused and anxious
a fast and irregular heartbeat

Ketamine can affect people differently based on:

how much you take
how strong it is
your size, height and weight
whether you are used to taking it
whether you take other drugs at the same time

What can go wrong with ketamine?

People coming off ketamine may have symptoms for 4 to 6 days, including:

depression
clumsiness
memory loss
disorientation
aches and pains
feeling anxious and restless

‘Falling into a k-hole’ can also cause users to harm themselves while affected.

A ketamine overdose can cause:

seizures (fits)
coma

These can be fatal (cause death).

Signs that someone has overdosed on ketamine include:

they can’t move
they have rigid muscles
they are convulsing
they are unconscious
their blood pressure is high

If you think someone has overdosed on ketamine, call triple zero (000) for an ambulance. Ambulance officers don’t have to call the police.

Can ketamine cause long-term problems?

People who use ketamine long-term can develop:

flashbacks
mood and personality changes
depression
problems with memory and concentration
stomach pain
‘ketamine bladder syndrome’

Ketamine bladder syndrome is a painful condition that involves ulcers in your bladder which causes incontinence. It needs long term treatment and can lead to kidney problems.

Regular users of ketamine are also more likely to have social, work and financial problems.

What if I use other drugs or alcohol together with ketamine?

Taking ketamine with alcohol, heroin or other opiates is dangerous. It can slow your nervous system and stop your body from functioning normally. This can be fatal (cause death).

Taking ketamine with other drugs also puts strain on your body and leads to a fast heart rate. These other drugs include:

amphetamines
ecstasy
cocaine

Can I become dependent on ketamine?

People who use ketamine regularly can become tolerant — they need more of the drug to achieve the same effects.

It’s also possible to develop a dependence to ketamine. This is when you spend a lot of time thinking about the drug and trying to get it. Some users may feel like they need the drug just to get through the day.

Dependence can impact your life, work and relationships. You may find it difficult to stop using ketamine or to control how much you use. This is often due to withdrawal symptoms.

Withdrawal symptoms can include:

ketamine cravings
loss of appetite
exhaustion
chills, sweats and tremors
nightmares
anxiety and depression
tachycardia (fast heartbeat)

How can I stop using ketamine?

Getting off ketamine can be difficult. If you are struggling with withdrawal, speak to your doctor. They can help you manage withdrawal symptoms, and advise you on treatment options, such as: