Beta test rollout. This site is in community QA — please send feature requests, bug reports and data corrections on the Feedback page or on GitHub.

Home
    Disclaimer
    Ketamine molecular structure

    Ketamine Stats & Data

    K Ket Jet Kitty 2-cxm kittens
    NPS DataHub
    MW237.73
    FormulaC13H16ClNO
    CAS6740-88-1
    IUPAC2-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-methylaminocyclohexan-1-one
    SMILESCNC1(CCCCC1=O)c1ccccc1Cl
    InChIKeyYQEZLKZALYSWHR-UHFFFAOYSA-N
    Arylcyclohexylamines
    Chemical Class Arylcyclohexylamine
    Psychoactive Class Dissociative

    Pharmacology

    DrugBank
    State Solid

    Description

    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.

    Mechanism of Action

    Ketamine interacts with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, opioid receptors, monoaminergic receptors, muscarinic receptors and voltage sensitive Ca ion channels. Unlike other general anaesthetic agents, ketamine does not interact with GABA receptors.

    Pharmacodynamics

    Ketamine is a rapid-acting general anesthetic producing an anesthetic state characterized by profound analgesia, normal pharyngeal-laryngeal reflexes, normal or slightly enhanced skeletal muscle tone, cardiovascular and respiratory stimulation, and occasionally a transient and minimal respiratory depression. The anesthetic state produced by Ketamine has been termed as "dissociative anesthesia" in that it appears to selectively interrupt association pathways of the brain before producing somesthetic sensory blockade. It may selectively depress the thalamoneocortical system before significantly obtunding the more ancient cerebral centers and pathways (reticular-activating and limbic systems). Ketamine enhances descending inhibiting serotoninergic pathways and can exert antidepressive effects. These effects are seen in concentrations ten times lower than the needed concentration for anesthetic proposes. The effect of ketamine can be described as analgesic by the prevention of central sensitization in dorsal horn neurons as well as by the inhibition on the synthesis of nitric oxide. Ketamine can present cardiovascular changes and bronchodilatation.

    Metabolism

    Ketamine presents a mainly hepatic metabolism and its major metabolite is norketamine. The biotransformation of ketamine corresponds to N-dealkylation, hydroxylation of the cyclohexone ring, conjugation to glucuronic acid and dehydration of the hydroxylated metabolites for the formation of cyclohexene derivatives.

    Absorption

    Ketamine absorption is very rapid and the bioavailability is around 93%. After the first pass metabolism, only 17% of the administered dose is absorbed. It distributes very rapidly and presents a distribution half-life of 1.95 min. The Cmax levels at peak reach 0.75 mcg/ml in plasma and 0.2 mcg/ml in cerebrospinal fluid.

    Indication

    Ketamine is indicated as an anesthetic agent for recommended diagnostic and surgical procedures. If skeletal muscle relaxation is needed, it should be combined with a muscle relaxant. If the surgical procedure involves visceral pain, it should be supplemented with an agent that obtunds visceral pain. Ketamine can be used for induction of anesthesia prior other general anesthetic agents and as a supplement of low potency agents. Reports have indicated a potential use of ketamine as a therapeutic tool for the management of depression when administered in lower doses. These reports have increased the interest for ketamine in this area and several clinical trials are launched for this indication.

    Half-life

    The reported half-life in preclinical studies for ketamine is 186 min.

    Protein Binding

    The plasma protein binding of ketamine accounts for 53.5% of the administered dose.

    Elimination

    Pharmacokinetic studies have resulted in the recovery of 85-95% of the administered dose in urine mainly in the form of metabolites. Some other routes of elimination of ketamine are bile and feces. When administered intravenously the resultant recovery is distributed by 91% of the administered dose in urine and 3% in feces.

    Volume of Distribution

    The apparent volume of distribution of the central compartment and at steady-state are 371.3 ml/kg and 4060.3 ml/kg, respectively.

    Clearance

    The clearance rate of ketamine is high and of around 95 L/h/70kg.

    Metabolites

    Norketamine (active, primary metabolite)
    Dehydronorketamine (DHNK)
    (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine (active, implicated in antidepressant effects)
    Hydroxynorketamines (HNKs)
    Conjugated hydroxylated derivatives

    Receptor Profile

    Receptor Actions

    Agonists
    κ-opioid receptor agonist
    Dopamine D2 receptor agonist (partial)
    Sigma-1 receptor agonist
    Antagonists
    NMDA receptor antagonist (uncompetitive)
    5-HT2 receptor antagonist
    5-HT1A receptor antagonist
    Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist
    Inhibitors
    Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor

    Receptor Binding

    NMDA (racemic) Ki = 119 nM
    NMDA (S-ketamine) Ki = 300 nM
    NMDA (R-ketamine) Ki = 1.4 μM
    GluN2A IC50 = 330 nM
    GluN2B IC50 = 310 nM
    GluN2C IC50 = 510 nM
    GluN2D IC50 = 830 nM
    D2 >10 μM (low affinity)
    α7 nAChR No significant binding (metabolites active)
    5-HT3A potentiator
    κ-opioid agonist
    μ-opioid binder (no agonist activity)
    δ-opioid binder
    NET inhibitor

    Measured Affinities

    Guide to PHARMACOLOGY

    Measured binding and functional data for ketamine, curated by the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to PHARMACOLOGY. Each row cites the paper it came from. Lower concentrations mean tighter binding — a value in the sub-nanomolar range indicates a very potent interaction.

