What Is a K-Hole? A Full Guide to K-Holing

Ketamine hydrochloride, a dissociative anesthetic, has found its way to the streets and become a popular recreational drug. Originally, ketamine was used exclusively in the operating theatre to induce anesthesia. More recently, it has been used to address severe pain outside of the operating room. A ketamine analogue called esketamine was recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of depression.

Ketamine belongs to a group of drugs that are known as dissociative anesthetics. Other drugs in this category include nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and phencyclidine (angel dust).

Because of the euphoric feelings it produces, ketamine is also used for recreational purposes. When consumed in high doses, it causes hallucinogenic effects, and this is referred to as being in the K-hole or K-holing. Many people who have never used ketamine recreationally wonder what it feels like to be high on ketamine.

Quick Ketamine Answers

Defining a K-Hole

A K-Hole is a slang term used to describe a state of existence in which a person is in a state of body-mind dissociation. It is also described as an out-of-body or near-death experience, often accompanied by vivid hallucinations, depersonalization, temporary memory loss, and even catatonic schizophrenia.

A high dose of ketamine renders the user unable to move their body or interact with their environment. In other words, the person is physically present but on a mental trip.

How Does Ketamine Work?

Ketamine works by blocking a neurotransmitter in the brain that is called glutamate. This neurotransmitter is involved in most excitatory functions of the brain. Consequently, blocking glutamate produces dissociative feelings.

Other names for Ketamine: On the street, ketamine is also referred to as Kit-Kat, Cat Valium, Special K, Super Acid, or Vitamin K

What Does a K-Hole Feel Like?

A K-hole gives most users an “out-of-body” experience. Users have reported a “floaty” sensation where they feel as if they are being teleported to outer space. Others have described the feeling as “melting out” or losing sense of yourself. While most recreational users enjoy this experience, newer users may find it very frightening and unappealing.

K-Hole Psychological Effects

The dissociative feelings of K-holing can give the user vivid hallucinations and flashbacks.

One user has talked about the positive effect of K-holing on him. During the out-of-body experience, he watched himself buying drugs from a dealer and then going home and getting high. Then he saw himself swimming alongside his girlfriend, completely sober, and realized being with her was what made him happy. “The K-hole changed my life, honestly. I saw that my happiest moments were with that girl.”

In a study of the psychological effects of ketamine in healthy volunteers, the drug induced a range of perceptual distortions, especially of vision and time. The volunteers reported a sense of being enclosed and observing life as if it was a documentary on TV.

Long-term psychological effects of using ketamine can include:

K-Hole Physical Effects

Ketamine will also elicit physical changes, most notably numbing. On the outside, users appear to be drooling and entirely out of control of their senses. They may also find it difficult to move or even speak and be left feeling helpless.

Other reported physical effects include:

• Slurred speech
• Dizziness
• Heightened blood pressure
• Increased salivation
• Extremely rapid heart rate
• Rapid eye movements
• Vomiting
• Seizures

K-Hole and Ego Death

Most people who have tried K-holing have reported experiencing a state of ego death or total egolessness. In this state, they completely lose their self-identity. One study probed the effects on the brain that contribute to ego death. The researchers found that at high doses of ketamine, the brain activity depicted an alternating EEG rhythm linked to the dissociative phase, where most users report vivid hallucinations. At a higher amount, the EEG activity altogether ceased, and this persisted for several minutes. Some researchers believe that this is when ego death occurs, and the individual has a near-death experience.

How Much Ketamine is Needed to Reach a K-Hole?

In an interview conducted by Psychedelic Research In Science and Medicine (PRISM), one user reported getting into a K-hole after consuming upwards of 200 mg of ketamine. Another user reported a similar experience after consuming almost 400 mg. In comparison, another one got into the K-hole after about 300 mg. Based on these reports, a rough guide of 200 - 400 mg should work for most people.

However, it’s essential to note: This will vary depending on the frequency of consumption, body weight, and metabolism of an individual. A typical amount for one person could be dangerous for another, so this article is not recommending any specific dosage.

How Long Does a K-Hole Last?

For most people, the effects of ketamine last for 45 to 90 minutes. But, depending on the dose and consumption method, the effects can last for several hours.

The effects of ketamine should set in a few minutes after you consume it. However, this is also determined by how you consume it. While medicinal users are likely to receive the ketamine intravenously, most recreational users snort it. Ketamine can also be taken orally, but this will delay the onset of action.

This is approximately how long ketamine effects take to set in:

• Intravenously - half a minute
• Snorted - 5 to 10 minutes
• Orally - at least 20 minutes

Now, if you’re wondering whether you can take multiple ketamine infusions within a short time, the answer seems to be positive. According to research, Dr. Samuel Ko suggests that multiple ketamine infusions are essential to minimize depression symptoms. On top of that, doses can be administered in repeated sessions that last between 2 and 100 minutes.

Is K-Holing Safe?

Apart from being generally uncomfortable for some users, K-holing has some specific side effects. Adverse responses reported include extreme paranoia, vivid hallucinations, panic attacks, short-term memory loss, and severe vomiting. Therefore, it is essential to prepare adequately for a K-hole experience. Alternatively, trying to go on shorter trips until you build tolerance is recommended.

Will K-Hole Cause Brain Damage?

If K-holing is an occasional rather than a regular habit, the chances are that the brain will suffer no long-term effects. Remember, ketamine has been used safely for anesthesia for several years. The danger, therefore, lies in taking too much of it too frequently. In one study, based on MRI scans, long-term, heavy use of ketamine was found to produce lesions in the brain, increasing with duration of use.

Is a K-Hole Addictive?

When used over a prolonged duration, K-holing can be addictive. Most frequent users who enjoy the K-hole experience may find it hard to give it up. The K-hole experience is usually short-lived, and most users will quickly develop tolerance to ketamine. This means that they will require increasingly higher doses of the drug to reach the K-hole.

Are There Other Drugs Like Ketamine With a Similar High?

Yes, there are. N, N-Dimethyltryptamine and 5-Methoxy-N, N Dimethyltryptamine, commonly known as DMT, is a psychedelic drug with similar effects to Ketamine. In fact, by using DMT, users also disappear within their brains. Some people describe the DMT trip as more visually intense than K-holing.

Final Verdict on K-Holing

Some recreational users enjoy the K-holing experience for enjoyment’s sake. For others, K-holing is more of a journey towards self-discovery that occurs after ego death. K-holing has also been linked to some therapeutic benefits, such as the treatment of PTSD. For whatever reason you choose to try the K-hole, you should never forget that frequent K-holing over a long period can lead to permanent changes in the brain.

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