Elon Musk defends drug usage: ‘I use Ketamine because…’
Elon Musk defends ketamine use for mood swings and performance enhancement, amid concerns from Wall Street.
Elon Musk defended his use of ketamine drugs, saying that it helps alleviate periods of low mood and is beneficial for investors in Tesla Inc. and his other ventures.
In an interview to former CNN anchor Don Lemon that streamed on YouTube, Musk said, “what matters is execution”.
“From an investor standpoint, if there is something I’m taking, I should keep taking it,” he said, referring to Tesla’s success.
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Why does Elon Musk take ketamine drug?
Musk revealed that he uses ketamine periodically, as prescribed, to address what he terms "chemical tides" that result in symptoms akin to depression.
Concerns about Musk's recreational drug use within his companies surfaced, according to a Wall Street Journal article in January. The billionaire responded that he hadn't failed drug tests and said he should continue whatever was aiding his performance.
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What is Ketamine?
Ketamine, which doctors can prescribe to alleviate pain and depression, acts as a sedative at higher doses. However, it also carries risks, including hallucinations and potential overdose leading to unconsciousness and slowed breathing, as per the US Drug Enforcement Administration.
Ketamine is often administered in a medical environment, or its close variant, Spravato, is available as a nasal spray specifically for treatment-resistant depression. However, Musk didn't delve into further specifics regarding his prescription during the interview.
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X cancelled a planned collaboration with Lemon after the interview. Speaking on the Pivot podcast with Scott Galloway and Kara Swisher, Lemon said that Musk was displeased with his line of questioning, particularly about ketamine use.
Musk later expressed his dissatisfaction on ‘X’, saying that he disapproved of the approach taken by the Don Lemon Show, which he likened to “basically just CNN, but on social media.”
(Inputs from Bloomberg)