Ketamine

Ketamine – Description

Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that was first developed in the 1960s for use in surgery and pain management. In controlled medical settings, it is still widely used as an anesthetic due to its safety and effectiveness. In recent years, ketamine has gained attention for its potential therapeutic benefits in mental health treatment, particularly for depression, PTSD, and anxiety disorders.

At sub-anesthetic doses, ketamine produces dissociative and psychedelic-like effects, including:

• A sense of detachment from the body and environment (“out-of-body” experiences)

• Distorted perception of time and space

• Vivid imagery or dream-like states

• Deep relaxation and reduced sensitivity to pain

Unlike classical psychedelics (such as LSD or psilocybin), ketamine primarily acts as an NMDA receptor antagonist, influencing glutamate in the brain, which plays a key role in mood, learning, and memory. Research suggests this unique mechanism may help “reset” certain neural pathways, making it especially promising in rapid-acting antidepressant therapies.

When used recreationally or without medical supervision, ketamine can pose risks such as confusion, nausea, memory impairment, or bladder-related issues with heavy use.