What is ketamine?

A powerful anesthetic with hallucinogenic effects, ketamine is making waves. Its recreational use is on the rise among young people in French-speaking Switzerland, while Elon Musk claims to use it for depression. But what exactly is it? “Ketamine is a psychoactive substance. Its effect is to increase dopamine production in the brain,” explains Jalel Araiedh, deputy head of the Addiction Medicine Department at CHUV. Ketamine was synthesized in 1962 in the United States. It was originally used in the medical and veterinary fields as an anesthetic. “Today, it is used in Switzerland, particularly in emergency procedures outside of hospitals, or in the operating room for certain situations,” he explains. Ketamine is called a dissociative drug because communication between the brain’s thinking part and the motor part—movement—is gradually lost. You may no longer recognize yourself in a mirror, or experience dyspraxia, as if movement no longer flows smoothly. Jalel Araiedh, deputy head of the CHUV Addiction Medicine Department. Since the 1990s, ketamine has been diverted from its medical use and used as a recreational drug. “Several studies show an increase in ketamine use in party settings in Switzerland, particularly among 15- to 29-year-olds,” explains Jalel Araiedh. The risks are significant: addiction, memory problems, and bladder damage, among other things. Today, research is exploring the potential of ketamine for depression, particularly for people who don’t respond to traditional antidepressants. “The results are promising, with intravenous or intranasal treatments. Other trials are underway for anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and alcohol addiction,” the specialist emphasizes. What exactly is complete dissociation, called “K-hole”? How does this psychoactive substance work on depression, chemically speaking?