Aug 6, 2009 5:41 pm US/Central
Concern Over Diprivan Abuse In Medical Community
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Propofol, also known as Diprivan, is the dangerous drug suspected in the death of Michael Jackson. CBS 2's Derrick Blakley reports the medical community was already aware of its potential for serious abuse.
Even as police probe whether Michael Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray, illegally gave the pop star a powerful sedative, there's growing concern about medical personnel abusing the same anesthetic for their personal high.
The generic name is Propofol; brand name, Diprivan. It's so widely used that if you've been sedated in a hospital, it's very possible you've had it, too.
"It's very widely used. It's probably the most common agent for induction of anesthesia," said Dr. Avery Tung, University of Chicago Hospital.
Investigators found Diprivan inside Jackson's rented mansion, even though it's never supposed to be given outside a hospital.
"The idea that a physician would be using Propofol outside of a hospital setting for any indication or any reason is almost unfathomable to me," said Dr. Paul Wischmeyer, Propofol expert.
But just three days before Jackson's death, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists warned hospitals should restrict access to the drug because "...misuse has increased among anesthesia providers and healthcare professionals."
How much? It's hard to tell. But a 2007 survey of 23,000 anesthesia professionals revealed 25 cases of addiction and seven deaths; a five-fold increase from a decade earlier.
And outside a hospital setting, the drug can be deadly, as Jackson may have found out.
"You can stop breathing. You can occlude your airway to the point where you need help to keep it open," said Dr. Tung said. "Your blood pressure can change. And you can slip into a very deeply sedated state and may not recognize it."
There's also a growing debate on whether Propofol should be more tightly regulated. When approved 20 years ago, the drug was never classified as a controlled substance. Now, both the DEA and the FDA are reviewing whether to change that.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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