Ketamine info card

Apr 8

Ketamine: Special K, ket

Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that can make you feel detached from your body, thoughts, or surroundings. It’s used in clinical settings for pain and treatment-resistant depression and recreationally, especially in party scenes.

How it hits:

Snorted: Effects begin in 5–15 minutes, peak around 30–60 minutes and taper off over 1.5 to 2 hours. Lingering after-effects may last longer.

Low doses may feel floaty, euphoric, or mildly dissociated, like being tipsy or dreamlike. At higher doses, people can experience extreme agitation, hallucinations, and paranoia.

Very high doses can lead to a 'K-hole', a state of full dissociation that may feel completely disconnected from the body and surroundings, even paralyzing.

Risky ketamine combos:

Mixing drugs increases the risk of serious health issues. Always check individual interactions and limit combinations:

+ Opioids = increases sedation, slowed or stopped breathing, especially when ketamine wears off.

+ Alcohol and Other Sedatives (like benzos, GHB) = Increases sedation, especially when ketamine wears off.

+ Stimulants (like cocaine, meth) = Raises risk of “overamping,” cardiovascular stress (heart rate/blood pressure), agitation, and hyperthermia (especially in warmer months).

+ Other Dissociatives (like nitrous, DXM) = Stacking dissociatives can make it hard to distinguish reality, increasing risks for accident or injury.

Stay safer:

Don’t share snorting tools to prevent HIV, Hepatitis C, and other infections.

Start low and go slow: High doses can be intense, especially in public.

Use in safe, familiar places, and not alone.

Avoid using if you’ve eaten a heavy meal. It can cause nausea or vomiting for some.

Sit or lie down to avoid falls or injury.

Use saline spray and switch up nostrils to limit damage to your nose.

Take breaks: Using ketamine regularly can lead to increased tolerance, changes in mental clarity over time, and harm your bladder and urinary tract.

Keep naloxone nearby: there is a risk that substances sold as or mistaken for ketamine may contain opioids (such as fentanyl) or other adulterants. Having naloxone accessible can help reverse a potential opioid overdose if exposure occurs.

Look out for each other tonight:

It’s okay to say no or take a break whenever you need.

Stay alert for any signs of distress and step in to help if needed.
In an emergency, call 911 for medical services. In Pennsylvania, you are protected under the Good Samaritan Law (Act 139 of 2014, "Drug Overdose Response Immunity Act") and will not get in trouble with the police.