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socks and cat

Propofol

I have been wondering something since it was revealed that Michael Jackson used propofol intravenously at night for his insomnia. Propofol is designed to render some one completely unconscious for medical procedures. Is being knocked unconscious really going to give some one the same benefits of actual sleep? Human sleep consists of 20-25% REM phase. Can you actually experience REM while completely knocked unconscious by a drug?

According to reasearch quoted in Wikipedia: "Some researchers argue that the perpetuation of a complex brain process such as REM sleep indicates that it serves an important function for the survival of mammalian and avian species. It fulfills important physiological needs vital for survival to the extent that prolonged REM sleep deprivation leads to death in experimental animals."

Can you get REM sleep on a drug like propofol? Wikepedia's page on propofol doesn't say. And if not, what would be the benefits of being knocked unconscious as a replacement for sleep? Would you still wake up feeling refreshed like you got actual sleep? Or would you eventually die like the experimental animals?

Posted on Jul. 29th, 2009 at 12:16 pm | | Leave a comment | 7 comments |

Comments


tylik

I think there's a lot we don't know (and I am saying this in my professional capacity)... but we do have evidence that even our slugs dream. About eating.
Posted on Jul. 29th, 2009 07:29 pm (UTC) | | Thread | Reply

thunderslug

All hail slugs! (it's a long story)
Posted on Jul. 31st, 2009 05:39 am (UTC) | | Parent | Thread | Reply

kshandra

I'm actually following an MJ community right now with a doctor who's taking some time to debunk some of the medical rumors. I'll ask about this and let you know what zie says.
Posted on Jul. 29th, 2009 08:20 pm (UTC) | | Thread | Reply

cagekitten

Thanks!
Posted on Jul. 29th, 2009 08:34 pm (UTC) | | Parent | Thread | Reply

xianhaos

as someone who suffers from frequent insomnia, I say that many times, drug-assisted sleep is totally not the same.

aaaand, on a sleep-related topic: I had a dream last night that I was a pole dancer, though a lot of it was Chinese pole acrobatics.

:)
Posted on Jul. 30th, 2009 07:58 pm (UTC) | | Thread | Reply

thunderslug

Like xianhaos, I've been on sleep meds before (in my case, anti-psychotics)....I already don't dream (or at the very least, never remember them except for two nightmares I have a few times a year each)....but chemical unconsciousness of this flavor kills my short-term memory.
Posted on Jul. 31st, 2009 05:42 am (UTC) | | Thread | Reply

(Anonymous)

propofol

Hi. I just kind of stumbled onto your blog looking for goth resources in Seattle.

I'm a medical professional and the answer is no, propofol induced unconsciousness is NOT a replacement for sleep. It is not restful or restorative, you don't get REM, and you will not wake up refreshed.

Doing this night after night will just gradually leave you more and more exhausted.

Chris
Posted on Jul. 31st, 2009 08:22 pm (UTC) | | Thread | Reply