Main Facts
Ketamine is an injectable anesthetic drug that has some hallucinogenic effects, including distortion of vision and hearing, and makes the user feel “disconnected from pain and the environment,” according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The drug is approved as an anesthetic, and there is a stronger version called Esketamine that is administered as a nasal spray for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder, although some doctors also prescribe it without official federal government approval for a wider range of mental health conditions – it is legal and unregulated.
The drug has also been used recreationally for a long time as a powder or liquid, and is sometimes mixed with other drugs.
High doses can cause difficulty in movement, seizures, and nausea, while continuous use can lead to “complete detachment from reality and loss of consciousness” as well as “out-of-body experiences” and “near-death experiences,” according to a 2017 research paper.
Ketamine overdose cases are considered rare if ketamine is the only drug a person is using, according to American addiction centers, although death is more likely if ketamine is combined with alcohol, as both substances affect breathing and heart functions.
No cases of overdose or death from ketamine use in a therapeutic setting were found in a 2021 study, which analyzed 312 overdose cases and 138 deaths involving ketamine – most reported deaths were linked to the use of additional drugs.
However, the drug has been linked to accidental deaths such as car accidents and drowning, which were noted as a contributing factor in Perry’s death after he was found in a hot tub in late October.
Main Background
Perry was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his home in Los Angeles on October 28. The autopsy report from the Los Angeles County coroner’s office concluded on Friday that Perry died due to the effects of ketamine. Coronary artery disease and drowning were also listed as contributing factors to his death, with buprenorphine – used to treat opioid use disorder – found in his body. Perry had been receiving ketamine injections to alleviate depression and anxiety every other day for some time, although the last known injection was a week and a half before his death, according to the Los Angeles Times. Ketamine from that session could not be in Perry’s body because the drug’s half-life is between three to four hours, and officials found a very high dose in his body, according to the medical examiner.
Surprising Fact
Although nasal Esketamine is FDA-approved for certain adults, compounded ketamine – when mixed with another medication and often taken orally – is unapproved and unregulated, according to the agency. However, other forms of the drug can be prescribed off-label and are often used for mental health conditions. Some preliminary research indicates it may help some patients, but the evidence is limited, and experts express concern about side effects. The FDA warns that using the drug without oversight could put patients at risk of “serious adverse events,” including increased blood pressure, respiratory depression, and urinary problems.
Further Reading
Matthew Perry’s cause of death revealed as acute effects of ketamine
Matthew Perry died from acute effects of ketamine, officials rule
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