Ketamine, a type of medication known as a class III scheduled drug, that is widely used to induce loss of consciousness, produce relaxation, and relieve pain in both humans and animals. In other medical settings such as in hospitals, the use of Ketamine has been approved.
As one of the recreational drugs which is illegally used, the drug was known to have hallucinogenic, tranquilizing and dissociative effects when used. As per Medical News Today, when used as prescribed, Ketamine has its good safety effects. However, when Ketamine is used for recreational purposes, just like any other drug, it can also generate some of the potentially dangerous and negative health effects to a person. And if continuously used, it can lead to to tolerance and psychological addiction.
Therapeutic use of ketamine
Commonly used in veterinary practice, Ketamine can also be used in humans before, during and after a surgery so that the pain can be relieved. The drug was also known to have its remedy on prolonged epileptic seizures.
Generally speaking, Ketamine is considered safe since the drug does not depress the circulatory system like other anesthetic treatment does and when used, an individual's protective airway reflexes are preserved and is not harmed at all. However, in today's mainstream anesthesia, Ketamine is not used anymore because of some patients' psychological disturbing sensations when awakening from ketamine anesthesia.
Currently, other potential medical features of Ketamine is yet to be found out since it is still on the process of being researched thoroughly, particularly in the areas of substance use disorders and treatment-resistant depression.
Recreational use of ketamine
As it has been commonly seen in a club setting and perceived by many as a party drug, Ketamine rapidly produces a pleasure and sensation of floating in the air, which usually lasts for about an hour. Common effects of Ketamine for recreational users include euphoria and other "out of body" phenomenons but hallucinations that are similar to LSD are also common.
