Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026
09:36
Halogenated Agent Delivery in Porcine Model of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome via an Intensive Care Unit Type Device
Published on: September 24, 2020
The abuse potential of propofol
Courtney Wilson1, Peter Canning, E Martin Caravati
1Division of Emergency Medicine, Utah Poison Control Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA.
Clinical Toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.)
|April 20, 2010
Summary
Propofol, a widely used anesthetic, shows potential for abuse and dependence. Evidence suggests addictive properties, leading to recommendations for controlled substance regulation.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Pharmacology
- Addiction Medicine
Background:
- Propofol is a common sedative-hypnotic used in medical procedures.
- Despite its safety profile when used appropriately, its abuse potential is under scrutiny.
- It is not currently a controlled substance by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review existing medical literature on the abuse potential of propofol.
- To evaluate pharmacological and experiential evidence related to propofol misuse.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature review was conducted.
- Searched six online databases using terms including propofol, abuse, addiction, tolerance, misuse, and withdrawal.
- 45 relevant articles were identified from an initial 72.
Main Results:
- Propofol possesses biochemical and pharmacokinetic properties that facilitate abuse.
- Recreational use is linked to tolerance, dependence, withdrawal, and adverse events, including death.
- Multiple reports indicate propofol's allure as a recreational drug due to its effects.
Conclusions:
- Propofol exhibits addictive properties and carries a risk of recreational abuse and dependence.
- Regulatory agencies should consider classifying propofol as a controlled substance.
- Further evaluation of propofol's abuse potential is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview
Intravenous anesthetics are drugs administered parenterally to induce anesthesia or sedation. Propofol is a widely used agent formulated as a 1% emulsion in soybean oil, glycerol, and egg phosphatide. It induces rapid anesthesia primarily due to its rapid distribution from the bloodstream to target tissues and is metabolized in the liver. However, it can cause significant pain on injection and hypertriglyceridemia. Fospropofol, a water-based prodrug of propofol, lacks these adverse effects.
01:20Inhalational Anesthetics: Overview
Inhalation anesthetics are drugs that induce general anesthesia upon inhalation. They work by increasing the sensitivity of GABAA receptors or inhibiting NMDA receptors, leading to a decrease in central nervous system activity. The depth of anesthesia can be rapidly adjusted by changing the concentration of the inhaled gas. Some common examples of inhalational anesthetics include volatile liquids like isoflurane, desflurane, sevoflurane and gases like xenon and nitrous oxide. Isoflurane, a...
01:24General Anesthesia: Overview
Anesthesia is a medical procedure that uses drugs for CNS suppression to enable painless surgeries and procedures. The selection of anesthetics is influenced by their pharmacokinetic properties, side effects, and patient characteristics. Various types of anesthesia include general, local, regional, spinal, and inhalational.
General anesthesia induces unconsciousness in the whole body, while the others target specific areas or sensations. It is administered to minimize adverse effects, maintain...
General anesthesia induces unconsciousness in the whole body, while the others target specific areas or sensations. It is administered to minimize adverse effects, maintain...
01:12Local Anesthetics: Adverse Effects
While local anesthetics are generally safe and well-tolerated, they can occasionally cause adverse effects that vary in severity. Local anesthetics can induce toxicity at two distinct levels. They can either produce local effects through direct contact with the neural elements or be absorbed into the bloodstream from the injection site, leading to systemic effects.
Once absorbed into the systemic circulation, local anesthetics can affect the organs that depend on the functioning of sodium...
Once absorbed into the systemic circulation, local anesthetics can affect the organs that depend on the functioning of sodium...
01:26Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios
Pharmaceutical poisoning can occur through various channels, impacting an estimated 2 million hospitalized patients in the U.S. annually with serious adverse drug responses. These scenarios encompass both therapeutic uses, such as drug toxicity, where even standard dosages can lead to severe central nervous system depression, and non-therapeutic exposures, including accidental ingestion by children, and environmental and occupational exposures.Unintentional poisonings often involve exploratory...
01:20Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Barbiturates
Sedatives and hypnotics encompass a drug class that acts on the central nervous system (CNS) to alleviate anxiety, promote relaxation and induce sleep.These drugs function by amplifying the actions of the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), resulting in reduced neuronal activity. Barbiturates, a subset of sedatives and hypnotics first synthesized in the late 1800s, are categorized into ultra-short, short, intermediate, and long-acting groups based on their duration of effect. A key...