Ketamine-like effects after recreational use of methoxetamine.
Katharina E Hofer, Bettina Grager, Daniel Müller, Christine Rauber-Lüthy, Hugo Kupferschmidt, Katharina Rentsch, Alessandro Ceschi
Annals of emergency medicine July 1, 2012 DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2011.11.018 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractMethoxetamine, a chemical relative of ketamine, is a new recreational drug not yet tightly regulated in most countries. This report describes the first confirmed case of intravenous methoxetamine abuse, in a 19-year-old man. His symptoms—rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, confusion, agitation, stupor, poor coordination, dilated pupils, and involuntary eye movements—matched known ketamine effects and resolved with supportive treatment. Based on this case, user reports, and the drug's structure, methoxetamine produces ketamine-like effects, and full recovery is expected with medical care.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A 19-year-old man |
| Intervention | symptomatic treatment |
| Key finding | Methoxetamine produces ketamine-like effects and complete recovery can be expected with supportive care. |
Abstract
Methoxetamine, the N-ethyl derivative of ketamine, is a novel recreational drug that is not at present subject to restrictive regulations in most countries. To our knowledge, no case of methoxetamine abuse has been published to date in the scientific literature, and the only sources of information are illegal drug users' Web discussion forums. We report the first case of analytically confirmed intravenous methoxetamine abuse in a 19-year-old man. Observed signs and symptoms such as tachycardia, hypertension, confusion, agitation, stupor, ataxia, mydriasis, and nystagmus were consistent with ketamine-induced adverse effects and resolved with symptomatic treatment. According to this case report, user Web reports, and the chemical structure, methoxetamine produces ketamine-like effects. Complete recovery can be expected with supportive care.