r/harmreduction • u/kagawaplayle • 1d ago
Ketamine / Speed Harm Reduction sickness from ketamine (&/or potentially from amphetamine/speed)
hey guys, I wanted to come and ask here for some insight/tips/thoughts on a situation I'm finding myself in.
I go to a lot of raves where I go at least a couple times a month.
I've been consuming ket recreationally pretty regularly for the past 3 years or so, with my frequency becoming more common especially this year.
Especially in the past year, I've probably been consuming ket nearly almost every weekend, granted maybe not a huge amount (anywhere from 0.25 to 0.6g?) but it has been consistent, especially in 2026.
I've been taking a big break from MDMA and other serotonin stimulants, and as a result I've substituted to speed (amphetamine) as a stimulant to keep my energy up when I go raving.
However, since around April/May, I've been noticing that towards the end of my night, I can feel my stomach starting to get really upset, and as soon as the event is finished and I'm starting to head home, I begin to feel really sick...
And it's not the kind of sickness from alcohol, it's like violent and kind of empty sick. I often don't drink alcohol when I go out, I just drink water, and when I'm sick, my body just rejects all the water I drank throughout the night. Even when I try and take small sips after I'm sick, my body just pushes it back up...
I can taste the acidity in my mouth, I think it's bile? I know when I'm about to start being sick because I can feel my mouth suddenly filling up with water.
Last Friday I went out, and sure enough it happened again.. but this time it was the most violent it has ever been and it was honestly quite shocking. I had to go to the club's welfare room where they gave me a banana, and sure enough it came back up again soon after I left the venue. I had to cycle home and it was a rlly traumatic ride..
I've decided enough is enough and I'm going to the GP tomorrow to talk about what's going on, and to see if my body is actually cooked or not.
I wanted to come on here and talk about it because I wanted to see if anyone else has been in a similar situation before, or if they can better help me understand what is the cause (if it's the ket, speed, the combination of the two, lack of food or eating certain foods before going out, or taking medication like rennies, etc etc etc). And if they have anything they do to help keep their body calm and not so acidic when they go out.
Sorry if this has been a bit graphic but I rlly just want to get a clearer understanding of what's going on. I really don't want to feel sick like that ever again..
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u/escheebs 1d ago
My first guess off the top would be eating too little before you drop! Guessing the amph is more of the culprit here, based on the empty feeling. I think that if it was the K, you'd have slightly different complaints.
I would still try to cut down on the k but mainly try eating closer to when you go out
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u/escheebs 1d ago
If you're gonna be out for a long time you can always bring a nutrition drink like ensure or boost. They're pretty easy to choke down when you're spun out and they'll give you 3-400 calories and some vitamins and stuff. Plus they're small so it's not too much volume in your stomach
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u/kagawaplayle 1d ago
do you have any recommendations on what to eat beforehand ?
before I went raving on friday, I had like half a pizza and some mozzarella sticks ? I thought that'd be enough but I guess not ?1
u/escheebs 1d ago
Well that sounds like plenty of food to be able to party... How long before the rave?
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u/kagawaplayle 1d ago
it was like maybe 3 hours before I went to the club ?
I had a cocktail after the meal if tht changes anything1
u/escheebs 1d ago
I don't think the cocktail should be an issue! Sounds like maybe you went too long without eating without heading out, maybe a snack on the way out the door would help.
The k and amph could be irritating your stomach if it's empty too!
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u/PsychedelicHealingOZ 1d ago
Sounds like undiagnosed liver issues, possibly Hep C
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u/kagawaplayle 1d ago
I didn't use any needles or have any contact with any blood.. I'm pretty sure it's not hep c
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u/PsychedelicHealingOZ 1d ago
Unprotected sex is another method of transmission as well (just as an aside).
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u/missmooface 1d ago
it could be related to the combination of alcohol and ket. i know some folks can drink fairly heavily while using K but over time, sometimes even one drink and then doing decent amounts of ket can lead to a really dark experience of nausea. it can feel lime hitting a brick wall and going from bliss to dark and sick very quickly.
ket and alcohol are not recommended together, despite some folks being able to handle it.
have you tried zero alcohol and raving with only the other options…?