The History and Origins of the Drug Ketamine
Have you ever wondered this simple question – where does Ketamine come from in nature? We so often take the things around us for granted that we never stop to think about origins and what they might mean for how we view a certain product.
We’ll take a look behind the curtain on this page. Whether you have been using ketamine in an effort to deal with chronic pain or to treat depression, learning more about this potentially dangerous drug might impact how you think about it moving forward.
If you are ready to seek medical treatment to deal with your ketamine use, South Shores Detox is here to serve you. Our experienced, professional staff understands the effects of ketamine and will work together with you to craft a detox plan and get your ketamine treatment started right away.
Ketamine is a Synthetic Compound and Not a Natural One
Unlike some other drugs, ketamine is not a substance that is found naturally in plants or animals. It is completely synthetic, having been developed in a lab. The chemical structure of ketamine was carefully designed by chemists to have a desired impact on the human body.
Understanding this reality can impact how we think about ketamine. It has FDA approval for use in specific applications but is not meant for recreational use. Just because a drug is approved for one type of use does not mean it is suitable for use in other applications.
A Brief History of Ketamine
The history of ketamine dates back to 1962. It was created by a scientist named Calvin Stevens as an alternative to phencyclidine, more commonly known as PCP. At that time, PCP was used as an anesthetic, but it came along with many unwanted psychological side effects.
The goal in the development of ketamine was to have an option for medical use that would relieve pain without the dissociation and hallucinations that were often created by using PCP. By 1970, ketamine treatment was FDA approved for use in both humans and animals and it officially had legal status as a treatment option.
Many countries have approved ketamine treatment for medical use, and some places have decriminalized the possession of it for personal use and not for selling. The World Health Organization, for its part, continues to consider ketamine to be a valuable anesthetic.
The Difference Between Medical and Recreational Use
There are still medical treatment situations where ketamine infusions are used. It can be employed as an anesthetic during surgeries, and it will sometimes be used in the emergency room to get control over a patient’s pain levels. More recently, some medical use has targeted treatment resistant depression through small doses of ketamine.
Ketamine can be used safely when a medical professional is in charge of administering the drug. Unfortunately, it has become more and more common for the drug to be used outside of medical settings, such as through a nasal spray. In that case, it can start to become very dangerous.
When used recreationally, ketamine can be a harmful dissociative anesthetic that leads to many negative outcomes. Those outcomes can include dependence on the drug, memory loss, abdominal pain and bladder damage, and more.
How Ketamine Works in the Brain
The mechanism that ketamine uses to achieve its results is blocking the NMDA receptor in the brain. As an NMDA receptor antagonist, ketamine is able to interfere with the normal transmission of some brain signals. Those signals are particularly related to pain perception, mood regulation, and memory.
It is also seen that ketamine triggers a surge of glutamate in the brain, which is a neurotransmitter. That can help to explain why some people find that ketamine offers rapid onset antidepressant effects. Some people will see their mood improve quickly when using this medication recreationally, and they often turn into daily users with a growing addiction as a result.
In the long term, if someone is using ketamine treatment in an unregulated, uncontrolled manner, they may experience neurological disruption. The drug wasn’t meant to be used that way, so self medicating with ketamine to address depression or anxiety is a dangerous idea.
The Dangers of Excess Ketamine Use
It’s worth taking a closer look at why ketamine is so dangerous and why its use as a street drug should be avoided. The first has to do with how it is acquired or produced. In a medical setting, the ketamine being administered is carefully tested and held to high quality standards. That’s not the same story on the streets. Instead, ketamine may be illegally manufactured in homemade labs without any oversight or regulation.
Off label, illegitimate ketamine is inherently dangerous. It gets worse, however, as it might be adulterated with substances like fentanyl, meth, or benzos. Those additions naturally increase the potential for harm significantly and make overdose a real possibility.
Ketamine has also been known to be used as a so-called date rape drug. Because it can be a powerful anesthetic, and because it has no taste or smell, it can be administered secretively in this harmful and illegal fashion.
Watching for Signs of Trouble
There is often a thin line between the medical use of ketamine and a damaging, destructive habit. You might have it used for general anesthesia when receiving medical treatment, only to go back to it later for dissociative properties and other effects. As you go beyond standard treatment, it’s important to watch for signs that you might be developing a pattern of dangerous use that could end badly if not stopped as soon as possible.
One of the first warning signs is an increased tolerance for the drug. If you need more and more of it to reach the same level, that’s a warning sign that shouldn’t be ignored. Also, if your use of ketamine leads to memory problems or general confusion, stop and get help right away.
You can also see the harms start to add up in terms of what happens to your life as a whole. For example, if you are neglecting responsibilities at work or school, an addiction may be in place. You might only be focused on enjoying the dissociative effects of the drug without thinking about how it is impacting your life in a negative way.
Finally, there is the underlying reason for your use that should be monitored. Why are you turning to ketamine in the first place? If it’s to escape acute pain from negative memories or trauma, you are going down a dangerous path. You may also be using other substances along with ketamine, which only increases the risk.
What to Expect During Ketamine Detox
Breaking a habit of regular use of ketamine won’t be easy. But it’s not impossible. The biggest key to this process is getting help from a licensed and experienced professional. Entering medical detox rather than trying to do it on your own is the right way to approach this situation.
When you enter medical detox, you will be monitored around the clock as you stop using ketamine and let your body process what remains in your system. If any medical issues arise, like a rapid heart rate or high blood pressure, those problems can be treated immediately by the medical staff caring for you. The guidance you are offered during this time will make it far more likely that you reach the finish line of the detox process without turning back to the drug for relief.
This type of detox is also a great way to transition into treatment once the drug is out of your system. Remember, detox isn’t a finish line. This is a starting point that will need to be supported by ongoing treatment – perhaps for years to come – to keep you on track.
Connect With Us Now for Help to Quit Ketamine
People use ketamine in an attempt to deal with various mental health conditions, including post traumatic stress disorder, but this drug comes with some very serious risks. You might have started with a lower dose only to gradually shift to high doses as your tolerance develops.
Don’t let your use of ketamine go any further without getting help. The team at South Shores Detox understands how to approach this situation in a controlled, strategic manner to guide clients to safe and successful outcomes.
Take a moment now to give us a call and learn more about the services we offer. This one big step could turn your life in an entirely new direction.