What is ketamine?
Ketamine is also known as K, Special k, kit kat, ket, vitamin k, kenny, jet, donkey dust, wobble.
Ketamine is a dissociative drug which can make you feel detached from your body or physical environment, it distorts the perception of sight and sound and makes the user feel disconnected and not in control. Ketamine is a dissociative anaesthetic that has some hallucinogenic effects and is abused for these effects.
Ketamine can induce a state of sedation, (feeling of being calm and relaxed) immobility, relief from pain, and amnesia (no memory of events while under the influence). Ketamine has also been used to facilitate sexual assault.
Ketamine is an approved medical product as an injectable, short acting anaesthetic for use in humans and animals and as a nasal spray for treatment resistant depression.
It is sold on the street and the internet as grainy white or light brown crystals or powder and looks very similar to cocaine. It is also sold as liquid or tablets but these are less common.
Unbeknown to the user, drugs sold on the street and internet can be mixed with more potent drugs to produce even more lethal effects.
How Quickly Does Ketamine Effect You ?
It depends on many factors, the purity of the drug, tolerance of the drug and amount, the age, weight and metabolism of the user.
Generally speaking, the effects start around 15 minutes after taking the drug and they last for between 30 minutes and one hour but can last a lot longer especially if the ketamine is taken or mixed with any other drug.
Short Term Effects of Taking Ketamine
- Euphoric or energetic
- Happy, chilled, relaxed
- Increased heart beat
- Inability to feel pain
- Distorted perception of space, time and reality
- Feeling detached from your body and surroundings
- Feeling like you are floating
- Confusion and memory loss
- Hallucinations
- K-hole-inability to interact with others or the world around you
- Nauseous
- Inability to move your arms and legs
Long Term Effects of Taking Ketamine
- Short or long term memory loss
- Shortened attention span
- Ketamine Bladder
- K cramps
- Damage to the inside of nose
- Liver or kidney damage
- Deterioration of mental health
- Schizophrenia, psychosis and aggression
- Paranoia
- Mood Swings
- Flashbacks
- Confusion
- Panic Attacks
- Permanent Brain Damage
There is a heightened and dangerous risk when mixing ketamine with other substances.
Ketamine Bladder Symptoms
If you have a ketamine bladder, you may experience the following symptoms :-
- Pain on passing urine – cystitis
- Blood in the urine
- Incontinence
- Urgency to go to the toilet
- Needing to go to the toilet through the night
- Pain in the abdomen
It is important to seek medical help at the first signs, it is possible to reverse the symptoms if you act early.
If you are worried about ketamine bladder speak to your GP or your
Addiction Services such as:
https://www.castlecraig.co.uk/
https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk/
It is important to get your bladder symptoms checked as soon as possible.
K-Hole
When people take large doses of ketamine they can fall into what is known as a k-hole, where the person is temporarily unable to interact with others or the world around them. A K-hole can be very frightening and induce strong feelings of powerlessness.
A person’s ability to speak may become affected. If someone is trying to speak to you and you can’t respond this can be very frustrating.
K-Cramps
Up to a third of long term users suffer from intense abdominal pain often called k-cramps. Frequent high dose ketamine misuse can cause severe bladder, urinary tract and kidney damage and in the most severe cases sometimes the bladder has to be removed. The user can have symptoms of severe pain, incontinence, blood and jelly in the urine. Ketamine tolerance can rise quickly and when the stomach pain gets worse the user may be inclined to take more ketamine. This will not help and the damage will just become worse.
Ketamine Bladder
Ketamine bladder is a condition caused by long term ketamine misuse causing damage which can be irreversible to the bladder. Ketamine bladder is when the lining of the bladder gets so damaged and scarred, due to regular and high doses of ketamine; it shrinks in volume, which causes people to need to use the bathroom more frequently and sometimes it’s impossible for them to urinate.
Ketamine Withdrawal Symptoms Include :
- Agitation
- Confusion
- Hallucinations
- Nausea or sickness
- Changes in sleeping habits – insomnia
- Changes to breathing
- Fatigue
- Memory problems
- Mood changes
- Nightmares
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Chills or sweats
- Anger
Dependency and Addiction
It is very easy to become dependent on ketamine as tolerance soon builds after repeated use and the user will need more frequent and higher doses of the drug to achieve the same effects they felt initially. The user can become dependent on the drug to feel normal or avoid the negative effects of withdrawal.
Addiction can occur, as ketamine, over time, changes the pathways in the brain’s reward system, making it very difficult to stop taking it.
Signs of Dependency
Ketamine Dependency and Addiction Signs :
- Needing to take more of the drug to get the same feeling, often over longer periods of time than intended
- Cravings
- Using Ketamine on a more regular basis
- Feeling as though you can’t stop taking ketamine, even though you may want to
- Social isolation, avoiding contact with loved ones and social activities
- Unable to stop thinking about your next fix
- Socialising with people who take ketamine or other drugs
- Being secretive or defensive about your ketamine use
- Feeling as though ketamine has taken over your life and thoughts
- Anxiety and depression
- Paranoia
- Confusion
- Inability to focus or concentrate at work, home or in any other area of your life
- Withdrawal symptoms when trying to cut down or control ketamine use
Ketamine Overdose Symptoms :
Signs that someone has overdosed on ketamine may include :
- Unconsciousness
- Angry or agitated
- Dangerously slowed breathing
- Chest pains
- Fits or seizures
- Hallucinations or paranoia
- Chills or fever
- Paralysis
- Not being able to urinate
- Increased blood pressure
- Confusion
- Increased heartbeat
- Nausea
If you suspect someone has overdosed, it’s always best to administer naloxone. Naloxone reverses the effects of opioid drugs like heroin, morphine and fentanyl. Drugs bought illegally can contain other substances, including opioids, so if you have some naloxone it’s always better to administer it. If someone hasn’t overdosed on opioids, naloxone won’t harm them.
If you are worried about someone who may have overdosed, call 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance.
The majority of ketamine overdoses involve at least one other substance.
Unfortunately the signs of overdose can mirror the signs of being high, although to a greater degree. Don’t leave it until the person is unconscious to get help as this could be too late.
Stay calm and try to keep the person calm, sit them somewhere quiet and safe and keep them awake. Try and find out what they have taken and how. If they become unconscious, place them in the recovery position.
The Law
Ketamine is currently a Class B substance.
The maximum penalty for supplying and producing it is up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.
The maximum penalty for possession is up to 5 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.
You can be charged with supplying ketamine if you share it with someone.
Get Help
If you or someone you know needs help with their ketamine use there are various charities and support groups who can help. Help for Dependency can also help direct you to help and support. Your GP can support you and direct you to help and support.
https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk/
www.castlecraig.co.uk
www-turning-point.co.uk
www.talktofrank.com
References :
www.talktofrank.com
www.wearewithyou.org
www.verywellmind.com
www.castlecraig.co.uk
www.gov.uk