“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.

What is Ketamine infusion therapy?

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.”

Can Ketamine Infusion Therapy Kill Someone?

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.

So, What Happened To Perry?

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.

Who Are These Names And What Did They Do?

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.”

Dr Pepper, Bots, Cans

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.

When I Die, I Want Helping Others To Be The First Thing That’s Mentioned

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.

Michigan health officials say that they may have identified the possible source behind one of the largest Cyclosporiasis outbreaks the state has ever recorded. Thousands of people were sickened by a parasitic infection that can cause severe, watery, or even “explosive” diarrhea.

Source Behind Cyclospora Outbreak Traced

On July 13, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced preliminary findings from its investigation point to lettuce or other salad greens as the possible source of Cyclospora outbreak.

However, officials stressed that the investigation is in progress, and no specific product, grower, distributor, or supplier has yet been identified for certain.

Health officials also interviewed more than 1,000 patients to identify common exposures.

Early analysis also repeatedly identified lettuce and salad greens as foods consumed before illness, prompting the state to issue precautionary guidance while the investigation continues.

"Although we do not have a definite product identified as the source of the outbreak, we want to let Michiganders know what we have learned so far so they can take steps to protect their families," said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan's chief medical executive, in a state statement.

Also read: As Cyclospora Cases Surge In The US, Expert Explains Why India's Monsoon Raises Risk Of The Parasitic Infection

Cyclospora Cases Continue To Surge

The outbreak has continued to expand at an extraordinary pace since late June. As of July 13, Michigan reported 2,640 cases of Cyclosporiasis, with 44 hospitalizations.

No deaths have been reported so far. The number represents a dramatic increase from the state's usual annual number, which is around 40 to 50 cases.

Preventing Cyclospora

Cyclospora is a parasite that infects people after they consume food or water contaminated with human feces containing the parasite's eggs (oocysts).

Although the illness is usually not life-threatening, it can cause prolonged diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, fatigue, bloating, and weight loss.

According to recent reports, fresh produce like salad greens and lettuce are being considered the most common source of infection, though contaminated water can also spread the parasite.

Also read: Explosive Diarrhea Parasite Spreads Across US: Why CDC Is Unable To Find The Source?

Health officials have advised people to avoid fresh produce. Previous Cyclospora outbreaks in the US have frequently been linked to imported fresh produce, including:

• Basil

• Cilantro

• Mesclun lettuce

• Raspberries

• Snow peas

How To Clean Fresh Produce Safely?

While washing produce cannot eliminate all risks, experts say it can reduce contamination. They advised washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly under clean running water and washing hands before and after handling fresh produce.

According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, cooking produce whenever possible during an active outbreak is crucial, as heating food to at least 158°F (70°C) kills Cyclospora.

For specific produce, it suggested:

• Cilantro and basil: Separate the leaves and rinse each thoroughly under running water.

• Green onions: Trim off the roots, remove the outer layer, and rinse well.

• Snow peas: Rub the surface gently while washing under running water.

• Raspberries: Because of their delicate, uneven surface, raspberries are difficult to clean thoroughly. Cooking them in pies or jams is safer. Freezing may reduce the number of parasites but is unlikely to eliminate them completely.

• Leafy greens: If possible, choose whole heads of lettuce instead of bagged salad mixes. Discard the outer leaves and wash the remaining leaves under running water before eating.

Due to climate change, the range of disease-carrying ticks across Canada have increased. Health experts have recently warned about a lesser-known infection that is spreading across the country rapidly. It is called anaplasmosis.

For years, Lyme disease has dominated conversations around tick bites. Experts are now saying that another illness transmitted by the same black-legged tick is spreading into new regions as warmer temperatures create favorable conditions for ticks to thrive.

Tick-Borne Infection Plagues Canada

The warning comes after a recently published report in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) highlighted anaplasmosis as an emerging disease in Canada. Experts urged healthcare providers to diagnose it early as delayed treatment can lead to severe complications.

The report described a patient who developed heart inflammation (myocarditis), after contracting the infection, highlighting the fact that while many cases are mild, some can become life-threatening.

What Is Anaplasmosis?

Anaplasmosis is caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum. It is transmitted through the bite of infected black-legged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) and western black-legged ticks (Ixodes pacificus).

Unlike Lyme disease, which primarily affects the skin, joints and nervous system, anaplasmosis infects white blood cells, weakening the body's immune system.

