What Is Ketamine Therapy? Treatment That Caused Matthew Perry's Death

Acute effects of ketamine have been named the cause of death of Matthew Perry, the late "Friends" actor who was found dead in his jacuzzi -- but what is ketamine?

Ketamine is a secluded anesthetic medication, also known as a psychedelic drug, that can be used in Ketamine therapy, a treatment used by many celebrities to manage mental health conditions, such as treatment-resistant depression, anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The drug is approved for use at high doses as an anesthetic in the operating room. Even though ketamine has been FDA-approved and legalized for use as a general anesthetic since the 1970s, it can be abused as a recreational drug.

Lower dosage of ketamine is not FDA-approved, and those injections are used “off-label” to treat depression, pain, and other mental health/substance use disorders.

Many celebrities, including Elon Musk, Sharon Osbourne, and Lamar Odom, have used the therapy to help with mental health and struggles with addiction. 

According to his autopsy report, obtained by The Blast, The County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner (DME) determined the cause of death for 54-year-old actor Matthew Langford Perry as the acute effects of Ketamine.

The manner of death is an accident.

“The cause of death for 54-year-old actor Matthew Langford Perry as the acute effects of ketamine. Contributing factors in Mr. Perry’s death include drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine (used to treat opioid use disorder),” the document states.

Records show that Perry’s last treatment was supposedly from over a week before his death.

He had a “history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/emphysema, diabetes; drug use in past — reportedly clean for 19 months; heavy tobacco user for many years but currently not smoking; on ketamine infusion therapy with most recent therapy reportedly one and a half weeks before death,” it reads.

As for how it caused his death, the autopsy report says, “At the high levels of ketamine found in his postmortem blood specimens, the main lethal effects would be from both cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory depression.”

Sharon Osbourne experienced an on-screen debate about racism, which resulted in an emotional fallout and her leaving the show. She sought professional help and began Ketamine treatments

She described the treatment as a “truth drug,” explaining how Ketamine therapy made it possible for her to feel secure and be able to address the root of her problems. “If you’re a person who stuffs things [down], this drug relaxes you…You can’t bulls--- on [Ketamine]. It’s a truth drug.”, Osbourne told UK’s The Times.

NBA legend Lamar Odom also opened up about using ketamine to help him with his struggle with addiction.

The former NBA star stated he had already tried rehab and “some other things,” before he found out about ketamine therapy. He experienced a near-death overdose back in 2015.

When speaking on ketamine therapy, Lamar Odom said that microdosing ketamine has helped him overcome his cocaine addiction.