    Target Action Measure Value Concentration Species Source
    GluN2C GRIN2C Channel blocker pIC50 6.18 660.69 nM Human PMID 17303642

    Reading this. pKi, pEC50 and pIC50 are negative log molar values, so a higher number means a tighter interaction; the concentration column converts them for you. Values from non-human species are laboratory measurements and do not translate directly to human effect. Receptor affinity is not a dose — it describes what a molecule binds, not how much of it is safe to take.

    Receptor data from the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to PHARMACOLOGY (v2026.2), licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Matched to this substance by InChIKey.

    History & Culture

    Ketamine was first synthesized in 1962 by American scientist Calvin Stevens at Parke Davis Laboratories, initially designated "CI581." Stevens sought a safer anesthetic to replace phencyclidine, which produced severe and prolonged hallucinogenic effects upon recovery from anesthesia. By 1965, ketamine had demonstrated clinical utility as an anesthetic, and researcher Edward Domino coined the term "dissociative anesthetic" to describe its unique pharmacological profile. The United States Food and Drug Administration approved ketamine for human use in 1970. Ketamine's favorable safety margin proved particularly valuable in combat medicine. Its minimal respiratory depression compared to other available anesthetics, combined with its sympathomimetic properties, led to its extensive deployment as a field anesthetic during the Vietnam War. The substance remains on the World Health Organization's Essential Drugs List as one of the minimum medical requirements for a basic healthcare system.

    Recreational use of ketamine was first documented among medicinal chemists in the United States as early as 1965, spreading more widely by 1967. During the 1970s, patients recovering from ketamine anesthesia began reporting unwanted visions, drawing broader attention to the substance's psychoactive properties beyond clinical settings. In 1978, neuroscientist John Lilly published "The Scientist," an autobiographical account describing his extensive personal explorations with ketamine that helped popularize awareness of its dissociative effects among countercultural audiences. Recreational use expanded through the 1980s, and by the early 1990s ketamine had become more widespread in Europe, where it gained notoriety as an adulterant in MDMA tablets and became closely associated with the nightclub and rave scenes. By 1995, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration had placed ketamine on its emerging drugs list due to its growing presence in electronic music culture.

    Ketamine has accumulated numerous street names reflecting its diverse cultural contexts, including "Special K," "K," "Kit Kat," "kitty," "cat tranquilizer" (referencing its veterinary applications), "Cat Valium," and "Jet." The term "K-hole" describes a profound dissociative state involving visual and auditory hallucinations achieved at high doses, which has become a significant concept within psychedelic culture. Several prominent figures documented their entheogenic experiences with ketamine extensively, including John Lilly, Marcia Moore, and D.M. Turner. Turner's death by drowning during unsupervised ketamine use became a cautionary example of the serious physical risks posed by the drug's dissociative and anesthetic properties. More recently, actor Matthew Perry's death in October 2023, attributed primarily to the acute effects of ketamine, brought renewed public attention to the substance's dangers. Statistical data revealed more than 90 ketamine-related deaths in England and Wales between 2005 and 2013.

    The identification of ketamine's rapid antidepressant effects in 2000 represented a major breakthrough in psychiatric treatment. Research demonstrated that sub-anesthetic doses could produce immediate or near-immediate relief of depressive and suicidal symptoms, with therapeutic effects persisting up to three days following a single administration. This discovery has been characterized as the single most important advance in depression treatment in more than fifty years. The finding fundamentally shifted the direction of antidepressant research and development, generating widespread interest in NMDA receptor antagonists as a novel class of rapidly-acting treatments for mood disorders.

    Subjective Effects

    Physical

    The subjective physical effects of ketamine can be broken down into eight components all of which progressively intensify proportional to dosage.

    • Spontaneous tactile sensations: The ketamine body high is a sharp, pleasurable tingling sensation which is location specific to the hands, feet and head.
    • Tactile suppression: This partially to entirely suppresses one's sense of touch, creating feelings of numbness within the extremities. It is responsible for the anaesthetic properties of this substance.
    • Motor control loss: A loss of gross and fine motor control alongside of balance and coordination is prevalent within ketamine and becomes especially strong at higher dosages. This means that one should be sitting down before the onset (unless experienced) in case of falling over and injuring oneself.
    • Euphoria: This results in feelings of physical euphoria which range between mild pleasure to powerfully all-encompassing bliss.
    • Decreased bodily weight: This creates the sensation that the body is floating and has become entirely weightless. This effect is strangely stimulating and encourages physical activities at low to moderate dosages by making the body feel light and effortless to move.
    • Dizziness: Although uncommon, some people report dizziness under the influence of ketamine.
    • Nausea: High dose ketamine trips can sometimes result in nausea and vomiting at the peak of the trip. For most people, this is surprisingly not as unpleasant as they would initially expect due to the accompanying detachment from the physical senses.
    • Tactile disconnection
    • Physical autonomy
    Cognitive

    In comparison to other dissociatives, the cognitive effects of ketamine are often described as particularly forceful towards introspection and with more analytical thought process when compared to that of DXM and MXE.

