Ketamine
DissociativesAlso known as: K, Special K, Ket, Kit Kat, Vitamin K
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All content is written, edited, and medically reviewed by licensed professionals with expertise in addiction medicine and behavioral health.
Benjamin Zohar
NCACIP
Nationally Certified Advanced Clinical Intervention Professional and recovery advocate in long-term recovery, specializing in intervention services and treatment coordination.
Ezra Zohar, M.S.Ed.
Educational Specialist
Educational Specialist with M.S. in Secondary Education, reviewing educational content focused on addiction awareness and recovery.
Brandon McNally
RN
Registered Nurse with specialized training in addiction medicine and behavioral health nursing.
Last Updated
November 2025
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Call Helpline: (914) 594-5851What is Ketamine?
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic originally developed for medical use. At lower doses it produces dream-like states and mild hallucinations. At higher doses it can cause complete dissociation from the body (K-hole). Recently approved for treatment-resistant depression in clinical settings.
Effects
Detachment from reality, dream-like state, hallucinations, distorted perception of sight/sound, numbness, impaired motor function, sedation, out-of-body experiences
Risks & Dangers
Bladder damage (with chronic use), urinary tract problems, memory impairment, cognitive problems, respiratory depression, loss of consciousness, nausea, confusion, accidents due to impaired coordination
Withdrawal Symptoms
Anxiety, tremors, fatigue, cognitive impairment, depression. Symptoms typically mild compared to other substances.
Addiction Potential
Moderate - Psychological dependence can develop. Physical dependence is less common but possible with heavy use.
Duration
Effects typically last 45-90 minutes when injected, longer when taken orally
Legal Status
Schedule III controlled substance in the US. Legal for medical use, illegal for recreational use.
Alcohol Interaction Warning
Mixing Ketamine with alcohol can be extremely dangerous and potentially life-threatening. Combining substances increases the risk of:
- • Respiratory depression and overdose
- • Unpredictable effects and loss of consciousness
- • Increased toxicity to liver and other organs
- • Impaired judgment leading to risky behaviors
Learn more about alcohol use disorder and polysubstance use.
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Published: July 15, 2024 • Last Updated: November 25, 2025
Medically reviewed drug information for educational purposes
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