New Delhi: F.R.I.E.N.D.S. actor Matthew Perry, who played Chandler in the show, passed away on October 28, 2023, after an overdose of ketamine. He was found dead in his hot tub. And since then, concerns have been raised regarding the drug which is sometimes prescribed as an anti-depressant. But it is still an anaesthetic that can do more harm than good, but how? In the case of Perry, five doctors including the actor’s assistant, had reportedly injected the actor with 27 shots of ketamine in five days which eventually led to his death. Three of the shots were given the day he died. Perry had reportedly been dependent on infusion therapy for depression. He was also suffering from obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes and the drug worsened breathing problems, caused an airflow blockage, and led to his death.
What is ketamine?
Ketamine is an anaesthetic used for pain and depression management. It disassociates patients from the sensation of pain and mood from oppressive feelings. The effect, however, lasts for a very short time, like two days. Ideally, doctors say that it must be prescribed for a short period and then one must be given antidepressants to allow it time to work.
What are the negative effects of ketamine?
In an interaction with News9Live, Dr Nikhil Nayar, a Psychiatrist at Sharda Hospital, explained how ketamine affects health in the long run.
“Ketamine has several negative effects and is occasionally used for depression that is not responding to treatment. Drowsiness, nausea, dizziness, and dissociative feelings are common side effects that can make people feel weird or disoriented. After therapy, the majority of these symptoms usually go away in a few hours. moreover, Dissociative hallucination can also happen with ketamine. However despite the side effects, these molecules have been time tested for their benefits in mental disorders and help in the recovery of patients,” said Dr Nayar.
“We have to weigh the risk-benefit ratio and accordingly decide the dose and duration for the patient and their mental illness. It is important to keep an eye on these side effects and seek individual advice from healthcare professionals. Weight gain, sexual dysfunction, drowsiness, and metabolic abnormalities are only a few of the adverse effects of other mental health medications such as mood stabilizers, antidepressants, and antipsychotics. These consequences highlight the need for careful administration and monitoring,” the expert explained.
Mood stabilisers, especially anticonvulsants, and lithium, can have adverse effects that include tremors, nausea, headaches, vomiting, fast heartbeat, and excessive sleepiness. These adverse effects can be transient or persistent, and they frequently differ depending on the particular medication taken.
F.R.I.E.N.D.S. actor Matthew Perry, who played Chandler in the show, passed away on October 28, 2023, after an overdose of ketamine. He was found dead in his hot tub. A psychiastrist explains how the drug affects mental and physical health. Health News Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