    • Consciousness disconnection
    • Ego suppression, loss and death
    • Time distortion
    • Introspection
    • Deja-Vu
    • Personal bias suppression
    • Conceptual thinking
    • Direct communication with the subconscious
    • Unity and interconnectedness
    Sensory
    Auditory
    • Enhancements
    • Suppression
    • Distortions
    • Hallucinations
    Visual · Distortions

    Ketamine exhibits a full array of dissociative distortions and alterations in visual perception.

    • Perspective distortions
    • Environmental cubism
    • Environmental orbism
    • Scenery slicing
    Visual · Hallucinatory States

    At high dosages, ketamine can produce a full range of high level hallucinatory states in a fashion that is less consistent and reproducible than that of many other commonly used psychedelics.

    • External hallucinations: In comparison to other dissociatives, this effect can occur at heavy dosages but is extremely infrequent in comparison to the same effect found within deliriants. It can be comprehensively described as delirious in believability, autonomous in controllability and solid in style. The most common theme for this effect to follow is one of experiencing and talking to friends around oneself when they are not actually present.
    • Internal hallucinations: In comparison to other dissociatives, this effect can occur at heavy dosages, but is considerably less common than the same effect found within psychedelics and deliriants. It can be comprehensively described as delirious in believability, fixed in style, equal in new experiences and memory replays in content, autonomous in controllability and solid in style.
    Visual · Suppressions
    • Visual disconnection: This eventually results in the experience of the famous 'K-hole' or, more specifically, holes, spaces and voids alongside of structures.
    • Double vision: This component is prevalent at moderate to heavy dosages and makes reading impossible unless one closes an eye.
    • Pattern recognition suppression: This effect generally occurs at higher dosages and makes one unable to recognize and interpret perceivable visual data.
    • Visual acuity suppression

    Forked from Subjective Effect Documentation by Josie Kins, May 2013. Via dose.wiki (CC0).

    Toxicity

    PsychonautWiki PubChem DrugBank

    Short-term exposure of cultures of GABAergic neurons to ketamine at high concentrations led to a significant loss of differentiated cells in one study, and non-cell death-inducing concentrations of ketamine (10 μg/ml) may still initiate long-term alterations of the dendritic arbor in differentiated neurons. More recent studies of ketamine-induced neurotoxicity have focused on primates in an attempt to use a more accurate model than rodents. One such study administered daily ketamine doses consistent with typical recreational doses (1 mg/kg IV) to adolescent cynomolgus monkeys for varying periods of time. Decreased locomotor activity and indicators of increased cell death in the prefrontal cortex were detected in monkeys given daily injections for six months, but not those given daily injections for one month.

    Carcinogenicity

    No indication of carcinogenicity to humans (not listed by IARC).

    Liver injury risk

    No documented concern

    FDA LiverTox / DILIrank. Reflects published case reports of liver injury, not absolute risk.

    Overdose

    Fatal ketamine overdoses are rare. Ketamine's toxicity drastically increases when it is mixed with other substances. Overdoses can cause respiratory depression, vomiting, positional asphyxia, heart problems, rhabdomyolysis causing kidney failure and rarely seizures.

    Addiction & dependence

    Ketamine has moderate to high abuse potential and produces psychological dependence with chronic use. When dependence has developed, cravings and withdrawal effects may occur if a person suddenly stops their usage. Tolerance to the main effects of ketamine develops with prolonged and repeated use.

    Organ-specific toxicity

    Short-term exposure of cultures of GABAergic neurons to ketamine at high concentrations led to a significant loss of differentiated cells in one study, and non-cell death-inducing concentrations of ketamine (10 μg/ml) may still initiate long-term alterations of the dendritic arbor in differentiated neurons. More recent studies of ketamine-induced neurotoxicity have focused on primates in an attempt to use a more accurate model than rodents. One such study administered daily ketamine doses consistent with typical recreational doses (1 mg/kg IV) to adolescent cynomolgus monkeys for varying periods of time.

    Toxicity (DrugBank)

    Preclinical studies related to the blocking of NMDA receptors have shown an increase in apoptosis in the developing brain which results in cognitive deficits when used for longer than 3 hours. Toxicity studies regarding carcinogenesis have not been performed. Regarding mutagenesis and fertility, ketamine showed to be clastogenic and to not have effects on fertility.

