Friends star Matthew Perry had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy, used to treat depression Among the details that emerged on Thursday about the death of actor Matthew Perry was that the Friends star had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy.
The coroner concluded that the treatment – which is offered both in the US and the UK – was not responsible for Perry’s death due to ketamine, which prosecutors allege was supplied to him illicitly.
Five people including two doctors, Perry’s assistant and an alleged drug dealer have been charged for providing the drug outside of his treatment regimen.
Perry, 54, had been open about his history of substance misuse, and prosecutors say the accused profited from his addictive tendencies. What is ketamine?
Ketamine is an anaesthetic that can be used to treat depression, anxiety and pain in a medical setting.
However, it also has dissociative effects – meaning it can distort perceptions of sight, sound and time, as well as producing calming and relaxing effects. This means it is also used illicitly.
According to addiction advice service Talk to Frank, Ketamine can increase a person’s heart rate and blood pressure, and can leave users confused and agitated – which may cause them to hurt themselves without realising.
Chronic ketamine use has been linked to liver damage, as well as causing bladder problems such as incontinence. What is ketamine infusion therapy?
Ketamine is used to treat depression in cases where traditional anti-depressants have not been effective.Dr Rajalingam Yadhu, a consultant at the Royal Free Hospital in London who also runs Save Minds, a ketamine infusion therapy clinic, told the BBC that the patients he treats have long-term depression and have usually tried a minimum of seven different medications without seeing an improvement."These are people who have actually tried everything in life, [are] extremely suicidal – and given the chance, would kill themselves."The treatment has also been used by high-profile individuals. As well as Perry, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has said he has been given ketamine to treat depression.In an interview with CNN in March, the X and Tesla owner said the drug was "helpful for getting […]
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