Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic drug that people abuse to experience a detachment from reality, euphoria, and other mind-altering effects. While many people abuse ketamine, it is also used medicinally. You might have heard of the benefits of ketamine for treatment-resistant depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).[1]

When ketamine is used medicinally, it is given in small, controlled doses. People who abuse ketamine are using larger doses to feel high. When extremely large doses of ketamine are consumed, you might experience something known as a k-hole.

“K-hole” is a slang term for a level of intoxication you can reach when abusing ketamine. It is characterized by symptoms like out-of-body sensations, being unable to move or speak, and a dream-like state where you dissociate.

While some people enjoy being in a K-hole, the amount of ketamine it takes to become that intoxicated is dangerous. Unfortunately, you could experience an overdose attempting to experience one. If you or a loved one displays symptoms like vomiting, loss of consciousness, or seizures, contact 911 immediately.[2]

In this article, you will learn:

  • What is a K-hole
  • What does a K-hole feel like
  • Is ketamine addictive
  • What are the signs of a ketamine overdose

What is a K-Hole?

Ketamine causes you to experience a dissociative state. It does this by blocking a neurotransmitter in your brain known as glutamate. This leads to a decrease in activity in the part of your brain responsible for memory, emotion, and perception.

If you are prescribed ketamine treatments for a mental health disorder like major depression, you will be given small doses. As a result, you get the benefits of the substance without experiencing too much of a dissociation effect. Professionals medically supervise these treatments and provide safe and effective therapy for mental health conditions.

However, if you are abusing ketamine, you might be tempted to take a large dose. High doses of ketamine can cause you to “fall into a k hole.” To explain, “K-hole” is the nickname for a state of being high on ketamine where you dissociate, become unable to move or speak, and have a hard time understanding time and space as it relates to you.

What Does a K-Hole Feel Like?

If you have fallen into a k hole, you might have an intense feeling of being separated from your body. It is often described as a dream-like state where you experience changes in the perception of sight, sound, and touch. You might be unable to control your thoughts and feelings and have a hard time speaking or moving.

Some of the side effects of a K-hole experience include:[3]

  • Falling into a dissociative state
  • Detachment from yourself and your surroundings
  • Feeling like you are floating
  • Watching yourself from above your own body
  • Visual and auditory hallucinations
  • Confusion and disorientation
  • Anxiety or panic
  • Changes in sensory perception
  • Dizziness and drowsiness
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Coordination issues or temporary paralysis
  • Changes in heart rate and blood pressure
  • Memory loss or amnesia

The effects of ketamine are wide-ranging. While one person might have a positive experience, you could find the effects frightening. You might feel euphoric or experience anxiety and paranoia.

Because there is no way to predict how you will react to ketamine, it is best to avoid the drug altogether.

Is Ketamine Addictive?

While ketamine is safe to use in clinical settings, abusing it will lead to the development of a substance use disorder. Eventually, the dose of ketamine you are taking will no longer cause the same intense high. This will cause you to increase your dose, putting you at risk of overdosing.

The signs of ketamine addiction include:

  • Using higher doses of ketamine for longer than you intended to
  • Spending a lot of time obtaining, using, and recovering from the use of ketamine
  • Wanting to quit using ketamine but being unsuccessful
  • Losing interest in previously enjoyed activities to abuse more ketamine
  • Having a hard time keeping up with responsibilities at home, school, or work
  • Experiencing social and interpersonal issues because of ketamine use
  • Using ketamine in risky situations, such as while driving
  • Developing mental or physical health issues due to ketamine use
  • Feeling an intense urge or craving to abuse ketamine
  • Needing to increase your dose of ketamine to experience the desired effect
  • Dealing with withdrawal symptoms once you stop using ketamine

If you or a loved one have been abusing ketamine long-term, it’s time to seek help for addiction. Drug rehab centers like Archstone Behavioral Health will offer the tools and support you need to recover from a ketamine use disorder.

Signs of a Ketamine Overdose

If you are taking large doses of ketamine to experience a K-hole, you are at risk of experiencing a life-threatening overdose.

The symptoms of a ketamine overdose may include:[2]

  • Anxiety and paranoia
  • Rapid or irregular heart rate and chest pain
  • Elevated blood pressure
  • Intense hallucinations
  • Loss of consciousness or unresponsiveness
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Paralysis
  • Seizures

If someone you love is experiencing the symptoms of a ketamine overdose, contact emergency medical professionals immediately. Without prompt treatment, an overdose can quickly become fatal.

When you are dealing with ketamine overdoses, that is a clear sign that you are struggling with addiction. While overcoming a substance use disorder can be difficult, Archstone Behavioral Health is here to help. Our comprehensive addiction treatment center will provide all of the tools you need to achieve long-term recovery from ketamine and other substances.

Find Help for Ketamine Abuse and Addiction

Long-term abuse of ketamine will lead to the development of addiction. Without treatment, you could develop a host of adverse physical and mental health effects, including substance-induced psychosis. Because of this, you should always seek help from a drug and alcohol rehab program.

At Archstone Behavioral Health, we offer a combination of medical detox, evidence-based therapies, and relapse prevention planning. Instead of simply treating the symptoms of addiction, we help you address the root causes of your substance use disorder.

Contact us today to learn more about our treatment center for ketamine addiction.

