Matthew Perry, well known for his stint in the acclaimed show "Friends," passed away on October 28. The 54 year old actor was discovered unconscious in the swimming pool at his Los Angeles home. Emergency personnel declared him dead on the spot. The primary cause was identified via autopsy. It has been revealed that a fatal drug he was consuming must have been the reason for this shocking demise. The anesthetic effects of a drug called "ketamine" are considered the reason for his untimely death. This detail was revealed in the autopsy performed by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.
According to a study provided by the medical examiner, among the contributing factors to Perry's death were the effects of buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid use disorder, coronary artery disease, and drowning. It was concluded that an accident caused the death.
However, Dr. Andrew Stolbach was quoted by The Associated Press as stating that the quantity of ketamine discovered in Perry's bloodstream was "enough to make him lose consciousness and lose his posture and his ability to keep himself above the water." At AP's request, a physician toxicologist from Johns Hopkins Medicine examined the postmortem report. "It's very dangerous and, sadly, fatal to use sedative drugs in a pool or hot tub when you're alone," Stolbach continued.
What is ketamine?
According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, ketamine is a kind of hallucinogenic drug referred to as a dissociative that can be injected, and is used as a nasal spray for depression that is resistant to treatment in both people and animals. The hallucinogen can cause drowsiness and amnesia, alter perceptions of sight and sound, and dissociate the person from their surroundings and suffering.
Ketamine therapy is used to treat depression, anxiety, PTSD, end-of-life distress, chronic pain, drug/alcohol problems, and more," according to the Pacific Neuroscience Institute. On the other side, buprenorphine, which was also discovered in Perry's system, is often used to treat opioid use disorder, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Overuse of ketamine might have detrimental effects. Excessive dosages can slow breathing so much that they cause lethal respiratory depression. Muscle weakness and spasms are other frequent side effects of ketamine abuse.
According to the coroner's postmortem report, Perry was receiving ketamine infusion therapy for anxiety and depression; the most recent session was "reportedly one and a half weeks before death.
