Matthew Perry, the beloved “Friends” actor, passed away at the age of 54 due to the acute effects of the anesthetic ketamine, as revealed by the autopsy report released by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.
The report also stated that Perry drowned in “the heated end of his pool,” but this was considered a secondary factor in his death on October 28, which has been deemed accidental.
Those close to Matthew Perry informed investigators that he was receiving ketamine infusion therapy, an experimental treatment for depression and anxiety.
However, the medical examiner’s report indicated that the ketamine levels in Perry’s body were within the range typically used for general anesthesia during surgery.
The report noted that his last ketamine treatment was about 1.5 weeks prior to his death, which would not account for the high levels found, as the drug is usually metabolized within hours.
The autopsy report also mentioned that coronary artery disease and the presence of buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid use disorder, were contributing factors in Perry’s death.
The amount of ketamine detected:
“Would be enough to make him lose consciousness and lose his posture and his ability to keep himself above the water,” said Dr. Andrew Stolbach, a medical toxicologist with Johns Hopkins Medicine who reviewed the autopsy report.
“Using sedative drugs in a pool or hot tub, especially when you’re alone, is extremely risky and, sadly, here it’s fatal,” said Stolbach, who noted that both ketamine and buprenorphine can be used safely.
Matthew Perry was declared dead after being found unresponsive at his home in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles.
An autopsy was performed the next day by investigators to determine the cause of his death.
The findings revealed that acute ketamine toxicity, along with coronary artery disease and the presence of buprenorphine, contributed to his passing, which has been ruled an accident.
Matthew Perry, who had a history of drug use, was reportedly clean for 19 months before his death, according to the autopsy report. On the day of his passing, Perry had played pickleball, and his assistant, who lived with him, found him face down in the pool after returning from running errands.
The assistant told investigators that Perry had not been sick, had not made any health complaints, and showed no signs of recent alcohol or drug use.
However, postmortem blood tests revealed “high levels” of ketamine in his system, which could have elevated his blood pressure and heart rate while dulling his impulse to breathe, contributing to his accidental death.
The autopsy report noted that buprenorphine, found in therapeutic levels in Matthew Perry’s blood, could have exacerbated breathing difficulties when combined with high levels of ketamine. Mixing this central nervous system depressant with ketamine posed risks due to their additive respiratory effects.
Additionally, Perry’s pre-existing coronary artery disease likely made him more vulnerable to the combined effects of these substances.
Perry, renowned for his role as Chandler Bing on “Friends,” was celebrated as one of television’s biggest stars of his generation.
His sudden death deeply shocked his castmates, friends, family, and fans, who paid heartfelt tributes in the weeks following his passing.
According to the redacted autopsy report, a woman who spoke to Matthew Perry a few days before his death described him as being in good spirits.
She mentioned that Perry had been receiving testosterone shots, which she believed were making him “angry and mean,” and that he had quit smoking two weeks prior.
She also noted that Perry had been undergoing ketamine infusions for mental health reasons, with his doctor reducing the frequency of treatments because Perry had been feeling well.
Ketamine, originally approved by U.S. health regulators as an anesthetic for surgical use, has gained attention in recent years as an experimental treatment for various psychiatric and hard-to-treat conditions, including depression, anxiety, and chronic pain.
Although not officially approved for these uses, doctors can prescribe ketamine off-label if they believe it may benefit their patients.
As a result, numerous clinics across the U.S. now offer ketamine infusions and other formulations for different health conditions.
