~ KETAMINE ~

DESCRIPTION

Ketamine is an anesthetic (loss of physical sensation), analgesic (pain reliever),

psychomimetic (replicates psychosis), and recent antidepressant (alleviates
depression). Ketamine is commonly abused as a “club drug” for its dissociative
effects and hallucinations -- also used to facilitate sexual assault.

SYMPTOMS
NUMBERS
Hallucinations (~30-60 minutes) Worldwide AROUND 11% of
Increase in heart rate the population used ketamine
Increase in blood pressure in 2018 and between 2015
Unresponsiveness to stimuli and 2019, around 210,000
Involuntary rapid eye movement INDIVIDUALS 18 and over in
Dilated pupils the US reported ketamine use
Salivation within the past year. In clinical
Muscle stiffness trials for depression, over
41,000 PATIENTS were used to
Nausea
test the antidepressant effects
Cognitive difficulties
of the drug.
Unconsciousness
Amnesia

HOW KETAMINE EFFECTS CELL COMMUNICATION

Ketamine is an allosteric
antagonist of NMDAR,
receptors in neurons
which are ligand and
voltage gated
(depolarizing to release
Mg+2) in order to
become permeable to
Na+, K+, and Ca+2,
acting as secondary
messengers. As ketamine
blocks GABA
interneurons (inhibitory),
disinhibits the glutamate
neurons, increasing the
transmission of
glutamate. As glutamate
increases, AMPA
receptors activate,
depolarizing the neuron
and allowing Ca+2 ions
to flow through voltage
gated ion channels. As
BDNF, known for its anti-
depressant effects, binds to receptor kinases, causing phosphorylation cascades to
eventually increase synaptic and dendritic spine density, associated with stress and
depression.

TREATMENTS

When facing ketamine abuse and addiction, treatments include detoxification,

rehabilitation, and support groups. Detoxification consists of removing all traces of
ketamine within your body before beginning sobriety. Rehabilitation uses cognitive
behavioral therapy (CBT) and psychotherapy to break dependence on ketamine
while support groups uses peer assistance for emotional support and coping skills for
substance abuse recovery.

REAL-LIFE EXAMPLE

Elon Musk uses ketamine both in microdoses and

recreationally. Musk, who suffers from depression,
expresses his resentment of SSRIs, a type of
antidepressant, for its “zombifying effects.” As an
alternative, he microdoses the drug to allieviate his
disorder.