The ketamine chameleon: history, pharmacology, and the contested value of experience.
Expert review of clinical pharmacology March 1, 2025 Danny Diep, Sara de la Salle, Julien Thibault Lévesque et al. 8 citations
Ketamine's subjective effects have been interpreted in three major ways since its 1962 synthesis: as dissociative, dream-like, or psychedelic, depending on the clinical context and dose. Biomedical frameworks often label its effects as dissociative or psychotomimetic, while psychedelic paradigms highlight potential therapeutic benefits. Factors such as language, dose, and environmental setting influence both the drug's effects and treatment outcomes. The authors argue that ketamine is best understood as a chameleon whose effects shift with context, rather than a tiger to be tamed. A nuanced, interdisciplinary approach is needed to maximize its clinical potential.