Comparison
Kétamine vs MDMA.
Side-by-side comparison of Kétamine and MDMA — dosage, effects, duration, legal status, and key harm reduction considerations.
- CategoryKétaminedissociativeMDMAempathogen
- Chemical classKétaminearylcyclohexylamineMDMAsubstituted-amphetamine
- Common doseKétamine50–100 mgMDMA75–125 mg
- Peak durationKétamine30–45 minMDMA90–150 min
- Primary positivesKétamineEuphorie, Dissociation corporelle, Amplification de la musique et des sonsMDMAEuphorie, Chaleur émotionnelle et ouverture, Empathie accrue
- Primary negativesKétamineAtaxie sévère (perte de coordination motrice) à fortes doses, Nausées, surtout combinée à la nourriture ou à l'alcool, K-hole (dissolution intense de l'ego / expérience hors du corps)MDMABruxisme (crispation des mâchoires), Déshydratation ou hyponatrémie par surhydratation, Hyperthermie en environnement chaud
- Legal (DE)Kétamineprescription-onlyMDMAillegal
- Legal (NL)Kétamineschedule-1MDMAillegal-tolerated
- Legal (US)Kétamineschedule-3MDMAschedule-1
- Legal (UK)Kétamineclass-bMDMAclass-a
| Kétamine | 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, Dissociation corporelle, Amplification de la musique et des sons | Euphorie, Chaleur émotionnelle et ouverture, Empathie accrue |
| Primary negatives | Ataxie sévère (perte de coordination motrice) à fortes doses, Nausées, surtout combinée à la nourriture ou à l'alcool, K-hole (dissolution intense de l'ego / expérience hors du corps) | Bruxisme (crispation des mâchoires), Déshydratation ou hyponatrémie par surhydratation, Hyperthermie en environnement chaud |
| 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
Kétamine 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 Kétamine 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 Kétamine and MDMA?
- Check the interaction checker for this specific pair. Many combinations carry serious risk even at low doses.
- Which lasts longer, Kétamine or MDMA?
- Duration varies by route. See the comparison table above for peak and total duration by the most common route.
- Kétamine 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 Kétamine 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 Kétamine 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 Kétamine 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 Kétamine or MDMA?
- Reagent testing can distinguish most substances. Check the reagent guide tool for expected color reactions for both.