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Acta Clin Belg Suppl. 2002;(1):31-3. [Ketamine--dreams and realities]. [Article in French]  Arditti J, Spadari M, de Haro L, Brun A, Bourdon JH, Valli M. Hôpital Salvator, Laboratoire de Toxicologie-Centre antipoison 249 boulevard de Sainte Marguerite-13009 Marseille.

Ketamine is an anaesthetic used in human medicine and veterinary practice, synthesised on 1962 and marketed on 1970 in France.

Recreational uses were described during 1992 in the medical community and in 1996 in the dance settings.

The chemical name of ketamine is 2--(2chlorophenyl)2-(methylamine)-cyclohexanone, an aryl cyclohexylamine, structurally related to phencyclidine.

Ketamine is known under the following street names: Keta K, Kate, Special K, Vitamin K, la Golden, la Vétérinaire. Ketamine is used intranasally, orally and intramusculary in recreational use.

Ketamine is manufactured by the chemical industry. Due to the complicated synthesis, it is sold illicitly for recreational use.

Ketamine is a dissociative drug, and the user enters in a psychedelic dream with hallucinations, floating sensation, feeling of dissociation of the mind from the body. The dream is forgotten, the user full in reality with loss of self control, risk of acute intoxication.

In long-term exposure, tolerance, dependence, withdrawal signs and flash back are described.

Ketamine trademarks are subject to control in France through medicine legislation Ketamine and its salts are subject to control under the national legislation on narcotics and psychotropics substance. From September 2001, the theft of medical and veterinary trademarks have to be declared to police, care health authority Pharmacy control authority and French Health Products Safety Agency.

PMID: 11974440