Conrad Murray was brought to court due to administration of lethal dose of Propofol, a very powerful sedative, to the King of Pop Michael Jackson which caused his death. And because of this, the spotlight landed to the main cause of Jackson’s death, Propofol.

It was reported that Jackson used the drug to help him sleep. He even called it milk. Murray, being Jackson’s doctor, administered the sedative the day Michael Jackson died.

However, the defense lawyers argued that Jackson take an extra dose of propofol when the doctor left the room. Laboratory findings showed that Jackson had a trace amount of the drug on his stomach. But propofol is typically injected intravenously which leads to a conclusion that Jackson took the drug orally.

Dangers of Propofol

Propofol is known to be a very risky drug and this is the reason why it is only administered in a controlled medical setting. It is a sedative typically administered to patients who will undergo different types of surgery. Propofol acts very fast and patients will immediately lose their consciousness once the drug is received.

"Propofol is an agent that requires very close monitoring and is often limited only to use by anesthesiologists," said Dr. Richard Page, cardiologist at the University of Washington Medical Center. "The main issue with this agent is respiratory depression, which in turn could cause cardiac arrest."

This type of drug should only be used by either anesthesiologists or those who render palliative care. Because it works too fast, overdose can cause sudden death.

"It is not for sleep. I cannot imagine anyone would use this outside a very regulated environment such as the availability of emergency respiratory equipment." said Dr. Brian Olshansky, a cardiologist at the University of Iowa. Olshansky said that he also uses the drug to sedate his patients and prepare them for heart procedures.

"It rapidly induces unconsciousness and apnea," Olshansky said. "People stop breathing within seconds of being given the drug."

Propofol Abuse

“The rapid effect of the drug makes it an exceedingly unusual choice for abuse,” said Dr. Jeff Guy of Vanderbuilt University. “Such a situation would represent "a quantum leap in the issue of substance abuse." He added.

Propofol can induce a very pleasant sleep to patients which can be habit-forming. The drug also acts as an aphrodisiac in men. “It has been reported that men have very vivid sexual dreams while under propofol anesthesia." says Dr. Bruce Goldberger, chief of forensic pathology at the University of Florida.

A research was conducted by University of Colorado showing that the incidence of propofol abuse was observed in 10 of every 10,000 people receiving the drug.