'Large' ketamine dose led to Perry's 'freezing'—weeks before his death
Matthew Perry, the beloved actor best known for his role as Chandler Bing in the 1994 sitcom F.R.I.E.N.D.S, reportedly "froze up" after a doctor gave him a "large dose" of ketamine two weeks before his death. The licensed doctor, Salvador Plascencia, has been charged in connection with Perry's death. To recall, the 54-year-old actor was found dead in a hot tub at his California home last October.
Plascencia charged along with 4 others
Plascencia has been charged along with Dr. Mark Chavez; Perry's longtime assistant Kenneth Iwamasa; alleged street dealer Erik Fleming; and Jasveen Sangha—the so-called "Ketamine Queen of LA." They are accused of bilking thousands of dollars from Perry for vials of ketamine that cost as little as $12, authorities said. Plascencia—who had a license to prescribe the powerful tranquilizer—allegedly took advantage of Perry's well-documented drug abuse. He even texted Iwamasa: "I wonder how much this moron will pay" for ketamine.
Perry 'froze up' after receiving large ketamine dose
However, 16 days before Perry's death, the doctor appeared to pull back when the actor "froze up" and his blood pressure skyrocketed after he was administered a "large dose" of ketamine. "Let's not do that again," Plascencia reportedly told Iwamasa. Iwamasa—who lived with the actor and was his assistant since 1994—administered at least 27 shots of ketamine to his employer during the final five days of his life—including three that prosecutors allege resulted in his "death and serious bodily injury."
Perry was undergoing ketamine therapy for depression
At the time of his death, Perry had been undergoing weeks of ketamine therapy to deal with anxiety and depression. When the physicians at the clinic refused to increase his ketamine dosage, the Fools Rush In star reached out to Plasencia, Anne Milgram out of desperation, administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, said Friday. Plascencia asked Chavez for help obtaining the drugs for Perry, she added.
Perry paid $55,000 for 20 vials of ketamine
From September until Perry's October 28 death, Plascencia and Chavez allegedly supplied him with about 20 vials of ketamine for around $55,000 in cash. Plascencia and Sangha are both charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. Moreover, Plascencia is additionally charged with seven counts of distribution of ketamine and two counts of altering and falsifying documents or records related to a federal investigation.