The symptoms of anaplasmosis commonly develop within one to two weeks after a tick bite and often resemble the flu. They include:

• Fever and chills
• Severe headache
• Muscle aches
• Fatigue
• Nausea or loss of appetite

Also read: Bella Hadid Opens Up About Challenges Of Living With Lyme Disease

Why Anaplasmosis Cases Are Rising In Canada?

Warmer and longer spring and summer and shorter winters are creating the ideal breeding grounds for black-legged ticks. These ticks are expanding farther north into regions where they previously could not survive.

At the same time, warmer conditions are extending the period during which ticks remain active. Public health officials say that ticks can now be active whenever temperatures remain consistently above freezing.

The Public Health Agency of Canada has reported that the geographic range of ticks carrying diseases such as Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and babesiosis continues to expand across several provinces, including Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, New Brunswick and parts of Atlantic Canada.

Early Detection And Diagnosis Are The Key

Although many people recover completely with prompt treatment, anaplasmosis, if left untreated, can cause serious complications affecting the lungs, kidneys, nervous system and heart.

Older adults, people with weakened immune systems and those whose treatment is delayed face the highest risk of severe illness.

Canadian health authorities recommend that treatment begin as soon as doctors suspect anaplasmosis rather than waiting for laboratory confirmation, since early intervention significantly improves outcomes.

Protecting yourself during tick season is one of the ways to ward off risk of infection. Health officials recommend several simple precautions to reduce the risk of tick bites:

• Wear long sleeves and long pants in wooded or grassy areas.
• Apply insect repellents containing DEET or icaridin.
• Perform thorough tick checks after spending time outdoors.
• Remove attached ticks immediately.

As Canada's climate continues to warm, experts say the country's tick-borne disease landscape is changing rapidly. While Lyme disease remains the most recognized threat, physicians warn that anaplasmosis is no longer a rare infection.

A new safety analysis has found that Wegovy, the recently launched blockbuster weight loss medication containing semaglutide, may cause a rare but dangerous eye condition that can lead to sudden and permanent vision loss.

The analysis, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, compared Wegovy, semaglutide tablets and other GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic by examining more than 30 million reports from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) submitted between 2017 and 2024.

Scientists found a safety signal that linked semaglutide medicines to non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), also known as eye stroke.

Wegovy More Likely To Cause Blindness Than Ozempic

The signal appeared to be nearly five times stronger for Wegovy than for Ozempic, despite both medicines containing the same active ingredient, semaglutide.

NAION occurs when blood flow to the optic nerve suddenly gets reduced, causing damage to the nerve responsible for transmitting visual information from the eye to the brain. The patient experiences painless vision loss in one eye.

While some patients experience partial improvement, the vision loss is frequently permanent. There is currently no proven treatment to reverse the damage.

Researchers state that the findings do not prove that Wegovy causes NAION. Instead, they observe a typical signal, meaning an unexpected pattern observed in a large safety database that requires immediate further investigation.

Such pharmacological analyses are useful for identifying rare and adverse side effects that may not emerge during clinical trials.

Why Wegovy Poses A Greater Risk Of Rare Blindness?

Also read: Novo Nordisk Launches Awiqli In India: All About The World's First Once-Weekly Insulin

The stronger link observed with Wegovy and NAION compared with Ozempic has also raised new questions. Both drugs contain semaglutide, but Wegovy is prescribed at higher doses for obesity, while Ozempic is used to treat type 2 diabetes.

Researchers say that factors such as higher dosing, differences in patient populations, or underlying health conditions could help explain the disparity, although more research is needed.

The latest findings build on growing scientific interest in the potential eye-related risks of GLP-1 receptor agonists.

Previous observational studies have also reported an increased risk of NAION among semaglutide users, prompting regulators in Europe to add the condition as a very rare side effect to semaglutide product information last year.

Health experts emphasize that patients should not stop taking Wegovy without consulting their healthcare provider. For most users, the drug's benefits in managing obesity and reducing associated health risks are likely to outweigh the extremely rare risk of developing NAION.

However, anyone taking Wegovy who experiences sudden blurred vision or loss of vision should seek immediate medical attention.

Wegovy Manufacturer Explores Semaglutide Implant

The GLP-1 medication industry is in a boom. Novo Nordisk, the maker of GLP-1 medicines like Ozempic and Wegovy, is currently exploring a new way to deliver weight-loss treatment that could reduce the need for weekly injections.

The implant, known as NPM-139, is a miniature device developed using Vivani Medical's proprietary NanoPortal technology. Rather than requiring patients to inject semaglutide every week, the tiny implant is placed beneath the skin and slowly releases the medication over an extended period.

If successful, it could mark a significant step toward making GLP-1 drug more convenient for people living with obesity.