    Effect Profile

    Curated + 569 Reports
    Dissociative 6.9

    Strong dissociative depth with moderate insight and motor impairment, low mania

    Dissociative Depth×3
    89.23.4 12/21
    Mania / Compulsion×1
    32.62.6 1/21
    Insight / Novel Thought×2
    70.32.0 0/21
    Motor / Sensory Impairment×1
    74.22.4 3/21
    Catalog Erowid BlueLight

    User Experiences

    Dissociative Depth "K is immensely bleak and the K Hole is just one great void." — Effect Index ↗
    Motor Impairment "I feel like I’ve snorted ice, that this icy numbness is radiating from my sinuses outwards." — Effect Index ↗
    Mania "I would describe it as a lightheaded sensation with some moderate euphoria attached to it, I am beginning to feel less depressed and start getting excited." — Effect Index ↗

    Duration Timeline

    Bluelight
    Onset Comeup Peak Offset After Effects
    Oral
    10-30 minutes
    4-19 minutes
    45 minutes - 1.5 hours
    4-8 hours
    Sublingual
    4-10 minutes
    4-19 minutes
    30 minutes
    2-12 hours
    Insufflated
    4-15 minutes
    4-19 minutes
    30 minutes - 1.0 hours
    30 minutes - 1.0 hours
    2-12 hours
    Total: 1-2 hours
    Intramuscular
    1-4 minutes
    4-15 minutes
    15-45 minutes
    2-12 hours
    Intravenous
    1-3 minutes
    3-4 minutes
    2-12 hours
    Rectal
    10-19 minutes
    10-19 minutes
    30-40 minutes
    2-12 hours

    Empirical Duration

    Erowid Reports

    Median times after the dose that Erowid reports state. A curve is drawn only when reports state all four points (onset, peak begins, comedown begins, back to baseline) and the medians fall in that order. No point is estimated from another.

    Onset Come Up Peak Offset
    Insufflated (34 reports)

    Community Effects

    TripSit
    Positive
    hole
    Negative
    addiction

    Tolerance & Pharmacokinetics

    drugs.wiki

    Tolerance Decay

    Full tolerance 1d Half tolerance 21d Baseline ~28d

    Cross-Tolerances

    Dextromethorphan
    PCP
    Methoxetamine
    3-MeO-PCP
    3-HO-PCP
    3-MeO-PCE
    3-HO-PCE
    O-PCE

    Experience Report Analysis

    Erowid BlueLight
    712 Reports
    361 Single-substance
    1994–2025 Date Range
    326 With Age Data
    29 Effects Detected

    Demographics

    Gender Distribution

    Age Distribution

    Reports Over Time

    Effect Analysis

    Erowid + Bluelight

    Effects aggregated from 411 experience reports (361 single-substance Erowid + 208 Bluelight)

    411 Reports
    152 Effects Detected
    53 Positive
    55 Adverse
    44 Neutral

    Effect Sentiment Distribution

    Confidence Distribution

    Each bar is the share of reports mentioning the effect; its whisker, and the band on the rows below, is the 95% interval: where the share could plausibly be with other reports of the same kind.

    Positive Effects 53

    Music Enhancement 33.1% (95% interval 29 to 38 percent) 83%
    Geometric Imagery 32.0% (95% interval 21 to 46 percent) 86%
    Awe 30.0% (95% interval 19 to 44 percent) 82%
    Euphoria 26.5% (95% interval 22 to 31 percent) 84%
    Empathy 25.8% (95% interval 22 to 30 percent) 80%
    Color Enhancement 25.7% (95% interval 22 to 30 percent) 82%
    Out-Of-Body Experience 24.0% (95% interval 14 to 37 percent) 88%
    Insight 22.0% (95% interval 13 to 35 percent) 86%
    Mystical Quality 18.0% (95% interval 10 to 31 percent) 85%
    Thought Acceleration 18.0% (95% interval 10 to 31 percent) 79%
    Stimulation 17.5% (95% interval 14 to 22 percent) 83%
    Introspection 16.8% (95% interval 14 to 21 percent) 80%
    Environmental Transfiguration 16.0% (95% interval 8 to 28 percent) 87%
    Sociability Enhancement 14.0% (95% interval 7 to 26 percent) 84%
    Body High 12.4% (95% interval 10 to 16 percent) 85%
    Lightness 12.0% (95% interval 6 to 24 percent) 81%
    Contentment 12.0% (95% interval 6 to 24 percent) 82%
    Oneness 12.0% (95% interval 6 to 24 percent) 86%
    Empathogenic Connection 12.0% (95% interval 6 to 24 percent) 80%
    Tactile Enhancement 8.5% (95% interval 6 to 12 percent) 80%