References:

  1. The Lancet: Ketamine for the treatment of major depression
  2. Up to Date: Ketamine poisoning
  3. Science Direct: Journey through the K-hole: phenomenological aspects of ketamine use

Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic drug that people abuse to experience a detachment from reality, euphoria, and other mind-altering effects. While many people abuse ketamine, it is also used medicinally. You might have heard of the benefits of ketamine for treatment-resistant depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).[1]

When ketamine is used medicinally, it is given in small, controlled doses. People who abuse ketamine are using larger doses to feel high. When extremely large doses of ketamine are consumed, you might experience something known as a k-hole.

“K-hole” is a slang term for a level of intoxication you can reach when abusing ketamine. It is characterized by symptoms like out-of-body sensations, being unable to move or speak, and a dream-like state where you dissociate.

While some people enjoy being in a K-hole, the amount of ketamine it takes to become that intoxicated is dangerous. Unfortunately, you could experience an overdose attempting to experience one. If you or a loved one displays symptoms like vomiting, loss of consciousness, or seizures, contact 911 immediately.[2]

In this article, you will learn:

  • What is a K-hole
  • What does a K-hole feel like
  • Is ketamine addictive
  • What are the signs of a ketamine overdose

What is a K-Hole?

Ketamine causes you to experience a dissociative state. It does this by blocking a neurotransmitter in your brain known as glutamate. This leads to a decrease in activity in the part of your brain responsible for memory, emotion, and perception.

If you are prescribed ketamine treatments for a mental health disorder like major depression, you will be given small doses. As a result, you get the benefits of the substance without experiencing too much of a dissociation effect. Professionals medically supervise these treatments and provide safe and effective therapy for mental health conditions.

However, if you are abusing ketamine, you might be tempted to take a large dose. High doses of ketamine can cause you to “fall into a k hole.” To explain, “K-hole” is the nickname for a state of being high on ketamine where you dissociate, become unable to move or speak, and have a hard time understanding time and space as it relates to you.

What Does a K-Hole Feel Like?

If you have fallen into a k hole, you might have an intense feeling of being separated from your body. It is often described as a dream-like state where you experience changes in the perception of sight, sound, and touch. You might be unable to control your thoughts and feelings and have a hard time speaking or moving.

Some of the side effects of a K-hole experience include:[3]

  • Falling into a dissociative state
  • Detachment from yourself and your surroundings
  • Feeling like you are floating
  • Watching yourself from above your own body
  • Visual and auditory hallucinations
  • Confusion and disorientation
  • Anxiety or panic
  • Changes in sensory perception
  • Dizziness and drowsiness
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Coordination issues or temporary paralysis
  • Changes in heart rate and blood pressure
  • Memory loss or amnesia

The effects of ketamine are wide-ranging. While one person might have a positive experience, you could find the effects frightening. You might feel euphoric or experience anxiety and paranoia.

Because there is no way to predict how you will react to ketamine, it is best to avoid the drug altogether.

Is Ketamine Addictive?

While ketamine is safe to use in clinical settings, abusing it will lead to the development of a substance use disorder. Eventually, the dose of ketamine you are taking will no longer cause the same intense high. This will cause you to increase your dose, putting you at risk of overdosing.

The signs of ketamine addiction include:

  • Using higher doses of ketamine for longer than you intended to
  • Spending a lot of time obtaining, using, and recovering from the use of ketamine
  • Wanting to quit using ketamine but being unsuccessful
  • Losing interest in previously enjoyed activities to abuse more ketamine
  • Having a hard time keeping up with responsibilities at home, school, or work
  • Experiencing social and interpersonal issues because of ketamine use
  • Using ketamine in risky situations, such as while driving
  • Developing mental or physical health issues due to ketamine use
  • Feeling an intense urge or craving to abuse ketamine
  • Needing to increase your dose of ketamine to experience the desired effect
  • Dealing with withdrawal symptoms once you stop using ketamine

If you or a loved one have been abusing ketamine long-term, it’s time to seek help for addiction. Drug rehab centers like Archstone Behavioral Health will offer the tools and support you need to recover from a ketamine use disorder.

Signs of a Ketamine Overdose

If you are taking large doses of ketamine to experience a K-hole, you are at risk of experiencing a life-threatening overdose.

The symptoms of a ketamine overdose may include:[2]

  • Anxiety and paranoia
  • Rapid or irregular heart rate and chest pain
  • Elevated blood pressure
  • Intense hallucinations
  • Loss of consciousness or unresponsiveness
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Paralysis
  • Seizures

If someone you love is experiencing the symptoms of a ketamine overdose, contact emergency medical professionals immediately. Without prompt treatment, an overdose can quickly become fatal.

When you are dealing with ketamine overdoses, that is a clear sign that you are struggling with addiction. While overcoming a substance use disorder can be difficult, Archstone Behavioral Health is here to help. Our comprehensive addiction treatment center will provide all of the tools you need to achieve long-term recovery from ketamine and other substances.

Find Help for Ketamine Abuse and Addiction

Long-term abuse of ketamine will lead to the development of addiction. Without treatment, you could develop a host of adverse physical and mental health effects, including substance-induced psychosis. Because of this, you should always seek help from a drug and alcohol rehab program.

At Archstone Behavioral Health, we offer a combination of medical detox, evidence-based therapies, and relapse prevention planning. Instead of simply treating the symptoms of addiction, we help you address the root causes of your substance use disorder.

Contact us today to learn more about our treatment center for ketamine addiction.

References:

  1. The Lancet: Ketamine for the treatment of major depression
  2. Up to Date: Ketamine poisoning
  3. Science Direct: Journey through the K-hole: phenomenological aspects of ketamine use

Medically Reviewed: September 25, 2024

Medical Reviewer

Chief Editor

medically-verified

All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.