People can use ketamine recreationally for its floaty effect. It can produce dissociative and hallucinogenic effects, which are collectively called a K-hole or K-holing.

Ketamine hydrochloride, also known as Special K, Kit-Kat, or simply K, belongs to a class of drugs called dissociative anesthetics or hallucinogens. These drugs, which also include nitrous oxide and phencyclidine (PCP), separate perception from sensation.

Ketamine was created to be an anesthetic. Doctors still use it for general anesthesia in certain circumstances. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also recently approved a nearly identical drug, esketamine (spravato), for treatment-resistant depression.

Like other hallucinogens, ketamine can be used recreationally to achieve a hallucinogenic experience known as K-hole. About 0.13% of American adults used ketamine in the past year,. This type of ketamine use appears to be more common in males.

For some, the K-hole experience is enjoyable. Others find it frightening and compare it to a near-death experience. Moreover, different things can affect how you experience a K-hole, including how much you take, whether you mix it with alcohol or other substances, and your surroundings.

People describe a K-hole as an out-of-body experience. It’s an intense sensation of being separate from your body.

Some say it feels as if they’re rising above their body. Others describe it as being teleported to other places or having sensations of “melting” into their surroundings.

Generally, the psychological effects of a K-hole can include:

The physical effects can be pretty unnerving to some people, too. When you’re in a K-hole, numbness can make it difficult, if not impossible, to speak or move. Not everyone enjoys this feeling of helplessness.

Other physical effects can include:

Everyone is different, so it’s impossible to predict how the experience will go down for a person.

Ketamine blocks glutamate, a neurotransmitter in your brain. In turn, this blocks signals between your conscious mind and other parts of your brain. That results in the dissociative feeling of being separate from yourself and your environment or a kind of euphoric sensation.

Aside from how it can make you feel, you might turn to the recreational use of a substance like ketamine out of peer pressure if you’re in an environment of people who use it.

Another reason someone might want to experience a k-hole involves depression. Doctors sometimes use ketamine to treat depression. This is highly regulated and should be done only under medical supervision.

However, research shows that people who tend to use recreational ketamine chronically are experiencing more depression symptoms than those who only use it occasionally. They may seek a way to escape their negative feelings, which the k-hope experience can provide via its dissociation effect.

How fast it kicks in depends on how you use it. It’s most often found in powder form and snorted. It can also be taken orally or injected into muscle tissue.

Timeline of effects

Generally, the effects of ketamine kick in within:

  • About 1 minute if injected
  • 5-15 minutes if snorted
  • up to 30 minutes if ingested

Remember, everyone reacts differently. You may feel the effects sooner or later than others.

How long can it last?

The effects of ketamine typically last 45-90 minutes, depending on the dose. For some people, the effects can last for several hours or even days, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

Using ketamine or entering a K-hole does come with risks, some of them serious.

Keep in mind that not everyone has a good experience with ketamine, even in low doses or when taken as prescribed by a doctor. And having a bad experience can involve some pretty uncomfortable physical and mental symptoms.

These can include:

When used in higher doses or frequently, risks include:

Being in a K-hole also carries risk. When you’re in a K-hole, you may be unable to move or speak. If you try to move, the numbness may cause you to fall, injuring yourself or someone else.

Entering a K-hole can also cause a person to become violently agitated, putting themselves and others at risk for harm.

Also, while you’re in a K-hole, people around you may be unable to tell if you’re in distress or need help.

Being in a K-hole is an intense experience. You might mistake some of those intense sensations for an overdose. Knowing the signs and symptoms of an overdose is important, so you know when you or someone else needs help.

Ketamine overdose signs and symptoms

Seek immediate help if you or someone else is experiencing:

  • vomiting
  • inability to move
  • irregular heartbeat
  • high blood pressure
  • convulsions
  • slow or diminished breathing
  • chest pain
  • hallucinations
  • loss of consciousness

If you’re unsure whether the symptoms are those of a K-hole or an overdose, err on the side of caution.

Call 911 or your local emergency services. Make sure you tell them that ketamine was taken. Keeping this information from the emergency responders could prevent someone from getting the care they need, resulting in long-term damage or even death.

There’s no truly safe way to use Ketamine. But if you’re going to use it, these tips might help you avoid or minimize certain risks:

  • Know what you’re taking. Ketamine is a controlled substance that can be difficult to get. As a result, there’s a chance that what you believe is ketamine is actually a counterfeit drug that contains other substances. Drug-testing kits can confirm what’s in the pill or powder.
  • Don’t eat for an hour or two before taking it. Nausea is a fairly common side effect of ketamine, and vomiting is possible. This can be dangerous if you cannot move or ensure you’re sitting upright. Avoid eating for 1 1/2-2 hours beforehand to reduce symptoms.
  • Start with a low dose. You can’t predict how a drug will affect you. Start with the lowest dose possible to minimize your risk of a potentially dangerous reaction. Also, resist the urge to dose again until you’ve given the drug plenty of time to kick in.
  • Don’t use it regularly. Ketamine carries a high risk of dependence and addiction (more on this later).
  • Choose a safe setting. High doses or being in a K-hole can cause confusion and make it difficult for you to move or communicate, putting you in a vulnerable position. For this reason, ketamine is often used as a date rape drug. If you do use it, be sure you’re in a safe and familiar place.
  • Don’t do it alone. No one can predict how a drug will affect them, even if they’ve taken it before. Have a friend with you. Ideally, this person won’t be using ketamine with you but is familiar with its effects.
  • Practice safe hygiene. Good hygiene is important for reducing the risk of infection or injury. If snorting ketamine, do it on a clean surface with something sterile (i.e., not a rolled-up dollar bill). Rinse your nose with water when you’re done. If injecting ketamine, use a new, sterile needle, and don’t ever share needles. Sharing needles puts you at risk for hepatitis B and C and HIV.
  • Don’t mix it. Taking ketamine with alcohol, other recreational drugs, or prescription medications can cause dangerous interactions. If you’re going to use ketamine, avoid mixing it with other substances. If you take prescription medications, it’s best to avoid using ketamine entirely.
  • Take care of yourself after. The major effects of ketamine may wear off quickly, but everyone’s different. Some people experience subtle effects for hours or days after taking it. Eating well, staying hydrated, and exercising can help you feel better.

Ketamine has a high potential for dependence and misuse, especially when used in high doses or frequently.

Here are some signs that ketamine use might be developing from dependence into a substance use disorder.

  • You need a higher dose to get the effect you were getting before.
  • You can’t stop taking it even though it’s negatively affecting your life, like with work, relationships, or finances.
  • You use it as a way to cope with feelings of unhappiness or stress.
  • You have cravings for the drug and its effects.
  • You experience withdrawal symptoms, like feeling rundown or shaky when you go without it.

If you’re worried about your ketamine use, you have a few options for getting support:

  • Talk with your primary healthcare professional. Be open and honest with them about your ketamine use. Patient confidentiality laws prevent them from reporting this information to law enforcement.
  • Call SAMHSA’s national helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357), or use their online treatment locater.
  • Find a support group through the Support Group Project.

Ketamine is a hallucinogenic drug that can cause a euphoric, out-of-body sensation known as a K-hole. Ketamine is used by healthcare professionals for certain medical purposes under controlled conditions.

However, it can cause serious psychological and physical side effects when used recreationally, chronically, or at high doses.

There’s no way to guarantee to have a perfectly safe experience with ketamine if you’re using it outside of doctor supervision. And compared with some other drugs, ketamine’s effects can be extremely unpredictable.

If you’ve been taking ketamine and feel like you would like to use it less or stop it, resources are available to help.