The treatment of mental health problems has become more popular in the United States, with a lower dose of the traditional anesthetic used. Experts have noted that the clinics haven't been as regulated as research has shown its promise. "If there are regulations, it will be on the boards for nursing and medicine," said Ladan Eshkevari, nurse anesthesiologist and CEO of Avesta Ketamine. I'm not sure how that will happen, but with the world we live in, we have to be more conscientious and ethical.
The dose of ketamine is less than what patients in operating rooms get. The autopsy report states that the drug's half-life is only a few hours, so it wouldn't have lasted that long. His death in his Los Angeles home's pool was ruled an accident because of the effects of a drug in his system. The autopsy report said that the factors contributing to the death were drowned, and effects of buprenorphine, an opiate use disorder medication.
People with substance use disorder history can be at risk of using ketamine for mental health. She said that it's not a normal drug to be used by a regular person. Matthew's death was linked to the use of ketamine.
Two studies show that esketamine, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat depression, alleviated treatment-resistant depression over shorter and longer periods. The FDA warned about the risks of compounded ketamine, including oral products, to treat mental health disorders.
Eshkevari said doctors prescribe esketamine in exact amounts. She said doctors don't prescribe oral ketamine for people with a history of substance use disorder. Mariya Jayed-Payne uses psychotherapies and ketamine to treat patients.
People want to know what the clinics do.
Sam Mandel, co-founder and CEO of Ketamine Clinics Los Angeles, said patients with appointments have had email concerns. Eshkevari said there was no connection between therapeutic use of ketamine and what happened with Matthew. She said that people can get the drug through online pharmacies, which is riskier than getting it from a doctor.