By Melanie Yost, LCSW
Matthew Perry’s untimely death brought the therapeutic use of ketamine for brain health issues into the public spotlight. Let’s take a closer look at ketamine—what it is, its history and methods of administration.
Ketamine has proven to be highly effective in helping people struggling with treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD and chronic inflammatory pain. By providing relief, ketamine enables people to lead happier, healthier lives. Initially developed as an anesthesia more than 60 years ago, ketamine was used in the 1970s to successfully treat PTSD in Vietnam War soldiers. Unfortunately, its use was abandoned due to the stigma surrounding other psychedelics like LSD and PCP. Instead, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) emerged as the preferred treatment, as they were believed to lack the addictive qualities of psychedelics.
After 50 years of SSRI usage, however, researchers are now finding little evidence to support the theory that depression is caused by a lack of serotonin, dopamine or norepinephrine. In fact, SSRIs are effective in only about 40% of the people who take them. In contrast, ketamine shows an 80–85% efficacy rate in treating mood disorders and chronic pain.
Over the past 10–15 years, more than 2,000 papers have been published on ketamine’s potential to help with treatment-resistant mood disorders. Researchers have found that ketamine can begin to relieve symptoms of depression immediately after the first treatment. Long-term relief, however, stems from neuroplasticity. When patients complete six ketamine treatments over a two – three-week period, the drug helps rewire neural circuits, leading to sustained positive mood changes. Additionally, ketamine binds to receptors in the opioid pathway, providing relief from chronic inflammatory pain.
Methods of Ketamine Administration and Side Effects
Ketamine can be administered in four ways: sublingually, via nasal spray, intramuscular injection or IV infusion. All methods come with three possible side effects: nausea, elevated blood pressure and the potential for a negative psychedelic experience.
At clinics such as Be Well Solutions and Complete Ketamine Solutions, medically supervised IV infusions are the preferred method. IV administration makes ketamine 100% bioavailable, meaning patients receive the exact dose they are given. Other methods require the body to metabolize the drug, which varies from person to person, making the actual dose received uncertain. Furthermore, IV infusions allow for immediate management of any side effects, ensuring a safer and more positive experience. At Be Well Solutions and Complete Ketamine Solutions, all infusions are administered in a comfortable, spa-like setting by compassionate Nurse Practitioners, ensuring client safety and well-being throughout the treatment.
How Was Ketamine Involved in Matthew Perry’s Death?
According to reports, Matthew Perry was receiving ketamine infusions from a reputable clinic, and they were helping with his depression. His last infusion occurred two weeks before his death, and was not found to be a contributing factor. Perry, however, had a lifelong struggle with substance abuse. Like many individuals with addiction, he believed that “if a little is good, more is better.” With his financial means, Perry was able to find people who took advantage of his addiction by selling him injectable ketamine to use at home without medical supervision. Tragically, he died from an overdose.
Perry’s story underscores the importance of choosing a reputable clinic with established protocols and experienced medical professionals who prioritize client safety and well-being.
