Puberty 101Drug Abuse
| Ketamine |
| What It Is |
| Ketamine is 2-(2-Chlorophenyl)-2-(methylamino)- cyclohexanone, ketamine (commercially sold as Ketalar) is a powerful anaesthetic used for animals, although it is used in some human medical applications. It was first developed by the University of Michigan in 1965. |
| Street Names |
| Ketamine 'K', Special K, Vitamin K |
| How It Is Taken |
| It is either snorted or swallowed as a powder and either swallowed or injected as a liquid. If injected it is usually injected into the muscles rather than a vein. |
| What It Does |
| Ketamine causes hallucinations and as an anaesthetic
stops the user feeling pain. Users may feel as if they have entered another
reality or left their body. Like most anesthetics, eating or drinking before taking ketamine may induce vomiting. Temporary paralysis has been reported in some users but is rare. If regular used, the user will develop a tolerance to ketamine. It is not known whether ketamine use can lead to psychological or physical dependence, although both may be likely in some individuals. An overdose can also cause the heart to stop. |
| Medical Uses |
| Ketamine is used medically as an anaesthetic for animals, although it is used in some human medical applications. |