Ketamine
Pronunciation:KEET-a-meen
Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number:6740-88-1. (Hydrochloride form
1867-66-9)
Formal Names:Ketaject, Ketalar, Ketanest, Ketavet
Informal Names:Bump, Cat Valium, Green, Honey Oil, Jet, K, Kay, Kay-Blast,
Kay Jay, Keets, Keller, Kellys Day, Ket, Kit Kat, Mauve, Purple, Rockmesc, Spe-
cial K, Special LA Coke, Super Acid, Super C, Super K, Vitamin K
Type:Depressant.Seepage 19
Federal Schedule Listing:Schedule III (DEA no. 7285)
USA Availability:Prescription
Pregnancy Category:C
Uses.Ketamine is related toPCPand can produce a false-positive urine test
for that substance. In contrast to the violent reputation of PCP, however, ke-
tamine users are described as peaceful. Ketamine is likened to PCP,alcohol,
and LSD—rather vague comparisons given the differences among those
drugs. The substance was invented in the 1960s and was used as an anesthetic
for Vietnam War combat casualties; it has been routinely used for war injuries
ever since. Third World physicians report the drug is safe for surgical use
outside high-tech environments. It is given as a pain reliever and, less com-
monly, to reduce convulsions. Ketamine is also a veterinary anesthesia drug
used with wild animals ranging from giraffes and gazelles to polar bears and
arctic foxes.
Success has been reported with using ketamine to supplement alcoholism
therapy. Two researchers reported that ketamine therapy with 42 alcoholics
produced a two-year abstinence from drinking in 15 of them, an outstanding
result. Other researchers report one-year abstinence in almost 66% of 111 al-
coholics who received ketamine therapy (perhaps a single dose), as opposed
to 24% in 100 who did not receive ketamine. Among the 111 in the original
group, 81 were tracked for two years, and 40% of the 81 remained abstinent.
Of 42 who were tracked for three years, 33% remained abstinent.^1 Such results
have prompted researchers to speculate that ketamine may also be useful in
treating addiction to drugs other than alcohol. These reported beneficial effects
of ketamine are surprising. Admittedly they are related to self-insights