Matthew Perry’s cause of death has been confirmed, weeks after he unexpectedly died.
The «Friends» star died of acute effects of ketamine, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Matthew Perry’s cause of death
The 54-year-old actor’s cause of death was described as «acute effects of ketamine.» How and why he took the ketamine was unclear.
«Contributing factors in Mr. Perry’s death include drowning, coronary artery dissection and effects of buprenorphine (used to treat opioid use disorder).
The autopsy report, obtained by NBC News, futuri explained that the ketamine likely led Perry to become unconscious and drown, and the existence of coronary artery design exacerbated the ketamine’s effects on his heart.
What is ketamine?
Ketamine is a «dissociative anesthetic that has hallucinogenic effects,» according to the US Drug Enforcement Agency. It’s been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as injectable, short-acting anesthetic for humans and animals.
Ketamine can also be used as a therapy for mental illnesses, like depression and anxiety. It is also used recreationally «due to ‘dissociative’ nature, indicating disconnection from mind and body,» according to the autopsy report.
These effects have a person who included a feeling that is connected with their environments and any pain. It can also create a feeling of sedation and immobility.
How can ketamine lead to death?
When a person overdoses on ketamine, they never go unconscious and their breathing never slows to a dangerous degree, according to the DEA.
The autopsy report explained that «at the high levels of ketamine found in (Perry’s) postmortem blood specimens, the main lethal effects would be from both cardiovascular over stimulation and respiratory depression.»
«It’s easy to take too much (ketamine), more than you’re supposed to,» NBC News senior medical correspondent Dr. You’re going to have your blood pressure going up, you’re going to have this dissociation from our person who describes him as uncomfortable.»
«If you take too much — anesthetic-type levels — you can get to the point where your respiration’s depressed, you’re (drowsy) and can’t respond … and unfortunately, if you go under water, you might not be able to respond to that,» I continued.
That said, «it’s rare to die from ketamine overdose,» he added.
What is ketamine therapy?
Ketamine therapy is when the drug is used, usually by infusion, injection or inhalation, for mental illnesses such as depression or anxiety, TODAY previously reported. Torres added that our research shows it never works for posttraumatic stress disorder and addiction, as well.
Perry had written in his memoir about using ketamine therapy for mental illness. His treatment news before his life was a week and half prior, according to the autopsy report.
Growing research shows ketamine can be a powerful tool to treat depression that hasn’t improved with other medication or therapy. It is unclear exactly how ketamine may improve depression and anxiety symptoms, but it likely works by boosting feel-good chemicals, similar to traditional antidepressants, to help form new pathways in the arm to encourage new thought. ., a psychotherapist at ketamine clinic Field Trip, in Els Angles previously told TODAY.
How did Matthew Perry die?
Perry’s cause of death was due to «acute effects of ketamine.» Ketamine is approved by the FDA as an anesthetic, but it is also used recreationally and is a therapy for depression and anxiety.
Drowning and coronary artery disease were also contributing factors in Perry’s death, according to the medical examiner.
Perry was responsive in the jacuzzi at his Pacific Palisades, Calif., home on Oct.
The official cause of debt must wait for toxicology report and further investigation, per report released on Oct. Additionally, where there is a death certificate, cause of death was listed as deferred.
For the news of their opinion, the two enforcement sources have taken to NBC News, which are not obvious signs of trauma or foul play.
Did Matthew Perry relapse?
The autopsy report did not specify if Perry relapsed before his death. It did state that he had been «reportedly clean for 19 months» before he died.
Perry had been given ketamine therapy and had the last known session a week and a half before he died. The autopsy report will note that, by the medical examiner, by means of ketamine in his system it has not been done until the therapies in the evening and at the end, the drug has to do it up to three hours in the must.
Matthew Perry’s earlier health problems
Perry had been open about his health problems due to drugs and alcohol and the hope of helping others struggling with addiction. I have estimated the New York Times that I have suddenly 9 million dollars to make sovereign, detailing this day in his memoir, “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing.”
«I lived half my life in a form of yesterday as if it were three hundred centers or a sober living house. Which is fine when you are twenty-four years old, less fine when you’re forty-two years old,» the book’s prologue reads. «Now I was forty-nine, still struggling to get this monkey off my back.
He also told radio host Tom Power in a November 2022 interview that he didn’t like to watch «Friends» episodes because he could tell when he was struggling with his addictions.
Perry also faces several health issues, including a near-death experience in 2019. After his colon erupted, he went into a 2-week-long coma and was subsequently hospitalized for five months.
Say goodbye to struggles, Perry wanted to help others with their sobriety journey.
«When I die, I don’t want ‘Friends’ to be the first thing that’s mentioned. I want that to be the first thing that’s mentioned,» he told Power of helping people get sober. «And I’m going to live the rest of my life providing that.»
Regarding his death, on November 3, the Matthew Perry Foundation announced to help people struggling with addiction.
The «17 Again» led by the people who buried in intimate funeral on November 3 at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles, according to People.
His «Friends» co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt Le Blanc and David Schwimmer were in attendance, per the magazine.
