In the wake of Matthew Perry’s death, we have heard questions from patients concerned about the safety of ketamine. Is ketamine safe? Or is it a risky treatment that should be considered with skepticism? And if ketamine is safe, how do we account for a much-publicized death due to its use?
These are all good questions! We encourage patients to ask questions about any of our treatments, including ketamine infusions. Having complete information is important to understand the recommended procedure and to increase confidence in the success of your care plan.
Why Ketamine is Used to Treat Depression
Before we talk about safety and what may have happened with Matthew Perry, let’s first review why ketamine is used to treat depression, anxiety, PTSD and other mental health disorders.
Ketamine has been safely used for decades in medicine, primarily as an anesthetic. However, more recently, ketamine was found to have remarkable antidepressant properties. Ketamine is especially known for its rapid time to effectiveness. Whereas other treatments take weeks to months to achieve full efficacy, ketamine delivers relief in a matter of hours or days. It is not uncommon for patients to begin to feel alleviation of symptoms almost immediately after receiving their first ketamine infusion.
Ketamine’s unique properties make it an almost ideal depression treatment:
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- Rapid acting. Patients feel relief within hours or days of first treatment
- Precise dosing. Ketamine infusions delivered in a clinic provide for precise dosing in a controlled environment, attended by a licensed nurse. This level of control is important both to deliver the right level of medication necessary and for patient safety.
- Few side effects. Ketamine is very well-tolerated by most patients, with few side effects, making it a good choice for most patients.
- Complementary treatment. Ketamine works well with other treatments patients may already be using, including antidepressant medication, TMS, or psychotherapy. In fact, ketamine has been shown to increase the effectiveness of other treatments when used together.
Ketamine is so remarkable that it has been called the biggest breakthrough in depression treatment in the last 50 years. [Source]
Ketamine and Patient Safety
Numerous research studies have demonstrated that ketamine is effective and safe when used according to medical guidelines. At Colorado Recovery Solutions, we follow all medical guidelines and safety protocols in the administration of ketamine.
We have previously published an article for patients with guidance on how to find a reputable ketamine clinic, including information about evaluating the safety protocols of the clinic. One of the recommendations is to use a clinic with membership in ASKP3 – the American Society of Ketamine Physicians, Psychotherapists, and Practitioners. ASKP3 is dedicated to ensuring the safety of ketamine administration. Colorado Recovery Solutions is a member in good standing of ASKP3 and adheres to the organization’s safety guidelines.
In the wake of Matthew Perry’s death, ASKP3 released a statement on the unfortunate circumstances that contributed to his death. You can read the full statement on the ASKP3 website.
In the statement, the ASKP3 remarks on the unusually high concentration of ketamine found during Perry’s autopsy. The levels of ketamine found during the autopsy far exceed clinical guidelines for ketamine treatment for mental health, and even exceed concentration levels when ketamine is used for anesthetic purposes.
A typical antidepressant dose of 0.5mg/kg administered over 40 minutes produces peak plasma concentrations of 70-200 ng/ml compared to plasma concentrations of 2000-3000 ng/ml when used for surgical anesthesia. According to toxicology reports, Perry’s plasma concentrations exceeded 3000 ng/ml.
(Source: ASKP3)
Ketamine and Drug Abuse
Ketamine, like many other drugs, has both legal and illegal uses. Investigations following Matthew Perry’s death concluded he was using ketamine in both legal and illegal ways. Perry was receiving ketamine-assisted psychotherapy – a valid, legal use of ketamine that is provided at Colorado Recovery Solutions and is helpful for many patients looking to overcome depression.
The amounts of ketamine used during ketamine-assisted psychotherapy could in no way have caused the high blood concentration levels found during Perry’s autopsy. In fact, records show Perry’s last ketamine-assisted psychotherapy session occurred a week prior to his death [Source]. The ketamine used during that session would have completely left his system prior to his death. It takes roughly 10 hours for ketamine to exit the body after an infusion. [Source]
However, it also appears Perry was using ketamine illegally, outside of clinical guidelines. In August 2024, charges were filed against five people accused of obtaining and administering ketamine to Perry illegally. Several of those charged have already pleaded guilty. [Source]
Ketamine Safety: What Matthew Perry’s Death Confirms
Matthew Perry’s death raised concerns about the safety of ketamine infusions and sparked a national conversation about ketamine, its safety, and its role in mental health treatment. That is an important and worthwhile conversation.
However, too many people jumped to the conclusion that ketamine therapy is unsafe, based on nothing more than initial reports of Perry’s unfortunate death. In light of the further circumstances surrounding his death, a more accurate statement would be that ketamine is extremely safe when used under direct medical supervision, is legally prescribed, and administered in appropriate doses. Ketamine should never be used outside of medical supervision or used in amounts exceeding industry standards.
As with any drug, ketamine does have potential risks associated with its use. Those risks are minimized by adhering to industry standards, administering ketamine only in licensed medical facilities, and following all medical safety protocols. Following these steps can help ensure that ketamine remains a safe and effective treatment option for those who need it most.
At Colorado Recovery Solutions, we have seen many, many patients achieve significant relief from severe depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health disorders through the use of ketamine therapy. We are committed to ensuring our patients have a safe, effective treatment option available that achieves such remarkable results. We are also fully committed to following all safety standards to ensure patients a safe, comfortable, and effective ketamine experience.
If you have further questions about ketamine and its use in depression treatment, please reach out to us at admin@psychsolutions.health.