    Adverse Effects 55

    Anxiety 43.1% (95% interval 38 to 48 percent) 83%
    Body Load 34.0% (95% interval 22 to 48 percent) 81%
    Fear 28.0% (95% interval 18 to 42 percent) 85%
    Confusion 27.7% (95% interval 24 to 32 percent) 87%
    Nausea 16.3% (95% interval 13 to 20 percent) 83%
    Motor Impairment 15.3% (95% interval 12 to 19 percent) 89%
    Ataxia 14.0% (95% interval 7 to 26 percent) 84%
    Memory Suppression 13.2% (95% interval 10 to 17 percent) 80%
    Thought Disorganization 12.0% (95% interval 6 to 24 percent) 81%
    Delusion 10.0% (95% interval 4 to 21 percent) 80%
    Body Distortion 10.0% (95% interval 4 to 21 percent) 83%
    Panic 10.0% (95% interval 4 to 21 percent) 83%
    Paranoia 8.0% (95% interval 3 to 19 percent) 78%
    Paranoid Ideation 6.0% (95% interval 2 to 16 percent) 68%
    Communication Suppression 6.0% (95% interval 2 to 16 percent) 80%
    Focus Suppression 6.0% (95% interval 2 to 16 percent) 72%
    Pain Enhancement 6.0% (95% interval 2 to 16 percent) 90%
    Appetite Suppression 6.0% (95% interval 2 to 16 percent) 75%
    Amnesia 6.0% (95% interval 2 to 16 percent) 85%
    Dysphoria 6.0% (95% interval 2 to 16 percent) 85%
    ⚠ Psychosis 2.8% (95% interval 2 to 5 percent) 70%
    ⚠ Seizure 1.1% (95% interval 0 to 3 percent) 70%
    Show 33 more adverse effects
    Dizziness 6.0% (95% interval 2 to 16 percent) 80%
    Muscle Tension 4.4% (95% interval 3 to 7 percent) 80%
    Chills 4.0% (95% interval 1 to 14 percent) 82%
    Visual Snow 4.0% (95% interval 1 to 14 percent) 85%
    Field Narrowing 4.0% (95% interval 1 to 14 percent) 88%
    Thought Deceleration 4.0% (95% interval 1 to 14 percent) 80%
    Vomiting 4.0% (95% interval 1 to 14 percent) 92%
    Temporal Disorientation 4.0% (95% interval 1 to 14 percent) 82%
    Increased Heart Rate 3.3% (95% interval 2 to 6 percent) 70%
    Jaw Clenching 2.2% (95% interval 1 to 4 percent) 80%
    Bloating 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent) 85%
    Boundary Dissolution (Social) 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent) 80%
    Muscle Spasm 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent) 85%
    Body Temperature Change 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent) 80%
    Dry Mouth 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent) 80%
    Disrupted Sleep Architecture 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent) 75%
    Emotional Suppression 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent) 85%
    Music Distortion 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent) 75%
    Guilt 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent) 80%
    Regret 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent) 80%
    Isolation Preference 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent) 70%
    Derealization 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent) 85%
    Sadness 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent) 75%
    Crying 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent) 70%
    Headache 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent) 75%
    Loneliness 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent) 85%
    Stomach Cramps 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent) 90%
    Double Vision 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent) 75%
    Sociability Suppression 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent) 80%
    Urinary Retention 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent) 85%
    Aggression 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent) 80%
    Near-Death Experience 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent) 75%
    Identity Confusion 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent) 90%
    Show 44 neutral or unclassified mentions
    Dissociation 49.4% (95% interval 45 to 54 percent)
    Depersonalization 46.0% (95% interval 33 to 60 percent)
    Time Dilation 42.0% (95% interval 29 to 56 percent)
    Visual Distortions 30.4% (95% interval 26 to 35 percent)
    Auditory Effects 23.4% (95% interval 20 to 28 percent)
    Entity Imagery 22.0% (95% interval 13 to 35 percent)
    Closed-Eye Visuals 20.2% (95% interval 17 to 24 percent)
    Numbness 18.0% (95% interval 10 to 31 percent)
    Ego Dissolution 13.3% (95% interval 10 to 17 percent)
    Hospital 12.7% (95% interval 10 to 17 percent)
    Tingling 12.0% (95% interval 6 to 24 percent)
    Sedation 10.3% (95% interval 8 to 14 percent)
    Thought Loops 10.0% (95% interval 4 to 21 percent)
    Time Distortion 9.9% (95% interval 7 to 13 percent)
    Open-Eye Visuals 7.5% (95% interval 5 to 10 percent)
    Frequent Urination 6.0% (95% interval 2 to 16 percent)
    Warping 6.0% (95% interval 2 to 16 percent)
    Auditory-Visual Synesthesia 6.0% (95% interval 2 to 16 percent)
    Heaviness 4.0% (95% interval 1 to 14 percent)
    Tactile Suppression 4.0% (95% interval 1 to 14 percent)
    Distractibility 4.0% (95% interval 1 to 14 percent)
    Size Distortion 4.0% (95% interval 1 to 14 percent)
    Tactile Hallucination 4.0% (95% interval 1 to 14 percent)
    Visual Fragmentation 4.0% (95% interval 1 to 14 percent)
    Drowsiness 4.0% (95% interval 1 to 14 percent)
    Auditory Suppression 4.0% (95% interval 1 to 14 percent)
    Perspective Distortion 4.0% (95% interval 1 to 14 percent)
    Pareidolia 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent)
    Contrast Enhancement 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent)
    Time Looping 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent)
    Vulnerability 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent)
    Sweating 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent)
    Perceived Size Change 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent)
    Tinnitus 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent)
    Memory Enhancement 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent)
    Identity Alteration 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent)
    Vibrating 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent)
    Deja Vu 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent)
    Afterimages 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent)
    Appetite Increase 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent)
    Restlessness 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent)
    Melting/flowing 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent)
    Motor Automatisms 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent)
    Involuntary Movements 2.0% (95% interval 0 to 10 percent)

