What the 2-FDCK?
2-FDCK (also known as 2-Fluorodeschloroketamine) is a dissociative substance of the arylcycohexylamine class. Other drugs in this class include PCP and ketamine, although 2-FDCK is more closely related to ketamine and is reported to have many similar effects. Created originally as a legal replacement for ketamine sometime around 2014, 2-FDCK first began being sold primarily through the online chemical research market in 2017. Despite there being very few formal studies or clinical trials researching 2-FDCK, there are countless first-hand reports from members of the community we can draw upon to surmise what one should (and should not) expect from it.
Due to its similarities to ketamine (as well as its legality), 2-FDCK has become an extremely popular dissociative since its release in 2017. One of the reasons for this is that 2-FDCK is often reported to have a longer “trip” duration compared to that of ketamine, despite dosages being roughly on par (Psychonaut Wiki states the common dosage for 2-FDCK as 25-70mg and for ketamine 30-75mg). In a 2019 study, Dr. Thomas R. Lane construed that 2-FDCK has a slower metabolism rate than ketamine, as well as a lower intrinsic hepatic clearance. This would explain the common consensus that its active effects do last significantly longer than those of ketamine.
Since 2-FDCK shares a similar potency with its sister ketamine, it is also possible to experience what is colloquially referred to as a “K-hole”. Although there are some reports that state that in order to achieve a “k-hole” with 2-FDCK, a higher dosage is required. As with all - particularly psychedelic - substances, these reports are based on a user's subjective experience, which can vary wildly in inconsistent and unreliable ways - so please take this into account when researching with 2-FDCK; your mileage may vary.
How does 2-FDCK work?
To get an understanding of the effects of 2-FDCK, it’s useful to dive into its chemical structure and see how it actually affects the brain.
2-FDCK’s full chemical name is 2-(2-Fluorophenyl)-2-methylamino-cyclohexanone. Like all substances in its class (arylcycohexylamines), 2-FDCK has a cyclohexane ring bound to an aromatic ring along with an amine group. It also contains a phenyl ring bonded to its cyclohexane ring. The only thing differentiating it from ketamine is that 2-FDCK contains a fluorine atom attached to the phenyl group, whereas ketamine contains a chlorine atom.
Another issue with the lack of clinical research into 2-FDCK is that there is minimal discussion on how it actually physically affects our brains. Due to this, most reports on its pharmacological effects are based on the presumptions that it will work with the same mechanism of action as ketamine. Like most substances in the arylcycohexylamine class, 2-FDCK is predicted to work primarily by antagonising our NMDA receptors. This does not necessarily mean that it inhibits our re-uptake of dopamine, but rather causes feelings of anesthesia and dissociation, as well as some hallucinogenic side effects.
Similar to all other NMDA receptor antagonists, continued use of 2-FDCK leads to an increase in tolerance. This can result in users having to administer larger doses, thus increasing the chances for more potential negative side effects. 2-FDCK is interesting because it presents a cross-tolerance with other dissociative substances, so its regular and repeated use will affect the tolerance levels of other arylcyclohexylamines. As with most chemicals, 2-FDCK has been reported to be moderately addictive, and continual use is not recommended. Withdrawal effects can occur if usage is suddenly stopped after frequent use.
Reported Effects of 2-FDCK
Some people find 2-FDCK to be almost indistinguishable from ketamine, whereas others find that there are noticeable differences between the two. Here is a list of some of the most commonly reported effects of 2-FDCK:
- Dissociation - with lower doses this can be like being in a dream state; however, with higher doses, this is reported to feel like the sensation of your consciousness disconnecting from your body. There are also reports of 2-FDCK causing “k-holes” when experimenting with very large doses.. Which are often described as feeling like near-death (or ego-death) experiences. Loss of motor skills - similarly to ketamine, 2-FDCK can have a pronounced effect on one’s ability to navigate through physical space, often described as a sense of “droopiness”. Researchers often report that precise movements are much more difficult than usual as well as an overall loss of dexterity. Some compare the sensations to those that you experience when you’ve drunk too much alcohol, such as “wobbling” and “weaving”.
- Psychological suppression - many users have described an overall suppression of emotions, sense of self and cognitive ability. This varies from being unable to process information, to feeling mildly sedated, to having a complete lack of self-awareness, also known as "ego death". Some report being incapable of feeling anxiety and unable to experience other negative feelings.
- Disinhibition - sometimes the lack of “anxiety” or “worries” can lead to impulsive behaviour and disregard for future consequences. There are reports of suddenly feeling more confident and ignoring usual social conventions.. Immersion enhancement - many 2-FDCK users report an increase in the engrossment of external stimuli, whether it be music, TV, or other forms of media. At higher doses, this may even involve the user feeling as if the media they are consuming is real-life, or that they exist within the screen that they’re watching. Reports of hallucinations whilst listening to music are common as well - reality and music synergizing with each other to create internal or external images, patterns and textures.
- Hallucinations - although external vivid hallucinations are rare with 2-FDCK, there are plenty of reports of people experiencing internal hallucinatory states. These can include visuals when eyes are shut, to hyper-realistic scenarios within your imagination. There are reports of users also experiencing environmental distortions - changes in how you perceive size and distance, often including your own body (which at least partially explains the loss of motor skills). This can also include auditory distortions, although generally not to the same extent.
Useful resources
As with all RCs, it is advised to do your own research on a product before conducting experiments of your own. Below are some resources I have found particularly useful while navigating the world of novel research chemicals. I highly recommend you check them out!Research Chemicals Discussion - https://www.reddit.com/r/researchchemicals/
Web forum for discussing harm reduction - https://www.bluelight.org/xf/
PsychonautWiki - https://psychonautwiki.org/wiki/Main_Page