Matthew Perry's death anniversary: How did ketamine affect him?

'Friends' actor Matthew Perry had famously battled addictions all his life, but when he passed away in October last year, it shocked the world and even raised doubts of conspiracies. However, a while ago, five people, including two doctors and the actor's assistant, were booked in connection with his death. According to 54-year-old Perry's post-mortem report, his death at his Los Angeles home's hot tub was caused by the acute effects of ketamine, a medicine that's generally used as an anaesthetic since the 1960s. Apparently, the medicine made him unconscious and led to his accidental drowning. He also had a pre-existing coronary artery issue, which worsened due to the ketamine effect. The effects of buprenorphine, a medicine used to treat the pain associated with opioid addiction, are also cited as a contributing factor. Matthew Perry has been trending with more than 5K search volume for over 15 hours. '

Matthew Perry's memoir on ketamine effects
In his autobiography named 'Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing,' which was released in 2022, Perry reveals in detail his problems with addiction. Apparently, he would consume up to a litre of vodka and up to 30 pills. He was on ketamine therapy to treat his depression. However, he also said that taking ketamine was like 'being hit on the head with a giant shovel of happiness.' He confessed he 'enjoyed the drug' and might as well 'call it Matty.' As part of the therapy, the book reveals he was taken to a room and blindfolded while listening to music on headphones, as he was put on an IV of Ativan (a medicine for anxiety and insomnia) and ketamine. He even felt like he was about to die during this time due to its calming effect. That said, he said that the hangover after the IV  was rough and that it was not for him. 

According to the Cleveland Clinic, ketamine has side effects like hallucinations, allergic reactions like swelling on the tongue and lips, change in heartbeat rhythm, increased blood pressure, loss of contact with reality and shortness of breath. As per reports, Perry asked his assistant Kenneth Iwamasa to inject him with ketamine on the day of his death and kept asking for additional doses, which eventually took his life. Allegedly, a drug supplier - cum - socialite named Jasveen Sangha, who is known as 'The Ketamine Queen,' supplied the drug to Perry on the day of his death.