Ketamine infusion therapy has been getting a lot of attention these days, especially for mental health purposes. Given its strong mind-altering effects, ketamine has been compared to various psychedelic drugs. However, ketamine has years of research and safe usage guidelines to back it up.
It is important to keep in mind, though, that depending on the dosage, any drug can turn into a psychedelic. In this blog, we will break down some of the most common properties of ketamine to see whether or not it can truly be considered a psychedelic.
What Exactly is a Psychedelic?
Before determining if ketamine falls under the psychedelic umbrella, it is important to know what a psychedelic is. Drugs that alter your frame of mind, consciousness, mood, memory, and brain control are typically regarded as psychedelics. For instance, LSD, mushrooms, and DMT are some common examples of psychedelic drugs. Since they can heavily impact your ability to perceive senses and form coherent thoughts, psychedelic drugs are considered to be extremely harmful, especially if taken in large doses frequently.
Is Ketamine a Psychedelic?
Just because ketamine is a drug doesn’t mean that it is a psychedelic. Even if some of its qualities may stand out, it is quite distinct from your usual batch of psychedelics in several ways. The history of ketamine is proof enough since it was first developed as an anesthetic for intense medical settings during the war.
Moreover, due to its dissociative effects, ketamine offers a lot of benefits in the medical field. On the other hand, psychedelic drugs trigger hallucinations and fuel your brain into thinking a lot more. With ketamine, the effects are much different; they cause the person to have an out-of-body experience, numbing the brain’s pain receptors. Plus, ketamine works on different neurochemical pathways compared to classic psychedelics. It primarily affects the glutamate system, while psychedelics work on the serotonin system.
Psychedelic-Like Effects of Ketamine
While ketamine is not really a psychedelic drug, it does produce similar effects, which can cause confusion between the two substances. For example, ketamine can lead to distortions in time and space perception. However, this is only true if the dosage exceeds the normal amount. Usually, infusion therapy relies on micro-dosing. Ketamine also has strong properties that deal with calming the brain and providing sharp antidepressant-like qualities. While psychedelic drugs aren’t always the same, they do minimize the pain overall. Thus, when used in moderation, psychedelic drugs can also help manage conditions like depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
When Does Ketamine Turn into a Psychedelic Drug?
Even though ketamine is not considered a psychedelic drug, it can possibly transform into one based on dosage and setting. That is to say, when taken in small doses, ketamine tends to produce more dissociative effects, such as feeling disconnected from your body. However, at higher doses, it can lead to vivid hallucinations and changes in your consciousness that are often brought on by other psychedelics. Additionally, your mental state, environment, circumstances, and the like all play a significant role in producing ketamine’s effects, some of which might resemble classic psychedelic nature.
Final Takeaway
Ketamine has unique properties, which kind of sets it apart from other recreational, psychedelic drugs. This is why it is impossible to label it as a psychedelic. Ultimately, it depends on the dosage and usage of the anesthetic drug. Nevertheless, for more information on ketamine infusion therapy, feel free to contact Balanced Ketamine at (913) 871-9888.