Ketamine

Ketamine is a powerful drug used medically as an anaesthetic for people and animals. Outside of medical settings it is illegal and can cause serious harm, especially with regular use or when mixed with other substances.

Although ketamine can sometimes be mistaken for cocaine, it works very differently and carries its own specific risks.

Street names you might hear

Across the UK and North West, ketamine is often known as:

  • Ket

  • K

  • Special K

  • Vitamin K

  • Kit Kat

Because it can look similar to cocaine, accidental use or mixing can happen and be dangerous.

What does ketamine look like?

In medical settings, ketamine is a clear liquid.

On the street, ketamine usually appears as:

  • A grainy white or light brown crystalline powder

  • Occasionally tablets, though this is less common

There is no reliable way to tell how strong ketamine is or what it has been mixed with by looking at it.

What does it smell or taste like?

Ketamine has a strong, bitter and unpleasant taste.

How do people use ketamine?

People take ketamine in different ways, all of which carry risks.

Snorting powder
This is the most common way ketamine is used in the UK. People often talk about taking a “bump”, meaning a small amount.

Injecting
Some regular users inject ketamine, usually into a muscle. This greatly increases the risk of infections, injury and overdose.

Swallowing
Ketamine may be swallowed as a tablet or bombed, which is when the powder is wrapped in paper and swallowed.

How ketamine can make you feel

Ketamine reduces sensation in the body and alters perception.

People may feel:

  • Dream-like or detached

  • Relaxed or calm

  • Happy or floaty

It can also cause:

  • Confusion or disorientation

  • Nausea

  • Hallucinations

  • Distorted sense of time and space

Because ketamine reduces pain, people can injure themselves without realising.

If too much is taken, someone may experience a k-hole, where they lose the ability to move or respond. This can feel frightening and leave people extremely vulnerable.

How ketamine can affect behaviour

Ketamine can make people appear:

  • Slower or very relaxed

  • Unsteady or unable to move properly

  • Confused or disconnected

This can increase the risk of accidents or harm from others.

How long the effects last

How long ketamine lasts depends on the amount taken and how it is used.

  • When snorted, effects usually begin after about 15 minutes

  • When swallowed, effects may take 20 minutes to an hour

The main effects often last:

  • Around 30 minutes to an hour

Some people feel low in mood for several days afterwards.

Ketamine can be detected in urine for several days after use.

Physical health risks

Ketamine is a strong anaesthetic and can cause serious harm.

Risks include:

  • Collapse or loss of consciousness

  • Increased heart rate and blood pressure

  • Confusion or delirium

  • Injury due to reduced pain sensation

Long-term or heavy ketamine use can cause severe bladder and urinary tract damage, including:

  • Frequent and urgent need to urinate

  • Pain when peeing

  • Blood in urine

  • Incontinence

In severe cases, bladder damage can be permanent and may require surgery.

Other risks include:

  • Abdominal pain, sometimes called K cramps

  • Emerging evidence of liver damage with heavy use

Mental health risks

Regular ketamine use can affect mental health.

Risks include:

  • Memory loss

  • Problems with concentration

  • Depression

  • Anxiety or panic attacks

  • Hallucinations or psychotic symptoms

Ketamine can also worsen existing mental health conditions.

What ketamine is often mixed with

Street ketamine is sometimes mixed with other powders to increase weight and profit.

There is no way to tell what ketamine contains just by looking at it.

Mixing ketamine with other substances

Mixing drugs always increases risk.

Mixing ketamine with:

  • Alcohol

  • Benzodiazepines

  • Opioids

  • Other depressant drugs

can cause collapse, loss of consciousness, choking or serious injury.

Mixing ketamine with stimulants such as ecstasy or amphetamine can cause dangerous increases in blood pressure.

Taking large amounts or mixing substances can be fatal.

Dependence and tolerance

People can become psychologically dependent on ketamine, continuing to use despite harm.

With regular use, tolerance can build, meaning people take more to feel the same effects. This increases the risk of serious long-term damage.

Staying safer

If someone is using ketamine, harm reduction steps include:

  • Taking small amounts and waiting before taking more

  • Avoiding mixing with alcohol or other drugs

  • Avoiding injecting

  • Using in a safe environment

  • Looking out for friends and checking how they are

If someone collapses, becomes very confused, cannot move, or is unconscious, call 999 immediately. Seeking medical help will not get you into trouble.

Support from Wirral Ways

Wirral Ways offers free, confidential support for people affected by ketamine use, as well as support for families and carers.

We can help with:

  • One-to-one support

  • Support to reduce or stop using

  • Harm reduction advice

  • Bladder health advice and referrals

  • Mental health and wellbeing support

  • Support with housing, work and wider life issues

Support is tailored to you and your goals.

Worried about someone else?

If you are concerned about a friend, partner or family member, you can contact us for advice and support. You do not have to manage this alone.

Get support

You can contact Wirral Ways to access support:

  • Self-refer online

  • Speak to a member of our team

  • Visit one of our services

Support is available, and help is there when you’re ready.

Last Updated on 4 February 2026