Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that has been used safely for decades in surgeries and hospitals worldwide. It was used extensively overseas in the Vietnam War due to its ease of administration and rapid onset. In subanesthetic doses, ketamine can induce profound dissociative experiences that people have reported to resemble a dream-like familiarity.¹

How does ketamine work?

Ketamine acts on certain parts of the brain, one being "chandelier cells." Chandelier cells are important for regulating the activity of other neurons in the brain, particularly those involved in the processing of information related to emotions, memory, and cognition. Ketamine primarily works by relaxing chandelier cells in the brain.¹

Another part of the brain that ketamine affects are called "glutamate receptors." These receptors help to control how information is sent between different parts of the brain. Ketamine has antidepressant effects when it works on glutamate receptors.²

Overall, this makes ketamine an effective alternative treatment option for people seeking relief from depression, anxiety, trauma or other major life challenges.

Is ketamine a psychedelic?

The word, “psychedelic,” comes from the Greek for “mind-manifesting” and was coined by Humphry Osmond, a British psychiatrist working in Canada in the 1950s. Some question whether ketamine is a psychedelic because it does not act on the serotonin receptors the way classic psychedelics like LSD or psilocybin do. However, at a moderate (but still subanesthetic) dose, ketamine produces “waking dreams” which are described often as “journeys.” Based on the subjective experience of ketamine compared to that of more classic psychedelics, ketamine is commonly included in the broader category of psychedelics.

In conclusion, while ketamine may not fit into the classic definition of a psychedelic, it shares many similarities with classical psychedelics in terms of its effects on consciousness and potential therapeutic benefits.

References

1. Lennon A. How Does Ketamine Work Differently from Other Psychedelics? Psychology Today. Published 2021. Accessed March 23, 2023. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-lucid-mind/202105/how-does-ketamine-work-differently-other-psychedelics
2. Silverstone P. Ketamine: A New Psychedelic Treatment. Psychology Today. Published 2022. Accessed March 23, 2023. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-promise-psychedelics/202208/ketamine-new-psychedelic-treatment

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