Ketamine
The Drug and Poison Information Center (DPIC), located at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, provides timely information about drugs and related issues.
Ketamine is an anesthetic commonly used in veterinary medicine, and to a limited extent, in pediatrics. Other terms that refer to Ketamine are K, Special K, Kit Kat, Super K, Jet Super Acid and Special LA Coke.
As a result of the abuse of this drug, in 1999 the FDA made Ketamine a Schedule III controlled substance in an effort to make it less available for street use and abuse.
It usually comes in a liquid form, but can be found as a powder, tablet, or capsule, and is inhaled, swallowed, or injected.
Users describe the feeling they get from Ketamine as a disconnected, out of body experience or speed rush, followed by powerful hallucinations (sights and sounds).
The effect is enhanced with other central nervous system depressant drugs such as alcohol, leading to an increase in dangerous side effects.
The side effects include:
- Irrational behavior
- Flashbacks
- Bad trips
- Memory impairment
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Restlessness
- Delirium
- Seizures
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Irregular / uncontrollable muscle movements
- Irregular heart beats
- Decreased breathing
- Cardiac / respiratory arrest
- Death
