Matthew Perry was utilizing Ketamine — the drug that ultimately played a role in his death — for the treatment of anxiety and depression.
Matthew Perry’s official cause of death was revealed on Friday, weeks after he was found unresponsive in his hot tub on October 28, 2023. The acute effects of the drug “Ketamine” — which investigators say he was using for therapeutic treatment for “anxiety and depression” — were ruled as his cause of death.
“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, obtained by The Blast, states.
Matthew Perry Was Using Ketamine Therapy For Addiction
Ketamine therapy has been used by many celebrities, including Elon Musk and Lamar Odum, as just a single dose of ketamine has “rapid action on depressive symptoms, and this action persists even for a week, which suggests its possible role in neuroplasticity,” per PMC. “Many studies showed remission of depressive symptoms 1-week post-infusion.”
However, investigators say records gathered say Perry’s last treatment was supposedly from over a week before his death, and the drug’s half-life is under four hours.
Per the documents obtained by The Blast, Perry’s “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.”
What Is Ketamine and How Is It Used For Therapy?
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.
Why Did Ketamine Play A Role In Matthew Perry’s Death?
Last month, police responded to a 911 call to assist with a possible ‘water rescue’ at Matthew Perry’s Pacific Palisades home. When they arrived, they found the 54-year-old “Friends” actor in his hot tub, unresponsive. The Ketamine in his system caused an issue with his heart, and he passed out in the water.
Per the documents, “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.”
It continues, “Drowning contributes due to the likelihood of submersion into the pool as he lapsed into unconsciousness; coronary artery disease contributes due to exacerbation of ketamine-induced myocardial effects on the heart. Buprenorphine effects are listed as contributory, even though not at toxic levels, due to the additive respiratory effects when present with high levels of ketamine.”
Rest in peace, Matthew Perry.