Ketamine and the K-Hole

Action: non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist

Clinical findings:

(1) dissociative effects: hallucinations, detachment from body or physical environment (out-of-body)

(2) psychotogenic effects: delusions, delirium, psychosis

(3) analgesia

(4) immobilization

The K-hole is a dissociative state seen with higher than therapeutic doses. The person feel detached from reality and may be pleasurable. Some people claim that they are enlightened when in this state.

Determinants of effect:

(1) dose of ketamine taken

(2) frequency of use

(3) use of other intoxicants

Complications:

(1) risk of overdose

(2) chronic impairment of working episodic memory

(3) chronic impairment of semantic memory

(4) addiction