Ketamine is a vial that was captured in July 2018 and has been used as a sedative and alternative treatment for pain and depression over the years. The drug has evolved since its development in the 1960s and is now known as a promising new treatment for severe depression as well as a psychedelic party drug. The drug is also now tied to the death of Friends star Matthew Perry, who died from the acute effects of ketamine, according to his autopsy report.
In 2006, researchers at the National Institutes of Health found that an intravenous dose of ketamine could relieve severe depression in a matter of hours, compared to other depression remedies that often take weeks to ease the condition. The Food and Drug Administration approved Spravato, a nasal spray based on ketamine, as the first antidepressant based on ketamine in 2019. However, the effects of ketamine are known to wane after a few days or weeks, and it’s unclear how Perry received more ketamine in the hours before he died.
Ketamine has also been linked to other high-profile deaths, such as the case of Elijah McClain, who died after being administered a large dose of ketamine by paramedics. The drug has been used at parties and clubs due to its ability to cause hallucinations and make users feel like they are having an “out of body” experience. Overdosing on ketamine can result in symptoms like amnesia, seizures, and unconsciousness, and is more likely when mixed with alcohol. It can also be associated with accidental injury or death in car crashes or drowning.