Comparison
Ketamin vs MDMA.
Side-by-side comparison of Ketamin and MDMA — dosage, effects, duration, legal status, and key harm reduction considerations.
- CategoryKetamindissociativeMDMAempathogen
- Chemical classKetaminarylcyclohexylamineMDMAsubstituted-amphetamine
- Common doseKetamin50–100 mgMDMA75–125 mg
- Peak durationKetamin30–45 minMDMA90–150 min
- Primary positivesKetaminEuphorie, Dissoziation vom Körper, Musik- und KlangverstärkungMDMAEuphorie, Emotionale Wärme und Offenheit, Erhöhte Empathie
- Primary negativesKetaminStarke Ataxie (Verlust der motorischen Koordination) bei hohen Dosen, Übelkeit, besonders in Kombination mit Essen oder Alkohol, „K-Hole" (intensive Ich-Auflösung / außerkörperliche Erfahrung)MDMAKieferpressen (Bruxismus), Dehydration oder Hyponatriämie durch Überhydration, Hyperthermie in warmen Umgebungen
- Legal (DE)Ketaminprescription-onlyMDMAillegal
- Legal (NL)Ketaminschedule-1MDMAillegal-tolerated
- Legal (US)Ketaminschedule-3MDMAschedule-1
- Legal (UK)Ketaminclass-bMDMAclass-a
| Ketamin | MDMA | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | dissociative | empathogen |
| Chemical class | arylcyclohexylamine | substituted-amphetamine |
| Common dose | 50–100 mg | 75–125 mg |
| Peak duration | 30–45 min | 90–150 min |
| Primary positives | Euphorie, Dissoziation vom Körper, Musik- und Klangverstärkung | Euphorie, Emotionale Wärme und Offenheit, Erhöhte Empathie |
| Primary negatives | Starke Ataxie (Verlust der motorischen Koordination) bei hohen Dosen, Übelkeit, besonders in Kombination mit Essen oder Alkohol, „K-Hole" (intensive Ich-Auflösung / außerkörperliche Erfahrung) | Kieferpressen (Bruxismus), Dehydration oder Hyponatriämie durch Überhydration, Hyperthermie in warmen Umgebungen |
| Legal (DE) | prescription-only | illegal |
| Legal (NL) | schedule-1 | illegal-tolerated |
| Legal (US) | schedule-3 | schedule-1 |
| Legal (UK) | class-b | class-a |
Key harm-reduction difference
Ketamin and MDMA differ most in their risk profiles and durations. Always research each independently before any session. If you are choosing between them based on safety alone, consult the full profiles and the interaction checker for any combinations you may be planning.
Related pages
FAQ.
- Is Ketamin stronger than MDMA?
- "Stronger" depends on the metric. Compare dose ranges, subjective intensity, and duration side by side above. Always factor in individual tolerance.
- Can I combine Ketamin and MDMA?
- Check the interaction checker for this specific pair. Many combinations carry serious risk even at low doses.
- Which lasts longer, Ketamin or MDMA?
- Duration varies by route. See the comparison table above for peak and total duration by the most common route.
- Ketamin vs MDMA: which is safer?
- Neither substance is "safe" in absolute terms. Harm is a function of dose, setting, purity, and individual factors. The comparison above covers the key risk differences.
- Are Ketamin and MDMA in the same drug class?
- See the category and chemical class rows above. Substances in different classes often have very different risk profiles even if subjective effects overlap.
- Is Ketamin legal where MDMA is?
- Legal status is substance- and jurisdiction-specific. See the legal status section for key countries.
- Where can I get harm reduction info for Ketamin and MDMA?
- Each substance has a full profile on this site with dosage, interactions, testing, and legal information. Follow the links at the bottom of this page.
- How do I test whether my substance is Ketamin or MDMA?
- Reagent testing can distinguish most substances. Check the reagent guide tool for expected color reactions for both.