It was almost eight years since the King of Pop; Michael Jackson has left the world mourning. The "Beat It" singer's cause of death involves a lot of controversy including; heart attack and an overdose of surgical anesthetic called propofol.
According to Washington Post, toxicology test result from "Heal the World" singer's autopsy revealed that a deadly overdose of a potent anesthetic drug known as propofol has caused the death. Conrad Murray, Jackson's personal physician admitted that he has been giving the singer a prescription containing 50 milligrams of Propofol for the treatment of insomnia. The propofol is administered intravenously providing a direct and a hundred-percent efficacy.
In order to prevent drug abuse, Murray decided to taper down the dose of propofol to 25 milligrams however still giving two sedative adjuncts of lorazepam and midazolam. With these events, how did propofol caused the death of Jackson? Is it a drug with safety profile? What is really its indication, pharmacologic and medical purpose?
According to PDR.net, propofol is generally used for general anesthesia induction, general anesthesia maintenance for both cardio surgery and cardiosurgery. It is further used for its sedative effect in cases of epilepsy (status), mechanically ventilated patient and refractory migraine. Some of propofol's indication is currently on research and clinical trials. Propofol's use in insomnia like in the case of Jackson was not specified.
Propofol is a potent drug substance and possess different levels of adverse and effects. The drug mostly affects the cardiovascular, respiratory, and neural system and thus may cause; shortness of breath, heart arrhythmias, pulmonary edema, seizures etc. One of these adverse effects might have been experienced by the King of Pop.
Known by its trade name Diprivan, propofol is misused and even abused because once its therapeutic dose is administered it will cause sedation and later euphoria upon waking up. In the case of the "Billy Jean" singer, aside from propofol he is also taking in midazolam and lorazepam inducing a prolonged and more extreme sedation.
Propofol's mechanism of action is its action of GABA receptors in the brain but the principle behind is still not clear. Jackson's death as contributed by drug substances could be a lesson to anyone not just to those who works in showbiz industry but to everyone to be cautious in taking in medicines along with its potential side effects. Continue following Science Times for more medical update.
