Ketamine
Common Names: Special K
Type:
It has a role as an intravenous anaesthetic, a NMDA receptor antagonist, an analgesic, a neurotoxin, an environmental contaminant and a xenobiotic. Ketamine is an NMDA receptor antagonist with a potent anesthetic effect. It was developed in 1963 as a replacement for phencyclidine (PCP) by Calvin Stevens at Parke Davis Laboratories. It started being used for veterinary purposes in Belgium and in 1964 was proven that compared to PCP, it produced minor hallucinogenic effects and shorter psychotomimetic effects. It was FDA approved in 1970, and from there, it has been used as an anesthetic for children or patients undergoing minor surgeries but mainly for veterinary purposes.
Formula: C13H16ClNO
Mental Effects
Potential Risks
Legality & Therapeutic Uses
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Dissociation, out-of-body experiences, euphoria, numbness, analgesia
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Type: Dissociative anesthetic with psychedelic effects
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Confusion, nausea, bladder/kidney issues with heavy use, addictive potential
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Schedule III in U.S.; legal medical uses
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Medical Use: Anesthetic; FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression (as esketamine)
Interesting Facts
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Harm Reduction Tips
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Physical Effects
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Ketamine is a General Anesthetic. The physiologic effect of ketamine is by means of General Anesthesia.
Physical Properties
State:
Forms
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Onset and Duration
Snorted: 5–15 min onset, 45–90 min duration; IV: rapid onset, shorter duration
Mechanisms of Action
Pharmacology and Biochemistry
Watson, Jack & Halpin, Laura & Barroso, Violeta & Dahdouh, George & Bursalyan, Jacqueline & Mohta, Saahil & Flores, Michelle & Gonzalez, Natalie & Gordineer, John & Medina, Germain & Oseguera, Crystal & Serrano, Jailene. (2025). A Review of the Food and Drug Administration Pipeline and Proposed California Legislation on Medicinal Psychedelics. The Permanente Journal. 29. 89-101. 10.7812/TPP/24.171.
References
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