Credits: IMDb
“I'm not great at the advice. Can I interest you in a sarcastic comment?”

This is what ‘Friends’ actor Matthew Perry’s character Chandler Bing was known for. He was known for being funny. However, he had his own struggles in his personal life and those struggles were acute depression. He was treating it with ketamine infusion therapy which is legal in the US and the UK.
Ketamine is an anaesthetic used to treat depression, anxiety and pain under supervised and controlled medical settings. However, it does have its side effects, which can lead to distortion of sight, sound and time. It can also produce calming and relaxing effects.
Ketamine increases a person’s heart rate and blood pressure. If overdosed, it can leave users confused and agitated and can cause them to hurt themselves without even realising it. It can also lead to liver damage and bladder problems.
However, when used in moderation and under the supervision of medical doctors, it can treat depression where traditional antidepressants have failed.
Prof Rupert McShane, a University of Oxford psychiatrist who runs an NHS ketamine treatment clinic told BBC that ketamine “probably turns off the area of the brain that is involved in disappointment.”
In simple terms, it cannot, be if the dosage is given in a controlled setting and as prescribed. Ketamine infusion therapy uses drugs in small doses than those used for anaesthesia. It acts faster than traditional anti-depressants, but the effects also wear off way quickly. Which is why it is important to monitor patients’ mental state for relapsing back into depression and discouraging them from overdosing on it.
There are ways of giving people ketamine. One of the ways is through “infusing”, which means to use an IV drip. However, injections, nasal sprays and capsules are also methods used to give people ketamine.
Since the dosage of ketamine used in the infusion treatment is small, it being the reason of actor Perry’s death was ruled out. The medical examiner also noted that Perry’s last ketamine infusion therapy session happened more than a week before his death, which means by the time he had died, it must have worn off.
Though Perry’s last session was more than a week before, his post-mortem showed that his blood contained a high concentration of ketamine. He had died of the “acute effects” of ketamine.
If it was not his session, then how did he get ketamine?
Prosecutors alleged that his assistant gave him at least 27 shots of ketamine in four days before his death, reported BBC.
Perry has been open about his personal struggles and this is what the doctors and dealers used against him. Martin Estrada, the US attorney for California’s Central District told the BBC that people took advantage of his condition. They charged him 165 times more than what vials of ketamine cost.
Names that have come up include Dr Salvador Plasencia, drug dealers “Ketamine Queen” aka Jasveen Sangha and Eric Fleming, and Perry’s live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa.
Ketamine Queen or Sangha supplied drugs that led to Perry’s death. Her home was a “drug-selling emporium,” said Estrada. More than 80 vials of ketamine, and thousands of pills including methamphetamine, cocaine and Xanax were allegedly found in her house known as the “Sangha Stash House.”
Sangha is known to deal with high-end celebs and was a “major source of supply for ketamine to others as well as Perry,” said Estrada.
Dr Plasencia called Perry a “moron” while charging him $2,000 for vials that cost only $12. He sold Perry 20 vials of ketamine between September and October 2023, costing $55,000.
He was the one who taught Iwamasa, who had no medical knowledge to inject the drug. This is after he knew that “Perry’s ketamine addiction was spiralling out of control,” as per what the investigators told the BBC.
Another dealer Fleming was told by Sangha to “delete all our messages.” While Fleming pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute drugs unlawfully, he also allegedly messaged Sangha: “Please call...Got more info and want to bounce ideas off you. I’m 90% sure everyone is protected. I never dealt with [Perry] only his assistant. So the assistant was the enabler.”
The court documents also revealed that he asked Sangha on whether the ketamine stays in your system or “is it immediately flushed out.”
The people who allegedly exploited Perry used coded language for ketamine and called it “Dr Pepper”, “bots”, or “cans.”
Selling overpriced drugs, taking advantage of Perry’s mental condition and falsifying medical records to make the drugs given to him look legitimate by Dr Plasencia is what took Perry’s life.
Iwamasa is said to have administered more than 20 shots of ketamine and three on the day Perry died. Whereas ketamine is only administered by a physician. Authorities also found that weeks before Perry’s death, Dr Plasencia allegedly bought 10 vials of ketamine and intended to sell to Perry.
He also injected Perry with a large dose, two days later. This caused him to “freeze up” and spiked his blood pressure.
Perry had always been open about his drug addictions, struggles with alcohol and his depression. He said that his openness would help others who are also struggling and wanted to be remembered by his quote which also is on the homepage of the Mattew Perry Foundation that helps others struggling with the disease of addiction: “When I die, I want helping others to be the first thing that’s mentioned.”
Five arrests have been made in the case so far.
Credit: iStock
As Bangladesh grapples with a surge in highly infectious measles cases, neighboring Indian states Meghalaya and Tripura are strengthening preventive measures by ramping up vaccination drives and intensifying surveillance, particularly in border districts, to curb any potential spillover and contain the spread of the disease.
As per media reports, Bangladesh is reporting more than 1,100 suspected infections in a single day. The vaccine-preventable measles has also claimed the lives of 98 children in the country’s one of the worst outbreaks.
To strengthen early detection and response in Indo-Bangla border areas, the Meghalaya government conducted an orientation-cum-preparedness meeting last week at the Amlarem Sub-Divisional Office with district administration and health department officials, the Border Security Force, community leaders, and grassroots workers, including ASHAs and Anganwadi workers.
Dr A Khonglah, sub-divisional medical and health officer, Amlarem, informed of a few suspected cases in the state, The Times Of India reported. Khonglah noted there was “no cause for panic”, but stressed that early reporting was critical for timely testing and treatment.
In a notification issued on Monday, Meghalaya’s state health department called for stepping up surveillance in East Khasi Hills District.
