Acute effects of ketamine led to the death of Matthew Perry. What is ketamine?

Dec 17, 2023, 20:58 IST

Actor Matthew Perry passed away in October, and while his fans were shattered by the demise of the actor, an autopsy report has been released that holds the drug "ketamine" responsible for the death of the actor. What is ketamine? Let's understand.

Acute effects of ketamine led to the death of Matthew Perry. What is ketamine?
Acute effects of ketamine led to the death of Matthew Perry. What is ketamine?

Popular FRIENDS actor Matthew Perry passed away on October 28, 2023, leaving the whole world devastated and mourning on the loss of their beloved "Chandler" (Matthew's FRIENDS character). Perry was found dead in a hot tub in his Los Angeles home. The actor passed away at the age of 54 years.

On December 15, the medical examiner's office of Los Angeles County brought forward an autopsy report stating that Matthew Perry passed away due to "acute effects" of ketamine. As per the report, the causes of the actor's death included coronary artery diseases, the effects of an opioid named buprenorphine, and drowning.

 

What exactly is ketamine, the drug that led to the death of Matthew Perry?

 

Ketamine is the drug, the "acute effects" of which contributed to the death of Matthew Perry. It is actually an anesthetic. The US Drug Enforcement Administration lists ketamine as a hallucinogen. Ketamine creates a sense of detachment from the environment and pain, and therefore it is called a "dissociative anesthetic hallucinogen."

ALSO READ: Matthew Perry: The Life and Legacy of a Legendary Star

Impacts of ketamine

 

The drug acts as a reset button for the brain, as expressed by many 40 ketamine patients. According to a report, the drug makes people experience favorable visualizations. The drug gives the feeling of existing outside of their bodies and getting united with the universe. Sensations like these make the everyday problems of people feel less problematic and weighty.

The drug is a popular one. When consumed, it affects the receptors of the brain. Traditional antidepressants, however, fail to achieve this target. Ketamine is responsible for creating a psychedelic-like trip.

In case the drug is consumed in high doses, the anesthetic essence of the drug gets activated more than required. In situations like these, the drug consumers may experience numbness. Profound graphic hallucinations also become an outcome. 

ALSO READ: What Is Candida auris? A Drug-Resistant Fungus. All You Need To Know

How safe is the drug?

 

Many doctors in the world recommend the drug. The key is that in case it is consumed in the right doses for medicinal purposes after the prescription of doctors, it could be safe to use. In such cases, the drug can help in treating mental illnesses. 

However, the drug should only be used after recommendations of a doctor.

In situations where the drug has been used in high dosages, it has led to extreme bladder damage as well. Moreover, the drug can be extremely addictive as well. Also, many reports suggest that abuse of the drug can also result in cognitive impairment.

Additionally, till now, there hasn't been much research done on how safe ketamine treatments can be. 

ALSO READ: What Is Xylazine? How Is The Drug “Zombifying” People’s Bodies? All You Need To Know

Astha Pasricha
Astha Pasricha

Content Writer

    Astha Pasricha is a content writing professional with experience in writing rich and engaging content for websites, blogs, and chatbots. She is a graduate of Journalism and Mass Communication and English Honors. She has previously worked with organizations like Groomefy, Shiksha.com, Upside Me, EGlobal Soft Solutions and Codeflies Technologies Pvt. Ltd. At Jagran Josh, she writes content for the General Knowledge section. You can reach her at astha.pasricha@jagrannewmedia.com.
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