Comparison
Ketamine vs MDMA.
Side-by-side comparison of Ketamine and MDMA — dosage, effects, duration, legal status, and key harm reduction considerations.
- CategoryKetaminedissociativeMDMAempathogen
- Chemical classKetaminearylcyclohexylamineMDMAsubstituted-amphetamine
- Common doseKetamine50–100 mgMDMA75–125 mg
- Peak durationKetamine30–45 minMDMA90–150 min
- Primary positivesKetamineEuphoria, Dissociation from body, Music and sound enhancementMDMAEuphoria, Emotional warmth and openness, Increased empathy
- Primary negativesKetamineSevere ataxia (loss of motor coordination) at high doses, Nausea, especially when combined with food or alcohol, K-hole (intense ego dissolution / out-of-body experience; sought by some, terrifying for others)MDMAJaw clenching (bruxism), Dehydration or, conversely, hyponatremia from overhydration, Hyperthermia in warm environments
- Legal (DE)Ketamineprescription-onlyMDMAillegal
- Legal (NL)Ketamineschedule-1MDMAillegal-tolerated
- Legal (US)Ketamineschedule-3MDMAschedule-1
- Legal (UK)Ketamineclass-bMDMAclass-a
| Ketamine | 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 | Euphoria, Dissociation from body, Music and sound enhancement | Euphoria, Emotional warmth and openness, Increased empathy |
| Primary negatives | Severe ataxia (loss of motor coordination) at high doses, Nausea, especially when combined with food or alcohol, K-hole (intense ego dissolution / out-of-body experience; sought by some, terrifying for others) | Jaw clenching (bruxism), Dehydration or, conversely, hyponatremia from overhydration, Hyperthermia in warm environments |
| 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
Ketamine 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 Ketamine 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 Ketamine and MDMA?
- Check the interaction checker for this specific pair. Many combinations carry serious risk even at low doses.
- Which lasts longer, Ketamine or MDMA?
- Duration varies by route. See the comparison table above for peak and total duration by the most common route.
- Ketamine 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 Ketamine 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 Ketamine 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 Ketamine 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 Ketamine or MDMA?
- Reagent testing can distinguish most substances. Check the reagent guide tool for expected color reactions for both.