Ketamine
Submitted by felix on Sun, 18/12/2011 - 20:26
Forums:
I must say, being given a shot of ketamine, when I was expecting gear, was, disturbing, to put it mildly. Thought I was dying, and now, a few months later, I'm glad it happened. Reckon I'll be more ready, more able to focus on the moment when the real thing comes along.
Although, Death, he does seem to have a knack of surprising you. I guess that's part of denying his existence - when he turns up, it's always a surprise.
Ketamine
A 'dissociative anaesthetic' which along with Nitrous Oxide, Phencyclidine (PCP), and there may be others work not by inducing a deep state of unconscious like Barbiturates but by 'tricking' the brain into forgetting that it has a body is the best i can describe it. I didn't know what to expect when i first tried it but the person who was with us when we got it from a drug safe was a trained vet so i wasn't worried and i wasn't expecting anything. The first few times were incredible and i still think of it as 'god in a bottle' coz it was in a vial of hypodermic solution, 20mls at 100mg/ml. Clinically it is used primarily on animals and children because adults have a tendency to become disoriented. I suspect this might have something to do with what our mind does when it is unencumbered by a corporeal existence. A sensation akin to death is how it is often perceived making it a truly unique experience and not for everyone. I first had it in 76 and a friend was playing Sex Pistols and Clash which gave me the sensation of communication with the singer/song and i understood implicitly and explicitly all of what was happening and that the only sensible thing to do was to start a band which i did forthwith and encountered no difficulty even tho i was the first person i knew to do so. Oddly enough i noticed that with repeated use the feeling became less enjoyable/interesting/inspiring but was still fun. A friend referred to it as "going thru the tubes" and i still associate it with the taste of rubber. Since we got it for free and in reasonable quantities it was often around when i didn't have gear. Using Ketamine seemed to help if only by giving me strength to cope mentally which could shed some light on why it and hallucinogens are sometimes used in progressive detox programs. I wish i had PCP to compare it but missed my chance when a friend who was afraid of the side effects recommended we throw it down a drain and we did. The first nickname i heard for it is Special K and in the US it goes by the name of Green i believe.