What Is Ketamine: The Painkiller Believed To Have Killed Matthew Perry

Five people have been charged in the overdose death of actor Matthew Perry.

The five defendants include two doctors and the actor’s assistant, who, according to the California state attorney (west), “took advantage of Perry’s addiction problems to enrich themselves.”

Two months later, in December 2023, the autopsy revealed that there were high levels of ketamine in his blood, thus ruling that the acute effects of this drug and subsequent drowning were the cause of the actor’s death.

What is ketamine?

Ketamine is a chemical compound that is commonly used as an anesthetic in humans and animals. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH), this drug was developed decades ago as a less toxic alternative to the drug phencyclidine, which was also developed as an anesthetic.

The NIH also mentions that there is illicitly manufactured ketamine, which is sold as a white liquid or powder, and is commonly known in English as ” Special K “, ” K “, ” super K ” or ” vitamin K “.

This medication is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as a pain reliever since ingesting it can have strong effects on the patient’s mood.

Ketamine as a medical treatment

In March 2019, the FDA approved a ketamine derivative called es ketamine (brand name Spravato) as a new medication. It comes in the form of a nasal spray and is used in conjunction with an oral antidepressant for adults diagnosed with depression who have tried other medications for depression but have not worked. It is only available in certified medical offices or clinics.

However, ketamine itself is not approved by the FDA for any mental health disorder, although there are clinics in the United States that prescribe it to their patients for use without having been approved for depression, anxiety, and other conditions.

Ketamine effects

Several laboratory studies show that ketamine use can cause brain changes typical of a potentially addictive drug.

People taking ketamine may experience changes in the way they perceive reality, including intense feelings of dissolving into or disconnecting from their surroundings.

Ketamine can also distort the way people perceive sights or sounds. However, at higher doses, patients may become confused and unable to move or speak.

In addition, long-term use of ketamine can cause ulcers and bladder pain, kidney problems, stomach pain, depression, and memory loss.

The case of Matthew Perry

In this particular situation, experts say that although the levels of ketamine in the actor’s system were very high, it is unclear whether they would have been fatal on their own.

Perry’s autopsy also notes that the actor’s last known treatment was a week and a half before his death, well beyond the length of time ketamine would have been in his system during treatment.