Propofol Addiction
Propofol Addiction
Propofol addiction gained widespread pop culture infamy as the drug that killed “The King of Pop” Michael Jackson. Despite its name being recognized by many people, the drug may be unknown to most individuals when it comes to its usage.
Also known as Diprivan, Propofol slows down the brain and nervous system’s activity. The drug is used to put someone to sleep and keep them in a resting state. Propofol is given during an operation as general anesthesia. It can be used for other medical procedures as well. Adults and children may be administered Propofol. Patients in critical care and assisted by a mechanical ventilator, or breathing machine, may also be given Propofol.
As far back as 2013, it was reported that Propofol was being abused and individuals were becoming addicted to the drug. The most alarming aspect about one study into Propofol addiction centered around the individuals using it. It was found that healthcare professionals were abusing the drug more than any other group11.M. Xiong, N. Shiwalkar, K. Reddy, P. Shin and A. Bekker, Neurobiology of Propofol Addiction and Supportive Evidence: What Is the New Development? – PMC, PubMed Central (PMC).; Retrieved October 8, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5836055/.
Why is Propofol addictive?
Propofol is commonly used in medical settings due to its quick onset and short recovery time. For the most part, Propofol has fewer side effects than other anesthetic drugs. For these reasons, medical professionals prefer using the drug to sedate patients.
The drug is injected through an IV into a patient’s vein. Patients feel relaxed and fall asleep quickly following the injection enabling an operation to begin. Propofol must be continually administered to a patient or the individual will wake up about five minutes after the initial dose was given.
An individual can become high on Propofol when it is taken recreationally. People inject small doses of the drug into their veins which causes them to become high. Continued use of the drug leads to addiction. Currently, Diprivan is not listed as a controlled substance in the United States. Therefore, it has become a highly abused drug.
What are the effects of Propofol?
The scariest aspect of Propofol is that the drug is being abused by healthcare professionals. The drug is easy to steal from medical facilities, giving healthcare professionals the opportunity to take the drug and not be caught. While other drugs such as marijuana and meth can show up in a drug test, Propofol does not display in a urine test.
A person will likely take small doses of Diprivan to get effects similar to being drunk on alcohol. An individual may feel giddy, lose inhibitions, feel spacey, and mellow. If the drug is injected into the vein in larger doses, an individual will likely lose consciousness. When the person wakes up, they will be in a euphoric state.
The side effects of Propofol begin almost immediately after taking the drug. Passing out can occur moments after injecting the drug. This could lead to physical injury due to falling or automobile accidents. Individuals suffering from depression, trauma, or long-term physical pain have been identified as Propofol abusers.
Can a person overdose on Propofol?
The answer to this question is simple: Yes, a person can overdose and die from Propofol. A person can take too much Propofol to overdose and the result is death. A dose of four teaspoons of Propofol is fatal and there is no drug to revive a person from an overdose. There is no antidote to Propofol and if a person overdoses, they will die.
On July 25, 2009, Michael Jackson died due to an overdose of Propofol. Jackson was a Propofol abuser and used the drug to sleep for years prior to death. Unfortunately, due to Jackson’s high-profile death at the hands of the dangerous drug, more people are experimenting with Propofol22.M. Rose, Psychiatry Online, The American Journal of Psychiatry.; Retrieved October 8, 2022, from https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.2010.10091293.
A person who is addicted will go through withdrawal symptoms when they quit using the drug. Withdrawal symptoms may include an irregular heartbeat, fast heartbeat, tremors, hallucinations, confusion, agitation, and a fever. Propofol addicts may even be in a delusional state for up to one week. Withdrawal symptoms are reportedly very similar to withdrawal from benzodiazepines.
More is known about Propofol addiction and abuse today than ever before. There are substance abuse treatment centers with programs to help individuals suffering from Propofol addiction. Propofol abuse doesn’t have to lead to death from an overdose. Individuals can get the help they need to live sober and free of addiction.
Next: Vivitrol Addiction
Alexander Bentley is the CEO of Worlds Best Rehab Magazine™ as well as the creator & pioneer behind Remedy Wellbeing Hotels & Retreats and Tripnotherapy™, embracing ‘NextGen’ psychedelic bio-pharmaceuticals to treat burnout, addiction, depression, anxiety and psychological unease.
Under his leadership as CEO, Remedy Wellbeing Hotels™ received the accolade of Overall Winner: International Wellness Hotel of the Year 2022 by International Rehabs. Because of his incredible work, the individual luxury hotel retreats are the world’s first $1 million-plus exclusive wellness centers providing an escape for individuals and families requiring absolute discretion such as Celebrities, Sportspeople, Executives, Royalty, Entrepreneurs and those subject to intense media scrutiny.
on our articles for the most up-to-date and accurate information. on our articles for the most up-to-date and accurate information. If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate or out-of-date, please let us know via our