Elon Musk has defended taking prescribed ketamine – a drug used to treat depression and pain management to treat his “negative frame of mind,” suggesting that his use of the drug is good for Tesla’s investors.
In an at-times tense interview with former CNN host Don Lemon, Musk said that he finds the anesthetic helpful when he is suffering from a “negative chemical state”.
“There are times when I have… depression that is not linked to any negative news, and then ketamine is helpful for getting one outside out of a negative frame of mind,” Musk said during an interview released on X on Monday.
People criticised Musk, who is a tech billionaire, over his use of the drug.
Jim Cramer has come out in support of Tesla CEO Elon Musk over his use of ketamine
“From the standpoint of Wall Street, what matters is execution,” said Musk. The X owner argued Tesla was worth as much as the rest of the car industry combined.
“For investors, if there’s something I’m taking, I should keep taking it.”
But “Mad Money” host Cramer came out in Musk’s support and said he’s being attacked for opening up.
“It’s actually a shame. Here’s a man who admits he has depression, admits that he’s taking a drug that has helped millions of people, and for that, he’s pilloried?”
“There are many people who would never be brave enough to admit that they take this drug, and yet this drug is a lifesaver,” he said, explaining his rationale for defending Musk.
After Cramer supported Musk, the Tesla chief explained why he uses ketamine.
“The reason I posted about ketamine (at some personal risk) is that I thought it might help people struggling with bouts of depression,” Musk said.
He added that ketamine might offer a more effective solution compared to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).