Matthew Perry died from effects of drug ketamine, coroner says

[Nevilledog]

https://apnews.com/article/matthew-perry-death-cause-054e67f7495845804f801c57a1ae2522

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Matthew Perry died from the acute effects of the anesthetic ketamine, according to the results of an autopsy on the 54-year-old “Friends” actor released Friday.

The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner said in the autopsy report that Perry also drowned in “the heated end of his pool,” but that it was a secondary factor in his Oct. 28 death, deemed an accident.

The report says coronary artery disease and buprenorphine, which is used to treat opioid use disorder, also contributed.

Perry was declared dead after being found unresponsive at his home in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. Investigators performed the autopsy the following day.

*snip*

[ok_cpu]

1. Does "acute effects" mean in the moment

like an overdose or too much in his system? Or the long-term effects of taking it? Acute seems to mean maybe overdose, but all articles seem to be using that same quote.

[Nevilledog]

2. Not sure. I assumed overdose.

[beaglelover]

4. Article says he was in ketamine therapy with last treatment over a week prior to death.....

"The actor had taken drugs in the past but had been “reportedly clean for 19 months,” according to the report. The coroner said he was reported to have been having ketamine infusion therapy to deal with depression and anxiety, and his last treatment was 1 1/2 weeks before his death."

[TxGuitar]

9. Ketamine has a very short half life

So the ketamine in his system was likely within 12 hours of his death and not from his last MD prescribed treatment

[beaglelover]

11. Thank you for this information.

[FreeState]

13. It's a fairly common club drug

Usually made from cheap horse tranquilizers from Mexico. It’s a dissociative. One can get stuck in a “k-hole” which is basically stuck starting at a spot or you get physically sick.

[Dorian Gray]

12. How can they claim he was sober

if he was using ketamine. Even if under the observation of a doctor, ketamine is a mind altering substance.

[FirefighterJo]

3. Acute is overdose

Take it from a medic

[ok_cpu]

5. Thank you

That's what I thought, but usually someone will write "overdose."

[former9thward]

10. They write overdose for a no-name person.

For a celebrity they use softer language.

[Sneederbunk]

6. Fortunately the accolades came in before the truth came out.

[Johonny]

8. So sort of like Keith Moon

Where the therapy ends up as dangerous as the addiction.