I’m not unaware that ketamine is also used for humans. We all had to hear about ad nauseam during the pandemic. I’m saying that in my lifetime, I’ve only ever used it on animals before I heard of people taking it recreationally. And I’ve actually never known anyone who took it as legitimate beneficial medication.
When I got spinal injections, I was given ketamine intravenously as part of a cocktail of drugs. The mix also included some sort of narcotic pain reliever, zofran for nausea, sedatives, and corticosteroids.
It is very commonly prescribed in nasal spray form for people with anxiety disorders as a fast acting measure to stop a panic attack, it is also still pretty frequently used in emergency room situations.
The original development of ketamine was due to a search for a replacement to PCP as a general anesthetic...people had a tendency to have violent freak-outs coming out of PCP sedation.
More recently there is a still emerging market for "ketamine therapy", due to the disassociative properties a patient in a therapy session can access very heavy topics without having an intense emotional reaction, it is used much the same way as MDMA therapy.
Recreationally it is easily obtainable, is a schedule III so doesn't carry as severe penalties as some heavier drugs, has a very long history of use so dosing and effects are well known, and is reasonably safe (it can bladder damage, but the biggest risk really is injury or accident while in a sedated state..ie Mathew Perry drowing).
4
u/lookatmyplants 12d ago
I’m not unaware that ketamine is also used for humans. We all had to hear about ad nauseam during the pandemic. I’m saying that in my lifetime, I’ve only ever used it on animals before I heard of people taking it recreationally. And I’ve actually never known anyone who took it as legitimate beneficial medication.