Elon Musk takes “microdoses” of ketamine to manage depression, according to a US media report.
The Twitter owner and SpaceX entrepreneur also takes full doses of the substance at parties, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Ketamine, an anaesthetic that has some hallucinogenic effects, is a controlled substance in the US and can only be legally administered by a medical professional.
The popularity of ketamine has increased in recent years, with the Wall Street Journal reporting that more people are using the substance to treat depression in the US.
According to the paper, Mr Musk has told friends he “microdoses” the drug, taking small amounts to help manage depression.
He did not respond directly to the report.
However, on Tuesday he tweeted: “Zombifying people with SSRIs [antidepressants] for sure happens way too much. From what I’ve seen with friends, ketamine taken occasionally is a better option.”
Mr Musk, who is the world’s richest man, has previously courted controversy after smoking cannabis on an episode of the Joe Rogan podcast in 2018.
He has previously claimed that he and SpaceX employees were subjected to regular drug tests after the incident.
The paper reported that several prominent figures in Silicon Valley have explored microdosing substances such as ketamine and LSD, citing benefits such as creativity.
Apple founder Steve Jobs talked openly about his use of LSD, while Justin Zhu, the co-founder of marketing start-up Iterable, was fired as chief executive in 2021 for allegedly microdosing LSD at work.
Last year, Mr Musk tweeted: “I’ve talked to many more people who were helped by psychedelics & ketamine than SSRIs and amphetamines.”
He has also previously said that “people should be open to psychedelics”.
The Standard has contacted a representative of Mr Musk for comment.
