The question “Is ketamine a horse tranquilizer?” is a common one, and it’s easy to see why: ketamine has a reputation as a powerful drug with diverse uses. While ketamine is indeed used in veterinary medicine, including as a tranquilizer for large animals, this represents only one aspect of its broader medical profile. Ketamine’s use as a “horse tranquilizer” and its association with recreational use, where it is sometimes referred to as “Special K,” has led to numerous misconceptions.
A Dissociative Anesthetic with a Wide Range of Applications
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that produces a trance-like state and sedation. Developed in the 1960s and widely used as a surgical anesthetic during the Vietnam War, ketamine’s anesthetic properties make it effective in both human and veterinary medicine. In 1970, the FDA approved ketamine, and since then, it’s been used everywhere from battlefields to hospitals all over the world.
In animals, ketamine provides reliable anesthesia and helps manage pain and distress during surgeries or other medical procedures. Ketamine is commonly used by veterinarians for sedation and anesthesia in a variety of animals, including horses. Its effectiveness in sedating large animals has contributed to its reputation as a “horse tranquilizer.” Dosage and administration are important safety considerations when dealing with an animal weighing several hundred pounds. This is why ketamine, which can be safely administered in one injection, is often used in veterinary clinics. The anesthetic doses of ketamine a horse would receive are much different than what a human would, based solely on size.
In addition to its veterinary uses, ketamine is FDA-approved as an anesthetic for humans. It has been shown to be effective in a variety of medical contexts, including pain management and emergency sedation. Ketamine, when used as an anesthetic in humans, puts you in a “twilight state” -a combination of pain-relieving, analgesic and memory-suppressing, amnestic qualities. That means, you’re in a state where you’re conscious, but not aware. In medical circles, this is commonly referred to as “dissociative anesthesia”, a term coined by the wife of Dr. Edward Domino, who, along with Dr. Guenter Corssen, was the first to publish a clinical study of ketamine as a human anesthetic in 1966. In their research of ketamine, Domino and Guenter found that in this dissociative state, patients appeared to be conscious, based on preserved airway reflexes and respiratory drive, but weren’t unable to respond to sensory input.
Ketamine and Mental Health: A Breakthrough Treatment
In recent years, ketamine has emerged as a promising treatment option for mental health conditions, particularly treatment-resistant depression and severe depression. Ketamine therapy, which involves controlled doses administered by medical professionals, is distinct from recreational use, where higher doses of ketamine may induce hallucinogenic or dissociative effects. In 2019, the FDA approved esketamine, a nasal spray derived from ketamine, for treatment-resistant depression.
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When ketamine is used to treat a client with mental health conditions, in lower doses, it’s felt differently. They’re still conscious and aware of what’s going on, and often able to remember some or all of the experience. This type of therapeutic application can be a powerful tool for some to break through traditional thought patterns. “It’s an opportunity to learn and experience different ways of consciousness that might be free of whatever repetitive negative thoughts or schemas that are present during regular consciousness,” says Walsh.
Ketamine infusions are a breakthrough treatment for depression. But it’s important to educate people on the safety and risks of ketamine use and abuse. If we can put the myths to rest, more people may have access to this treatment option.
How Ketamine Works for Mental Health
Ketamine has been found to have potential therapeutic effects for a variety of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). When used in low doses and under medical supervision, ketamine can produce rapid and robust reductions in symptoms, offering hope for individuals who have not responded to other treatments.
Zach Walsh says there’s continued debate about whether or not that subjective experience is necessary. There is a school of thought in ketamine research that looks at its benefits mechanistically. Some researchers believe that the conscious effects are actually an artifact or even unnecessary side effect, and are focused on effects on NMDA receptors as the primary anti-depressant and anti-anxiety catalyst.
Administration and Dosage
Clinician-prescribed ketamine is administered in different ways and dosages, depending on the context in which it’s being used. When used to treat mental conditions such as PTSD and treatment-resistant depression, it can be taken through a nasal spray, intramuscular / intravenous injection, or even a lozenge. When ketamine is used illegally as a recreational club drug, it’s often a very low dose. When it’s used as an anesthetic, it’s administered intravenously in a higher, clinically-controlled dose.
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“You wouldn’t want to be at a club if you’re taking the types of doses that are useful in [psychiatric treatment],” says Walsh.
Therapeutic Benefits and Ongoing Research
What’s clear is that therapeutic use of ketamine can be effective for short term relief for severe depression. Walsh says the results are well established, and while it’s mostly used on its own, some people have used it in conjunction with traditional modalities such as psychotherapy, mental health medications like SSRI/SNRI and more invasive treatments such as electroshock therapy.
“It seems to be quite effective at relieving treatment resistant depression, at least for short periods of time,” he says.
Now, one of the challenges for those looking to develop these types of therapies is to find a way to prolong the healing effects. Walsh says the hope is combining it with an active therapeutic outlet. “Actually engaging with that psychedelic aspect of [the experience] is something that might prolong the effects,” he says. “As it stands, it’s short acting but very effective. Especially with people who are severely suicidal, it alleviates them from that suicidal ideation.” Walsh says some of the early research suggests that some patients using ketamine therapy can return to baseline after a couple of weeks, or sooner, depending on the severity of their condition or symptoms. Still, each experience can be really important to people who are acutely, severely depressed and suicidal. “If you can alleviate those symptoms even for a relatively brief period then that provides a window where you might be able to make some other types of therapeutic gains,” he says.
Potential Side Effects and Risks
As with any medical treatment, there can be potential side effects and risks associated with ketamine use. These may include confusion, hallucinations, impaired motor function, and cardiovascular side effects. It is important to discuss any concerns with a medical professional and to carefully follow dosing instructions to minimize these risks and maximize the therapeutic benefits of ketamine treatment.
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The harmful effects of ketamine, such as a loss of consciousness and psychosis, occur when large doses of the drug are taken in unsafe settings.
Addressing Common Misconceptions
Ketamine’s use as a “horse tranquilizer” and its association with recreational use, where it is sometimes referred to as “Special K,” has led to numerous misconceptions. At high doses, ketamine can produce intense dissociative and psychedelic effects, which has contributed to its misuse as a street drug. Recreational use can come with serious risks, including psychosis, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular effects.
One of ketamine street drug names is “Special K.” This has come to be known as a horse tranquilizer. The truth is, ketamine is used in veterinary practices as an anesthetic, the same way it has been used on people. The difference is that the doses used on larger animals greatly surpass the dosage that would be used on humans for mental health treatment. When ketamine is labeled as a “horse tranquilizer,” it conjures imagery of a dangerous drug that could knock a person out.
Another common ketamine myth is that it will lead to ketamine addiction. While ketamine is not physically addictive, it can be addictive psychologically addictive when it’s abuse for recreational usage. However, when administered by a doctor or nurse in a controlled environment, it is safe. When receiving ketamine infusions for depression, patients will be given safe dosages and will receive the treatment from a medical professional.
Due to the risks associated with recreational ketamine usage, there is a myth that receiving ketamine treatments could be harmful to your health.
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