Concerns rise about Elon Musk’s daily ketamine use—especially given his power in the US government
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“Given that ketamine works on the glutamate system, which plays a significant role in memory, learning, and decision-making, long- term use may have impacts in all of these areas of cognition." — Kristin Anderson, LCSW, psychotherapist and founder of Madison Square Psychotherapy
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Elon Musk recently shared that he takes small doses of ketamine, an anesthetic that has hallucinogenic effects, every other week to manage his mood. Musk told journalist Don Lemon that ketamine helps him get out of a “negative frame of mind,” CNN reported.[]
Musk’s comments have many people wondering whether his frequent use of the drug may affect his performance and cognitive function—especially concerning, given his close ties with President Donald Trump.
Does this explain his erratic behavior?
Musk’s illicit drug use is well-known—a 2024 piece from Wall Street Journal outlined his frequent appearance at exclusive parties where he has reportedly been observed indulging in substances like LSD, cocaine, ecstasy, and psychedelic mushrooms.[]
But now, as Trump’s top political adviser and the head of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency, concerns are being raised about his erratic behavior (which has been televised)—and how his drug use might influence government operations.
The buzz around ketamine
As Kristin Anderson, LCSW, a psychotherapist and founder of Madison Square Psychotherapy, tells MDLinx, there’s been a ton of buzz around ketamine in recent years given its evidence as an effective option for treatment-resistant depression.[]
It also works fast—within minutes—with most people’s depressive symptoms returning within a couple of days, says Christina Ni, MD, a psychiatrist with Mindpath Health. “Traditional antidepressants may take weeks to produce positive results. However, ketamine is unique among antidepressants by providing relief from depressive symptoms within hours,” Dr. Ni tells MDLinx. This is why some patients often have to continue ketamine therapy to maintain the effects.
The good and the (very) bad
Some evidence[] suggests ketamine may support the growth of neurons in the brain and promote brain functioning, Dr. Ni says. But the research is still in the early stages, and more studies are needed to understand the drug’s long-term health and safety effects, along with the best prescribing practices.
As Anderson observed, “Given that ketamine works on the glutamate system, which plays a significant role in memory, learning, and decision-making, long-term use may have impacts in all of these areas of cognition.”
Furthermore, different methods of administering ketamine—it can be given intranasally, orally, or via IV—may have different consequences.
Data on long-term drug users has found that, over time, extended use of IV ketamine, for example, can negatively impact brain structure and function and lead to cognitive deficits.[] And while some people with depression experience improvements in their mood with ketamine, long-term use could potentially trigger cognitive decline, depending on various factors like the quantity and frequency of use, according to Dr. Ni.
“More fascinating data is emerging to paint a fuller picture of the impact of ketamine in both positive and negative ways,” Dr. Ni says.
We are still in the “Wild West” phase of ketamine treatment, says Anderson. For now, “it generally is recommended as a short-term treatment, with maintenance sessions only as needed."
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