ketamine: the story of modern psychiatry’s most fascinating molecule

＂Ketamine was synthesized in 1962 after Parke-Davis scientists had discovered PCP, realized its potential and also its dangerous qualities, and returned to the lab to find a cousin with fewer drawbacks. Rasmussen traces ketamine’s story from the lab to the anesthesia practice, describing the molecule and how it works in the body. Ketamine-again following PCP-became a commonly used recreational drug and is a problem substance in Asia, where it is easy to obtain. As an anesthetic, ketamine is highly effective, but it has shown odd characteristics such as dissociative states, mystical experiences, feelings that mimic near-death experiences, euphoria, and other symptoms akin to psychedelia. A serious side effect with prolonged use is a highly debilitating condition called ulcerative cystitis. Ketamine has been studied as an analog for schizophrenia, to try to find causes and treatments for that disorder. In recent times, ketamine is being explored as a treatment for chronic pain, depression, substance use disorders, and psychotherapy augmentation. Rasmussen concludes the book with a discussion of ketamine’s paradoxical effects: is it a neuroprotectant or a neurotoxin?＂--