Has the use of Milk of Amnesia (Propofol) been tarnished?

Ever since Propofol has been introduced to the public by the death of Michael Jackson, people are afraid of having it used on their loved one in the intensive care setting. Propofol has been safely used in this setting for years. What people need to realize is that when used properly in the correct setting it is as safe a drug as Tylenol. Propofol is used to sedate individuals who are receiving mechanical ventilation. In critically ill patients it has been found to be superior to lorazepam (Ativan) both in effectiveness as well as overall cost; as a result, the use of Propofol for this indication is now encouraged whereas the use of Lorazepam for this indication is discouraged. Propofol is also used for sedation, for example, prior to endoscopic procedures, and has been found to have less prolonged sedation and a faster recovery time compared to midazolam (Versed). When used for sedation on mechanical ventilation patients, they wake up faster because the drug's duration of clinical effect is much shorter. This is mainly because Propofol is rapidly distributed into peripheral tissues. Since patients and their families use the internet to try and dictate their care, why not use the resource to educate yourselves on the use of Propofol and how safe it really is!