Matthew Perry, known for his role in Friends, was found to have extremely high levels of ketamine in his system, according to the L.A. County Medical Examiner’s report. The autopsy findings suggest that the levels of ketamine in his system were in the range that could render a person incapacitated or unconscious, potentially leading to drowning.
Key Takeaway
The autopsy report on Matthew Perry revealed significantly high levels of ketamine in his system, raising concerns about the potential impact of the substance and its connection to his untimely passing.
High Ketamine Levels Comparable to Anesthesia
The report revealed that Perry’s ketamine levels were at 3,540 ng/ml. This is within the range of ketamine levels administered to surgery patients as anesthesia, which typically falls between 1,000 and 6,000 ng/ml. This indicates that Perry had a significantly high amount of ketamine in his system, comparable to the levels used for anesthesia during medical procedures.
Prescription and Potential Impact
It was disclosed that Perry had been prescribed ketamine to manage his depression and anxiety. However, ketamine is also known to be used as a recreational drug. The report highlighted that Perry had been following a prescribed regimen, taking ketamine every other day. About six months prior to his passing, a new doctor had attempted to reduce his ketamine usage due to signs of improvement in his condition.
The last prescribed dose of ketamine was administered a week and a half before Perry’s death. The effects of ketamine typically last around 6 hours, indicating that he may have taken the substance shortly before entering the hot tub where he was found. The tragic outcome suggests that had Perry not been in the hot tub, the situation might have had a different outcome.