    Also reported in combinations. In the 351 Ketamine reports where another drug was taken too, 37 (10.5%) mention hospital, emergency services or an overdose, 5 (1.4%) a seizure and 21 (6.0%) psychosis. In the 361 single-substance reports: 12.7%, 1.1% and 2.8%. These are not in the figures above: they cannot be put down to Ketamine alone, and a mention is not always something that happened to the writer.

    Dose-Response Correlation

    How effect frequency changes across dose levels. Whiskers, and the numbers' hover text, give each figure's 95% interval.

    Not drawn, too few reports (a dose tier needs 20): Intramuscular Heavy (n=16), Insufflated Common (n=10), Insufflated Strong (n=16). Why 20?

    View data table
    Effect Heavy (n=36)
    Dissociation 72.2% (95% interval 56 to 84 percent)
    Anxiety 58.3% (95% interval 42 to 73 percent)
    Euphoria 47.2% (95% interval 32 to 63 percent)
    Music Enhancement 44.4% (95% interval 30 to 60 percent)
    Visual Distortions 44.4% (95% interval 30 to 60 percent)
    Confusion 41.7% (95% interval 27 to 58 percent)
    Empathy 36.1% (95% interval 22 to 52 percent)
    Auditory Effects 30.6% (95% interval 18 to 47 percent)
    Color Enhancement 27.8% (95% interval 16 to 44 percent)
    Closed-Eye Visuals 22.2% (95% interval 12 to 38 percent)
    Nausea 22.2% (95% interval 12 to 38 percent)
    Sedation 22.2% (95% interval 12 to 38 percent)
    Time Distortion 19.4% (95% interval 10 to 35 percent)
    Ego Dissolution 19.4% (95% interval 10 to 35 percent)
    Body High 19.4% (95% interval 10 to 35 percent)

    Subjective Effect Ontology

    Experience Reports

    Structured effect tags extracted from 762 Erowid & Bluelight experience reports using a controlled vocabulary of 220+ canonical effects across 15 domains.

    Auditory

    music enhancement 299 39.2% (95% interval 36 to 43 percent)

    Cognitive

    confusion 237 31.1% (95% interval 28 to 34 percent) focus enhancement 184 25.8% (95% interval 23 to 29 percent) introspection 123 16.2% (95% interval 14 to 19 percent)

    Emotional

    anxiety 348 45.7% (95% interval 42 to 49 percent) euphoria 249 32.7% (95% interval 29 to 36 percent) empathy 225 29.6% (95% interval 26 to 33 percent)

    Gastrointestinal

    nausea 149 19.6% (95% interval 17 to 22 percent)

    Motor

    stimulation 212 27.9% (95% interval 25 to 31 percent) sedation 111 14.5% (95% interval 12 to 17 percent)

    Selfhood

    dissociation 387 50.8% (95% interval 47 to 54 percent) ego dissolution 104 13.7% (95% interval 11 to 16 percent)

    Tactile

    tactile enhancement 178 23.4% (95% interval 20 to 26 percent)

    Visual

    visual distortions 336 44.1% (95% interval 41 to 48 percent) color enhancement 246 32.3% (95% interval 29 to 36 percent) closed eye visuals 154 20.2% (95% interval 18 to 23 percent)

    16 unique effects extracted · Derived from Erowid & Bluelight reports

    Dose–Effect Mapping

    Experience Reports

    How reported effects shift across dose tiers, based on 361 single-substance experience reports. The shaded band on each bar is its 95% interval. An arrow (↑ ↓) marks a change between the lowest and highest tier that count an effect only when the gap is bigger than chance would explain; ~ means no clear change. How changes are called

    Not drawn, too few reports (a dose tier needs 20): Intramuscular Heavy (n=16), Insufflated Common (n=10), Insufflated Strong (n=16). Why 20?

    Limited tier coverage — most reports fall within the Heavy range. Effects at other dose levels may not be represented.

