5 important things to know about propofol

The death of a RANZCOG trainee from an accidental overdose of propofol has put the misuse of anaesthetic medications back in the spotlight.

Here’s what the Coroner’s anaesthetist expert found:

1. Propofol has increasingly become the drug of choice for abuse among doctors;
2. Most cases of propofol abuse involve its use for recreational purposes, stress relief or insomnia;
3. Propofol abuse can lead to death because of the rapid onset of unconsciousness and apnoea following injection;
4. Narrow safety margins makes propofol a particularly