Upon ingestion, Ketamine users typically feel like they are disassociated from their body. Hallucinations may also occur. It is also common for Ketamine users to feel sluggish, sleepy, confused and clumsy. In most cases, those who have ingested Ketamine may look drunk, and babble incessantly. Some may also have trouble with their memory.

The speed at which these effects kick in may vary depending upon the method of delivery. When injected, it doesn’t take more than 30 seconds. Those who snort Ketamine, however, will have to wait for five to ten minutes before they can feel the effects. Swallowing Ketamine takes even longer, at 20 minutes. The effects of ketamine usually last for approximately 45 to 90 minutes.

Unlike with most illicit drugs like heroin and cocaine, there isn’t much danger on overdosing of Ketamine. Because of its anaesthetic effects, the user is likely to pass out first before ingesting a lethal dose. However, the drug is not without its dangers, especially in the long term.

When taken outside one’s home, Ketamine can prove to be very dangerous, as it physically incapacitates—even paralyses—a user. Ketamine users who go out into the streets are likely to fall over and hurt themselves. They could also get run over by vehicles if they try crossing the street. Injecting Ketamine can also cause respiratory depression. As the body processes the drug, the heart rate becomes elevated, and that could lead to an irregular heartbeat, heart attack or stroke. Other long-term effects of Ketamine use include constant headaches, abdominal pain, diminished sense of smell due to snorting, poor memory and concentration and Ketamine bladder syndrome, a painful condition in which users find it hard to hold in urine. Incontinence is also a common symptom, and that can lead to bladder ulcerations.