    Insufflated dose range: 60.0–250.0 mg (median 144.0 mg)
    Effect Heavy (n=36) Change with dose
    dissociation
    72% (95% interval 56 to 84 percent)
    anxiety
    58% (95% interval 42 to 73 percent)
    euphoria
    47% (95% interval 32 to 63 percent)
    music enhancement
    44% (95% interval 30 to 60 percent)
    visual distortions
    44% (95% interval 30 to 60 percent)
    confusion
    42% (95% interval 27 to 58 percent)
    empathy
    36% (95% interval 22 to 52 percent)
    auditory effects
    31% (95% interval 18 to 47 percent)
    color enhancement
    28% (95% interval 16 to 44 percent)
    closed-eye visuals
    22% (95% interval 12 to 38 percent)
    nausea
    22% (95% interval 12 to 38 percent)
    sedation
    22% (95% interval 12 to 38 percent)
    time distortion
    19% (95% interval 10 to 35 percent)
    ego dissolution
    19% (95% interval 10 to 35 percent)
    body high
    19% (95% interval 10 to 35 percent)
    introspection
    19% (95% interval 10 to 35 percent)
    stimulation
    17% (95% interval 8 to 32 percent)
    open-eye visuals
    11% (95% interval 4 to 25 percent)
    hospital
    11% (95% interval 4 to 25 percent)
    memory suppression
    11% (95% interval 4 to 25 percent)

    Showing top 20 of 23 effects

    Dosage Distribution

    Dose distribution from experience reports, one dose per report (the first listed). Doses above Q3 + 3×IQR, far above what people typically take, are left out of the median and range and listed under each route: most are real heavy doses or overdoses, not mistakes.

    Oral

    Median: 310.0 mg IQR: 100.0–437.5 mg n=14

    1 report gave a dose above the typical range (2,000 mg), so it is not in the figures above. Listing a dose here does not mean it is safe.

    Show the report

    Intramuscular

    Median: 90.0 mg IQR: 50.0–125.0 mg n=53

    1 dose more than 50 times the median may be a typing or unit error and is not in the figures either: check the report.

    Show the report

    Possibly a typing or unit error:

    Insufflated

    Median: 144.0 mg IQR: 60.0–250.0 mg n=129

    3 reports gave a dose above the typical range (1,000 mg), so they are not in the figures above. Listing a dose here does not mean it is safe.

    Show the reports

    Intravenous

    Median: 50.0 mg IQR: 50.0–93.3 mg n=11

    Real-World Dose Distribution

    Erowid

    From 537 of 830 recorded dose entries: those that state a weight (mg, g or µg), in routes with at least five of them. Values above Q3 + 3×IQR, far above what people typically take, are left out; they can include real heavy doses and overdoses, not only mistakes.

    Rectal (n=32)

    Median: 100.0mg 25th: 71.25mg 75th: 110.0mg 90th: 140.0mg

    Insufflated (n=297)

    Median: 90.0mg 25th: 40.0mg 75th: 180.0mg 90th: 300.0mg

    Oral (n=29)

    Median: 240.0mg 25th: 100.0mg 75th: 375.0mg 90th: 664.0mg

    Intravenous (n=29)

    Median: 50.0mg 25th: 45.0mg 75th: 100.0mg 90th: 102.34mg

    Intramuscular (n=124)

    Median: 70.0mg 25th: 50.0mg 75th: 110.0mg 90th: 147.0mg

    Smoked (n=7)

    Median: 70.0mg 25th: 40.0mg 75th: 275.0mg 90th: 580.0mg

    Sublingual (n=5)

    Median: 300.0mg 25th: 75.0mg 75th: 450.0mg 90th: 540.0mg

    Common Combinations

    Most co-occurring substances, as a share of all 712 reports filed under Ketamine; whiskers are 95% intervals

    Form / Preparation

    Most common forms and preparations, as a share of the 506 reports that give one; whiskers are 95% intervals

    Body-Weight Dosing

    Dose per kg of body weight, one dose per report (the first listed), from reports giving a weight of 30–250 kg. Doses above Q3 + 3×IQR, far above what people typically take, are left out of the median and range and listed under each route.

    Intramuscular

    Median: 1.244 mg/kg IQR: 0.746–1.716 mg/kg n=44

    1 report gave a dose above the typical range (5.085 mg/kg), so it is not in the figures above. Listing a dose here does not mean it is safe.

    1 dose more than 50 times the median may be a typing or unit error and is not in the figures either: check the report.

    Show the reports

    Possibly a typing or unit error:

    Insufflated

    Median: 1.978 mg/kg IQR: 0.855–3.39 mg/kg n=120

    3 reports gave a dose above the typical range (12.5–15 mg/kg), so they are not in the figures above. 1 of them mentions hospital, emergency services or an overdose. Listing a dose here does not mean it is safe.

    Show the reports

    Oral

    Median: 1.838 mg/kg IQR: 1.373–6.73 mg/kg n=11

    1 report gave a dose above the typical range (33.898 mg/kg), so it is not in the figures above. Listing a dose here does not mean it is safe.