“Immediate corrective measures are required in response to ongoing measles outbreaks in Bangladesh and the heightened risk in border districts and blocks. It is imperative to strengthen surveillance, early detection, reporting, and response mechanisms across all sectors in East Khasi Hills District,” the notification said.
The state health department directives include:
Similarly, Health officials in Tripura are also assessing the prevailing measles and rubella situation, with a focus on vaccination coverage and containment measures.
The officials in a review meeting focused on evaluating infection trends, immunization progress, and the effectiveness of ongoing containment strategies, Northeast Today reported.
Mission Director of the National Health Mission (NHM), Saju Vaheed A on Sunday visited Unakoti district to assess the prevailing measles and rubella situation, with a focus on vaccination coverage and containment measures.
The director reviewed data on vaccination coverage and stressed the need for close monitoring of vulnerable areas.
Also read: Measles Again On The Rise Globally: Is India At Risk?
Since the beginning of the year, India is seeing sporadic outbreaks of measles. Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior reported three outbreaks, and Morena six.
Over January and February 2026, 41 children were diagnosed with measles in Tikari village in Madhya Pradesh.
However, swift action by health authorities with proactive frontline engagement and data-driven rapid response prevented an escalation into large measles outbreaks. These sporadic outbreaks also highlighted the critical importance of measles-rubella (MR) vaccination in protecting children and communities.
As per official data, till April 19, Bangladesh recorded 3,443 confirmed measles cases and more than 23,600 suspected infections.
While over 12,000 patients have recovered, the outbreak has resulted in at least 36 confirmed deaths and 181 deaths among suspected cases, MNTV reported.
In response, Bangladesh has vaccinated more than 1.9 million children against measles and rubella in an emergency nationwide campaign.
Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain said the situation has begun to stabilize due to early intervention, adding that vaccine supplies remain sufficient to sustain the campaign through June.
Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads through direct contact or through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is a vaccine-preventable disease that can cause devastating complications, including blindness, pneumonia, encephalitis, and long-term immune dysfunction.
Symptoms typically appear seven to 14 days after exposure and may include:
To safeguard against measles, individuals should ensure timely vaccination, especially for children.
Maintaining good hygiene, such as frequent handwashing and covering the mouth while coughing or sneezing, helps reduce transmission.
Avoiding close contact with infected individuals and ensuring proper nutrition to boost immunity are also important.
Public awareness and community health programs play a crucial role in prevention.
Mindless use of weight loss drugs can cause the weight to return later. (Photo credit: iStock)
Weight loss drugs appeal to many for their convenience, but according to some experts, there are a number of noteworthy side effects. From rapid weight gain to sagging skin, several side effects of weight loss drugs have been identified through studies. Now, new research has found that weight loss drugs can cause more muscle loss than clinical expectations. The results, presented at the American College of Physicians Internal Medicine (ACP-IM) meeting in San Francisco, add to existing evidence on the possible adverse effects of GLP-1.
When a person loses a considerable amount of weight, they also lose bone mass, muscle mass, and some connective tissue. Experts at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that no studies directly associate muscle loss with a decline in physical function or strength. However, this clinical gap underscores the need to assess strength and mobility alongside weight loss in patients receiving this therapy. The systematic review identified 36 randomised clinical trials that measured changes in muscle mass and fat among adults using incretin-based obesity medications such as tirzepatide, dulaglutide, or semaglutide.
Each study measured body composition using MRI, CT scans, and bioelectrical impedance analysis. Most of them used DEXA along with other methods to obtain information about lean muscle mass, bone mineral density, and the distribution of body fat. The average age of participants ranged from 20 to 63.7 years. Only four studies included participants aged 60 years and above. None of the studies focused on adults aged 65 years or older.
Researchers noted a concerning trend: patients’ estimated muscle loss exceeded the 25 per cent threshold. Clinicians had expected a 25 per cent reduction, but not more than that. Experts also found that 68 per cent of people who used the drugs exceeded the 25 per cent benchmark, compared to 50 per cent of those who relied on placebos and lifestyle interventions. None of the studies measured whether the loss of muscle mass was correlated with function or strength loss.
Despite being a concerning side effect of weight loss drugs, muscle mass is likely to diminish anyway with age. Additionally, the loss is more significant in older adults. Therefore, doctors advise caution when prescribing these drugs to individuals who are more prone to losing muscle function at an advanced age. Ideally, doctors should recommend exercise or physical therapy to patients taking weight loss medications.
The final word
According to experts, weight loss drugs do have a positive side — and that extends beyond obesity treatment. These drugs are also beneficial for diabetes and help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, it is important to support treatment with the right kind of diet and a proper exercise regimen. Solely depending on the medication can lead to weight gain once it is discontinued. Therefore, for healthy weight loss, it is best to rely on sustainable methods for long-lasting results.
Sadhguru recommended some tips for sustainable weight loss. (Photo credit: AI generated)
Indian guru and founder of the Isha Foundation, Sadhguru, offers a different perspective on life and mental health. In a 2025 talk, he spoke about weight loss. At a time when obesity, metabolic, and lifestyle disorders are at an all-time high, there is an urgent need to revisit and fix the way one eats. While many turn to diet fads and practise calorie or food group restrictions, Sadhguru recommends the contrary. The 68-year-old emphasises the importance of sustainable weight management through balanced choices, mindful eating and meals aligned with the body’s natural rhythm.
Many people aim to lose weight to deal with body image issues or to prepare for a special upcoming occasion. However, according to Sadhguru, one must not try to force discipline through restriction, but instead allow the body to regulate itself efficiently while maintaining energy levels. If you are looking for foods to include in your diet for sustainable weight loss, here are some recommendations:
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