    Show the report

    Intravenous

    Median: 0.812 mg/kg IQR: 0.609–1.558 mg/kg n=11

    Unknown

    Median: 2.022 mg/kg IQR: 0.882–2.968 mg/kg n=8

    Redose Patterns

    Redosing behavior across 551 reports

    24.3% (95% interval 21 to 28 percent) Redosed
    1.4 Avg Doses
    21m Median Interval

    Legal Status

    Not under international control (WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence recommended against scheduling in January 2016) WHO Essential Medicines List
    Country Status Notes
    Australia Schedule 8 Possession, manufacture, or supply without authority is illegal. Classified as a controlled drug requiring strict regulation.
    Austria Prescription only (NR medication) Legal for medical and veterinary use. Repeated dispense prohibited. Illegal when sold, possessed, or produced without a prescription under the Neue-Psychoaktive-Substanzen-Gesetz (NPSG).
    Belgium Prescription only Legal for medical and veterinary use. Possession without prescription can result in arrest.
    Brazil Controlled (veterinary) Legal for veterinary use only. Illegal when sold or possessed for human use.
    Cambodia Controlled Not legal to possess without a prescription. Some pharmacies may sell ketamine, though most consider it forbidden.
    Canada Schedule I (CDSA) Controlled under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act as an analogue of phencyclidine (PCP). Sale, possession, and production are illegal unless authorized for medical, scientific, or industrial purposes.
    China Schedule II Classified as a class II psychiatric drug. Trade is limited to licensed wholesalers and retail sales are prohibited.
    Croatia Controlled Possession and distribution regulated under national drug legislation.
    Czech Republic Schedule IV (List 7) Available exclusively with a prescription under Nařízení vlády č. 463/2013 Sb. Sales and distribution controlled under the Medicines Act.
    Denmark Controlled Illegal except for scientific and medicinal uses as of February 8, 2008.
    France Schedule IV (Narcotic) Listed as a narcotic in Annexe IV of the Liste des substances classées comme stupéfiants. Injectable preparations classified as Médicine - List I and subject to strict controls.
    Germany Prescription only (Anlage 1 AMVV) Available by prescription for medical and veterinary use. Illegal when sold or possessed without a prescription.
    Hong Kong Schedule I Classified as a dangerous drug with strict controls on possession, manufacture, and distribution.
    India Unscheduled Not listed under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. Reportedly available over-the-counter in many pharmacies.
    Italy Tabella I Listed in Tabella I of Tabelle delle sostanze stupefacenti e psicotrope. Illegal to possess, purchase, or sell.
    Japan Narcotic Classified as a narcotic under the Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs Control Act (麻薬及び向精神薬取締法).
    Luxembourg Prohibited Prohibited substance for recreational use under national drug legislation.
    Malaysia Illegal Controlled under Section 39b of the Dangerous Drugs Act. Possession and sale are illegal.
    Mexico Category 3 Classified under Mexico's General Health Law as having therapeutic value but constituting a problem for public health. Acquisition restricted to licensed veterinarians only under Medicines Administration Regulations.
    Netherlands Unscheduled (medication) Treated as a medication rather than a controlled substance. Not listed in List 1 or 2 of the Opium Act. Sales require appropriate pharmaceutical licensing.
    New Zealand Class C Reclassified as a Class C substance in February 2008, the same category as cannabis and codeine.
    Norway Class A Classified as a Class A drug since 1999. Sold under the brand name Ketalar for authorized medical use.
    Poland Controlled Illegal to possess, manufacture, and sell except for authorized medical purposes.
    Singapore Class A Class A controlled drug. Traffickers face 5-20 years imprisonment and 5-15 strokes of the cane. Possession of more than 113g is deemed trafficking.
    Slovakia Schedule II Added to Schedule II (Grade 2) in October 2009, aligned with the 1971 United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances.
    South Korea Controlled Controlled substance as of January 2005. Possession and sale are illegal.
    Spain Schedule IV Classified as a Schedule IV substance under Spanish drug control legislation.
    Sweden Schedule IV Scheduled as of July 1, 2005 following increased reports of recreational misuse.
    Switzerland Controlled (Verzeichnis B) Specifically named under Verzeichnis B. Possession or handling without a license is illegal. Medicinal use is permitted.
    Taiwan Schedule III Controlled under national narcotics legislation with restrictions on possession and distribution.
    Turkey Green prescription only Available only with a 'green prescription' designation. Illegal when sold or possessed without a prescription.
    United Kingdom Class B Reclassified as a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 on June 10, 2014. Previously classified as Class C from January 1, 2006. Prior to 2006, possession was legal though sales required licensing.
    United States Schedule III Emergency scheduled by the DEA on August 12, 1999. Previously unscheduled with FDA-regulated sales. Possession without prescription or license is illegal. Esketamine nasal spray (Spravato) was FDA-approved in March 2019 for treatment-resistant depression under restricted distribution.
    ← Back to Ketamine